Combined Effects of the Mobile Health (mHealth) Psychoeducation and Benson Relaxation Technique in Reducing the Caregiving Burden of Cancer Patients in Bangladesh: A Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Md Marufur Roshid; Md Moshiur Rahman; Md Nazmul Alam; Bilkis Banu; Kaniz Fateema Eity; Rafiur Rahman Shahin; Syeda Sabrina Easmin Shaba; Md Jiaur Rahman; Mohammad Habibur Rahman Sarker; Hitoshi Okamura

doi:10.7759/cureus.55520

Combined Effects of the Mobile Health (mHealth) Psychoeducation and Benson Relaxation Technique in Reducing the Caregiving Burden of Cancer Patients in Bangladesh: A Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Cureus. 2024 Mar 4;16(3):e55520. doi: 10.7759/cureus.55520. eCollection 2024 Mar.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, JPN.
² Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, JPN.
³ Department of Oncology, Khwaja Yunus Ali Medical College and Hospital, Sirajganj, BGD.
⁴ Department of Public Health, Northern University, Dhaka, BGD.
⁵ Department of Public Health and Health Policy, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, JPN.
⁶ Department of Nutrition and Clinical Service, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research (ICDDR), Dhaka, BGD.

Abstract

Background: Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, including cancer, are a significant global public health concern. Family members or friends who serve as caregivers significantly contribute to supporting cancer patients without formal medical training. In most cases in Bangladesh, women perform caregiving activities with household responsibilities and lack adequate support from the family and healthcare systems; consequently, they face a significant burden as caregivers. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of combined mobile health (mHealth) psychoeducation and the Benson relaxation technique (BRT) on the caregiving burden among female informal caregivers of cancer patients in Bangladesh.

Methods: We shall conduct a prospective, open-label, two-arm (1:1), randomized controlled trial in a hospital, focusing on the burden of informal female caregivers of cancer patients in Bangladesh. The combined intervention will be delivered to the intervention group through mHealth starting April 2024 and will span six months. Participants' data will be collected through face-to-face interviews using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Bangla Short Instrument. Outcomes will be assessed at the baseline, midline, and endline. We shall employ descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. The t-test or Mann-Whitney U test will be used to compare continuous variables. Additionally, a two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance will be employed to evaluate the outcomes.

Results: Participant enrollment began in January 2024, and recruitment is ongoing. The results of this study will be disseminated through publications and conferences. No external professional writers were involved in writing this manuscript.

Conclusion: This study addresses the gap in the assessment of combined interventions for caregiver burden in Bangladesh. These outcomes may provide valuable insights into caregivers' well-being, caregiving responsibilities, and the potential for integrated interventions to reduce the burden, especially among women. If effective, we recommend the national integration of psychoeducation and BRT using mHealth.

Keywords: bangladesh; benson relaxation technique; cancer; caregiver burden; female caregivers; informal caregivers; mhealth; psychoeducation.