Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Mar 3, 2025
Date Accepted: Jul 10, 2025
Effect of a family-centered empowerment model-based intervention on the caregiving capacity and preparedness of caregivers of children with malignant neoplasms: a protocol for a quasi-experimental study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Malignant neoplasms are among the most common causes of disease-related death in children. Long-term chemotherapy often requires a high degree of parental involvement. Family caregivers’ preparedness and capacity are critical in reducing the burden of care and improving quality of life. This study examined the impact of a Family-Centered Empowerment Model (FCEM)-based intervention on the caregiving capacity and preparedness of family caregivers.
Objective:
This study aims to develop and evaluate an FCEM-based intervention to improve caregiving preparedness and capacity among family caregivers of children with malignant neoplasms. It also examines the potential effects of the intervention on self-efficacy and psychological outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and stress.
Methods:
This quasi-experimental study focuses on caregivers of children with malignant neoplasms attending our hospital for the first time, implementing a four-phase FCEM-based intervention program, evaluate through questionnaires administered 3 days after admission and 1 day before discharge. Differences in caregiving preparedness, caregiving capacity, self-efficacy, and depression-anxiety-stress scores are assessed using independent and paired t-tests, Mann–Whitney tests, and paired rank-sum tests for both within-group and between-group comparisons pre-and post-intervention.
Results:
Recruitment will be conducted in two waves (control group: July–December 2025; intervention group: July–December 2026). It is expected that the intervention group will show significantly greater improvements in caregiving preparedness, caregiving capacity, and psychological well-being compared to the control group.
Conclusions:
The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence for the development of structured family empowerment in pediatric oncology. In the future, expanding to multiple centers and conducting targeted surveys among caregivers of children with different cancer types would help validate and promote the effectiveness of family empowerment interventions. Clinical Trial: This trial was registered on February 5, 2025, at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06810388); https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06810388.
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