Support Care Cancer. 2026 Aug 1;34(8):820. doi: 10.1007/s00520-026-11054-6.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIM: The increasing incidence of cancer and the fact that the family is an important factor in cancer care; attention to the positive mental health of cancer patients should be sought to provide solutions to improve the mental health of these caregivers. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of web-based education on positive mental health of family caregivers of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in educational and treatment centers of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is a semi-experimental study. The statistical population of the study included all family members of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy who referred to Imam Ali Hospital in Zahedan in 1402. The samples included 70 people who were randomly assigned to two groups: the intervention group and the control group. Caregivers in the intervention group received the necessary training and education for 20 days through a website prepared by the researcher. Data collection was carried out using the demographic information formula and the 9-question positive mental health questionnaire of Lockett before the intervention and 30 days after the intervention. The data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical tests using SPSS 27 statistical software and independent t-tests, paired t-tests, and chi-square tests.
RESULTS: Before the intervention, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of positive mental health (p = 0.43). However, after web-based training, the results of the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with adjustment for pre-test scores showed that the positive mental health score in the intervention group was 19.02 ± 3.05, compared to 15.94 ± 2.61 in the control group (p = 0.0001).
CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that web-based educational programs can enhance the positive mental health of family caregivers of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Accordingly, such interventions may be considered an effective supportive approach for family caregivers in oncology care settings.
PMID:42542461 | DOI:10.1007/s00520-026-11054-6
