Investigation of the effect of family support program based on the nurse-led case management model for family members who care for bedridden patients

Introduction and Aim: It is of paramount importance to enable the patients receiving home care and their relatives to adapt social life, to fulfil their social integration, to relieve the burden of family members of the individual in need of care, especially the individual providing care, by supporting them in the environment where they live. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effect of the family support program based on the nurse-led case management model for family members who care for bedridden patients. Material and Method: The study was conducted between March 2020 and January 2021 in a randomized controlled experimental design with intervention (n=13) and control (n=14) groups. The family support program based on a five-stage nurse-led case management model was administered for the caregivers in the intervention group, the caregivers in the control group were monitored by home health services through routine follow-ups. Data were collected before and after the intervention, in the third and sixth months by "Patient Identification Form", "Barthel Activities of Daily Living Index", "Caregiver Identification Form", "Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale", "WHOQOL-BREF-TR Quality of Life Scale" and "Family APGAR Scale". ANOVA, multiple comparison test (Bonferroni) and chi-square test were utilized in the evaluation of the data. Results: It was found out that there was a significant difference among care burden, quality of life, and family functionality level total scores of caregivers in the intervention and control groups in terms of group, time and group*time interaction (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that the family support program based on a nurse-led case management model for caregivers had a positive effect on individuals' care burden, quality of life, and family functionality level.