The effect of a smartphone-based educational intervention on the supportive care needs of family caregivers of patients with colorectal cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

This study aimed to determine the effect of implementing a smartphone-based educational program on the supportive care needs of family caregivers of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). This experimental study, designed as a randomized controlled trial (RCT), was conducted among family caregivers of patients with CRC in two teaching hospitals affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran. A total of 80 caregivers were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The intervention group received a smartphone-based educational program designed to meet their supportive care needs, while the control group received routine care. The Supportive Care Needs Survey-Partners and Caregivers (SCNS-P&C) was completed by both groups before and 4 weeks after the intervention. The total score of the SCNS-P&C ranged from 39 to 195. Higher scores on the overall scale and on each of its dimensions indicated greater supportive care needs in the corresponding domain. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and repeated-measures ANCOVA (p < 0.05) in SPSS version 16. Findings indicated a reduction in total supportive care needs, and its four dimensions-health care service needs, psychological and emotional needs, work and social needs, and information needs-was significantly greater in the intervention group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). This study found that family caregivers of patients with colorectal cancer who participated in a smartphone-based educational program reported greater reductions in supportive care needs over 1 month than those in the control group. These findings suggest that smartphone-based educational interventions may be a promising approach to supporting family caregivers.