The Effect of Forgiveness Psychoeducation on Death Anxiety, Caregiver Burden, and Forgiveness Tendencies in Caregivers of Patients at the End of Life: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract

Background: Providing caregivers with the skills and awareness of forgiveness is crucial to help them express their emotions, navigate the grieving process more smoothly, enhance their interaction with the patient, and make the time until the patient's death more meaningful.

Objective: To examine the effect of forgiveness psychoeducation on death anxiety, caregiver burden, and forgiveness tendencies in caregivers of patients at the end of life.

Methods: A randomized controlled experimental method was used, including a pretest, posttest, 1-month follow-up, and 3-month follow-up. The research sample included 56 caregivers of patients (experimental group = 28, control group = 28) at the end of life. During the study, forgiveness psychoeducation was administered to the experimental group, whereas no intervention was carried out in the control group. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Thorson-Powell Death Anxiety Scale, Caregiver Burden Scale, and Heartland Forgiveness Scale.

Results: The average scores of death anxiety and caregiving burden in the posttest and follow-up measurements of caregivers in the experimental group were statistically significantly lower than those of caregivers in the control group (P < .05).

Conclusion: Forgiveness psychoeducation reduces death anxiety and caregiving burdens in caregivers of patients at the end of life. It is recommended to provide psychoeducation on forgiveness.

Implication for practice: The psychoeducation conducted by Consultation Liaison Psychiatry Nurses aimed at increasing the internal process of forgiveness can positively influence the communication, emotions, and spiritual development of caregivers of patients at the end of life. Thus, improving the quality of care can be achieved through forgiveness.