Nurse-Led Caregiver Support Program in Home Palliative Care

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of a nurse-led caregiver support program on caregiver competency and healthcare utilization among family caregivers of patients receiving home palliative care. Family caregivers in the intervention group will receive a structured 6-week nurse-led support program including face-to-face education, weekly telephone coaching, caregiver guidance materials, and decision support for symptom management and healthcare utilization. The control group will continue to receive routine home palliative care services. Primary outcome is caregiver competency. Secondary outcomes include caregiver burden, self-efficacy, patient symptom burden, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adult family caregivers of patients receiving home palliative care services * Age 18 years or older * Being the primary caregiver responsible for the patient's daily care * Ability to communicate in Turkish * Willingness to participate in the study Exclusion Criteria: * Professional or paid caregivers * Caregivers with severe cognitive impairment or severe psychiatric disorders * Inability to participate in follow-up assessments