Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Family caregivers of patients with prostate cancer (PCa) are exposed to the increased risk of care burden. This study aimed to determine the effect of the Family Centered Empowerment Model (FCEM) on the care burden of family caregivers of PCa patients. METHODS: This retrospective analysis was conducted at Jiaxing Second Hospital and included data from 120 family caregivers of patients with PCa who were treated from April 2023 to September 2024. The data of 60 family caregivers who received FCEM-based courses were matched in a 1:1 ratio with the data of caregivers who received routine training at the medical center. The two groups were evaluated before and six weeks after intervention using the Caregiver Strain Index (CSI), the Chinese version of the Family Management Scale (FaMM), the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-rating depression scale (SDS), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF). RESULTS: The sample consisted of 59.2% female and 40.8% male caregivers, with an average age of 48.5 years. The pre-intervention CSI, FaMM, SAS, SDS, and WHOQOL-BREF scores were similar in the two groups. After the intervention, both groups reported significantly improved CSI, FaMM, SAS, SDS, and WHOQOL-BREF scores; however, the improvement was considerably higher in the FCEM group of caregivers (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: FCEM program can efficiently reduce stress, anxiety, and depression of family caregivers, which is beneficial for improving their disease management abilities and quality of life (QOL).