Efficacy of the “PalliActive Caregivers” intervention for caregivers of patients with cancer in palliative care

Family caregivers of patients in palliative care in low- and middle-income countries need intervention. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of the nursing program “PalliActive Caregivers,” on increasing role adoption, the perception of social support, and the quality of life of family caregivers of cancer patients in palliative care in a healthcare institution in Medellín, Colombia. A controlled randomized trial was conducted from June through December 2022. The study included adult caregivers for patients with cancer in palliative care. A 1:1 randomization method was used. The experimental arm received two individual sessions with an educational booklet and a mobile application for support (approximately 15 and 75 min). The control arm received two hours of group education about symptom management. Sociodemographic variables, as well as quality of life, role adoption, and perception of social support, were measured before the intervention and at two- and four-weeks post-intervention. One hundred fifteen family caregivers were randomized (experimental, n = 58; control, n = 57). At two weeks post-intervention, caregivers in the experimental group reported significantly greater role adoption (98.55 vs. 87.28, p < 0.01), better perceived social support (83.83 vs. 72.96, p < 0.01), and better quality of life in three of its dimensions (caregiver status, caregiver perspective, relationships) than did the controls. The efficacy of the intervention was evident at the first post-measurement; however, significantly higher scores were observed only at four weeks post-intervention on role adoption (103.79 vs. 87.36; p < 0.01), and for three dimensions of quality of life. Compared with conventional care, the PalliActive Caregiver intervention significantly improved caregiver role adoption and the perception of social support among caregivers of cancer patients in palliative care. It is recommended that future studies evaluate the effect of the intervention on patient outcomes. This trial is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov “Uncertainty in Illness in Palliative Care: an Intervention for Family Caregivers” with registry number NCT12345678, registered on 2018-05-14.