The Effect of Benson Relaxation Technique on Caregiver Burden in the Informal Caregivers of Cancer Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Informal caregivers provide long-term support and care for cancer patients and they do not receive enough support from the family and the health system; as a result, they suffer from a lot of caregiver burden. Objectives: In the current study, we investigated the effect of the Benson relaxation technique on caregiver burden in informal caregivers of cancer patients. Methods: This randomized clinical trial with a control group was conducted on 113 caregivers, who scored X ≥ 48 from the Novak and Guest caregiver burden inventory. They were randomly divided into intervention group (n = 57) and control group (n = 56). The intervention group performed Benson relaxation twice a day for 20 minutes each time for 1 month. The control group did not receive any intervention. Then, after 1 month, Novak and Guest caregiver burden questionnaire was completed by both groups. The conceptual framework for this study was based on the general system theory modified by Ludwig Von Bertalanffy. Results: The mean score of the total caregiver burden before the intervention in the intervention and control groups was 71.16 ± 14.42 and 74.47 ± 15.16, respectively. After the intervention, the mean score of the total care burden in the intervention and control groups changed to 57.21 ± 14.66 and 75.47 ± 13.94, respectively. Data analysis shows a significant decrease in the intervention group (P = 0.000). Conclusions: The results showed that the Benson relaxation technique as a cheap and non-pharmacological method effectively reduces the caregiver burden in informal caregivers of cancer patients.