The Effectiveness of Web-based Self-Compassion Training on Caregiving Burden and Quality of Life of Family Caregivers of Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Study Protocol for a Single-blind, Two-arm Parallel Randomized Controlled Trial
- 1Norwegian University of Science and Technology: Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Abstract
Family caregivers of cancer patients, especially advanced cancer patients, face a significant load of care and also decline in life quality. Caregiving challenges are related to feelings of guilt, self-criticism, and shame. Self-compassion is also linked to reduced negative emotions and increased effective coping strategies. Due to time constraints and limited access to in-person support, web-based training can provide an accessible and cost-effective option for caregivers. This single-blind randomized controlled trial evaluates whether web-based self-compassion training based on Compassion-Focused Therapy improves quality of life and reduces the burden of care among Family Caregivers of patients with advanced cancer. A total of 96 caregivers aged 18 and above in oncology and palliative care units will be randomly assigned to the Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) group or the Treatment as Usual (TAU) group. The CFT group will receive eight sessions of web-based self-compassion training over four weeks (two sessions per week), while the TAU group will receive usual care. Data will be collected using the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) to assess caregiving burden and the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer Scale (CQOLC) to assess life quality in three phases: baseline, immediately after completion of the training and four weeks after completion of the training. In addition, two researcher-developed instruments will be used: The Compassion-Focused Therapy Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Compassion-Focused Therapy Adherence Scale. Data will be analysed using linear mixed-effects modelling in R to evaluate the effectiveness of the CFT treatment. This study may assess whether web-based self-compassion training leads to a reduction in caregiving burden and an improvement quality of life for family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer.
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BibTeX
@misc{pouzesh2026effectiveness,
title = {{The Effectiveness of Web-based Self-Compassion Training on Caregiving Burden and Quality of Life of Family Caregivers of Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Study Protocol for a Single-blind, Two-arm Parallel Randomized Controlled Trial}},
author = {A. Pouzesh and z. alizadeh and M. A. Farahani and N. Seyedfatemi and M. Roudbari and M. Khanmohammadi and M. Habibi Asgarabad},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.27.26366594},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.27.26366594v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - The Effectiveness of Web-based Self-Compassion Training on Caregiving Burden and Quality of Life of Family Caregivers of Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Study Protocol for a Single-blind, Two-arm Parallel Randomized Controlled Trial
AU - A. Pouzesh
AU - z. alizadeh
AU - M. A. Farahani
AU - N. Seyedfatemi
AU - M. Roudbari
AU - M. Khanmohammadi
AU - M. Habibi Asgarabad
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/27
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.10.27.26366594
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.27.26366594v1
AB - Family caregivers of cancer patients, especially advanced cancer patients, face a significant load of care and also decline in life quality. Caregiving challenges are related to feelings of guilt, self-criticism, and shame. Self-compassion is also linked to reduced negative emotions and increased effective coping strategies. Due to time constraints and limited access to in-person support, web-based training can provide an accessible and cost-effective option for caregivers. This single-blind randomized controlled trial evaluates whether web-based self-compassion training based on Compassion-Focused Therapy improves quality of life and reduces the burden of care among Family Caregivers of patients with advanced cancer. A total of 96 caregivers aged 18 and above in oncology and palliative care units will be randomly assigned to the Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) group or the Treatment as Usual (TAU) group. The CFT group will receive eight sessions of web-based self-compassion training over four weeks (two sessions per week), while the TAU group will receive usual care. Data will be collected using the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) to assess caregiving burden and the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer Scale (CQOLC) to assess life quality in three phases: baseline, immediately after completion of the training and four weeks after completion of the training. In addition, two researcher-developed instruments will be used: The Compassion-Focused Therapy Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Compassion-Focused Therapy Adherence Scale. Data will be analysed using linear mixed-effects modelling in R to evaluate the effectiveness of the CFT treatment. This study may assess whether web-based self-compassion training leads to a reduction in caregiving burden and an improvement quality of life for family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer.
ER -