Discussion
schizophrenia
DISEASE
The present study findings revealed the effectiveness of the health promotion program based on Watson’s human caring theory in improving the sense of coherence and well-being amongst the caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia. To our knowledge, no study has been conducted on individual care for caregivers of persons with schizophrenia using Watson’s human caring theory. Previous studies on the impacts of various educational and supportive interventions for health promotion among caregivers of persons with schizophrenia validate the present study results. The current research findings revealed an improvement in the mean scores of sense of coherence dimensions (comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness) in the participants who received the care program compared to those who did not. This might be attributed to the fact that considering the Carative factors in the Caritas processes based on Watson’s human caring theory [The present study results indicated a significant difference between the intervention and control groups concerning the mean scores of the well-being of doing activities and well-being to meeting basic needs. This could result from the fact that, based on Watson’s theory, the nurses and caregivers jointly found solutions for identifying problems, meeting mental, social, and spiritual needs, solving problems associated with the loss of life routines, and fulfilling the healing process. In addition, the individuals were supported in achieving problem-solving and self-healing capabilities. Consistently, the results of controlled quasi-experimental research with pre and post-test design on caregivers of patients with schizophrenia in Iran demonstrated that training stress coping skills with an educational-mental approach effectively promoted the caregivers’ performance and well-being [The current research’s care program intervention was based on Watson’s Human Caring theory. It included a comprehensive plan for holistic health promotion through individually tailored education and training. The program contained content related to mindfulness, attention to oneself, and self-care in physical, mental, social, and spiritual dimensions. Other dimensions of this program included problem-solving, stress-coping techniques, effective communication, disease management skills training, and kind treatment of patients and caregivers. The creation of awareness and reliable presence using mindfulness exercises and transpersonal human relationships were the critical interventions in this theory [Similarly, several studies have revealed positive interventions based on Watson’s theory. For instance, Duman, Çiçek, and Baksi [A mixed-method systematic review indicated that educational-mental interventions to address life problems stemming from caring for someone with schizophrenia should include exercises and activities for participants to practice what they have learned during the interventions [