The effect of education given to caregivers in palliative care on readiness for care and caregiving burden

This randomized controlled study was conducted to evaluate the effect of education given to informal caregivers of patients in a palliative care unit on caregiver burden and readiness for caregiving. The research was carried out between November 2024 and June 2025 with the caregivers of patients hospitalized in the Palliative Care Unit of Istanbul Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital. The study was conducted with informal caregivers who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, divided into an intervention group (n=35) and a control group (n=35). Data were collected using a descriptive characteristics form, the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, and the Readiness for Caregiving Scale. After obtaining verbal and written informed consent, the caregivers assigned to the intervention group by randomization completed the forms. Then, an educational session was provided and an educational booklet was given to the caregiver. Weekly support was provided through communication with the caregivers for one month. At the end of the month, the scales were reapplied. In the control group, after the initial application of the scales, no intervention was applied for one month, and the scales were reapplied at the end of the month. When comparing the caregivers in the intervention and control groups, no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of caregiver burden (p˃0.05). However, it was found that the level of readiness for caregiving increased significantly in the intervention group after the education (p=0.000). In the control group, the readiness for caregiving level also increased after one month, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.015). As a result, it was observed that the level of readiness for caregiving increased in both groups after one month. It was determined that caregivers of patients in palliative care experienced a moderate level of caregiver burden. Although the education provided to caregivers did not have a statistically significant effect on reducing caregiver burden, it was found to have a slight positive effect. Keywords: Informal care giver, Burden of caregiving, Readiness for care, Palliative care, Education