The Impact of a Web-based Empowerment Program on Intolerance of Uncertainty and Maintenance Burden.

The Effect of a Web-Based Empowerment Program Based on the Theory of Illness Applied to Caregivers of Prostate Cancer Patients on Intolerance of Uncertainty and Caregiver Burden: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between uncertainty intolerance and caregiver burden in a web-based empowerment program based on uncertainty theory in disease, applied to caregivers of prostate cancer patients.

This study was designed as a pre-test-post-test parallel-group, randomized controlled experimental design. The research will be conducted at the Radiation Oncology Clinic of Necmettin Erbakan University Faculty of Medicine Hospital, Republic of Turkey. Caregivers of prostate cancer patients will be randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (31) and control group (31). For the experimental group: A web-based reinforcement program based on uncertainty theory will be applied. For the control group: No application will be made to the caregivers. The primary outcome of this study is to determine the intolerance to uncertainty scores of caregivers of prostate cancer patients. The secondary outcome is to determine the caregiving burden of caregivers.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Over 18 years of age,
• Able to speak Turkish,
• Literate,
• No hearing or vision problems,
• No neurological and/or psychiatric disorders,
• Physical and cognitive health levels suitable for answering the forms used in the study,
• Having a patient diagnosed with prostate cancer,
• Being the primary caregiver responsible for meeting the patient's care needs (home care, supervision, hospital check-ups, etc.) within the family,
• Having a patient scheduled for hormone therapy and radiotherapy,
• Not having undergone prostatectomy,
• Having an electronic device such as a smartphone or computer with internet access, either themselves or a family member,
• Caregivers of prostate cancer who volunteer to participate in the study will be included.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Caregivers whose patients are receiving chemotherapy will be excluded.