Discussion
fatigue, breast cancer, stroke, chronic diseases, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, COPD
COPD, CHRONIC DISEASES, STROKE, BREAST CANCER
This study compared the effects of smartphone-based and FTF PR education on CB and QOL among the FCs of patients with COPD. Findings indicated that FTF PR education had no significant effects on CB and QOL, while smartphone-based PR education significantly reduced CB and improved QOL among the FCs of patients with COPD.Our findings showed that most FCs of patients with COPD were female. Findings also indicated that most FCs of patients with COPD were their spouses. In line with this finding, a study revealed that 58% of the FCs of patients with COPD were their spouses. The QOL of patients with chronic diseases and that of their caregiving spouses are affected by each other, and hence, spouses who are involved in caregiving may be more vulnerable [Our findings also revealed that there was no significant between-group difference respecting the pretest mean score of CB while the posttest mean score of CB in the intervention group was significantly less than the control group. This finding denotes the insignificant effects of FTF PR education and the significant positive effects of smartphone-based PR education on CB among the FCs of patients with COPD. In agreement with this finding, a study found that smartphone-based education was effective in significantly reducing fatigue, stress, and CB among the FCs of individuals with dementia [Contrary to our findings, a study showed that web-based education for 3 months had no significant effects on CB among the FCs of patients with Alzheimer’s disease [We also found that although there was no significant between-group difference respecting the pretest mean score of QOL, the posttest mean score of QOL in the intervention group was significantly more than the control group. In agreement with this finding, one study showed that smartphone-based education significantly improved QOL among the FCs of patients with Alzheimer’s disease [In contradiction to our findings, a study showed the insignificant effects of a smartphone-based breast cancer support program on QOL among women with breast cancer who received chemotherapy [We also found that FTF PR education had no significant effects on CB and QOL among the FCs of patients with COPD. In agreement with this finding, a study into the effects of caregiving education revealed that routine family education had no significant effects on CB among the FCs of patients with stroke [