The effect of online home care training on the burden of caregivers for patients with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Background: Caregivers of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) often face significant emotional and physical burdens. Nurses play a crucial role in alleviating this burden for caregivers of MS patients. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an online home care training program in reducing caregiver burden (CB) among those caring for patients with MS. Methods: This interventional study involving 80 caregivers of individuals with MS, who received support from the Isfahan Welfare Organization, was conducted in 2021. Eligible caregivers were randomly divided into two groups of 40. The intervention group participated in eight sessions of online home care training, which included 14 video clips ranging from 15 to 30 minutes each, shared via the WhatsApp application. All participants completed a demographic questionnaire and the Zarit Burden Interview before the intervention, immediately after, and one month later. Data analysis was performed using chi-square tests, independent samples t-tests, and repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: At baseline, no significant differences were observed in the mean CB scores between the two groups (P>0.05). However, a significant difference was noted immediately after the intervention (P<0.05). By one-month post-intervention, no significant difference remained between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: The online home care training program effectively reduced CB among those caring for patients with MS. It is recommended that nurses and relevant authorities develop and implement similar training strategies to support caregivers of MS patients.