فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

BACKGROUND: The mental health of the mothers of the children with cancer is strongly influencedby the child’s illness and treatment process. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a self‑helpeducational program with peer group on anxiety of the mothers of the children with cancer.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This clinical trial study was conducted on 44 mothers of the childrenwith cancer in an educational Hospital of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Conveniencesampling method was performed on the eligible mothers, and using random allocation, they weredivided into two groups of the intervention (n = 22) and the control (n = 22). Both groups completedthe Hamilton Anxiety Questionnaire before and after the intervention. The intervention of the studywas a self‑help educational program with peer group that was performed in collaboration with themothers of the children with cancer, a psychiatrist, and cancer nurses in the hospital within 3 months.RESULTS: The results showed that 55% of the mothers of the intervention group had severe andvery severe anxiety before the intervention, but the intensity of their anxiety was reported to bemoderate after the intervention. The analysis of covariance with adjusted anxiety score in the twogroups showed that the mean score of anxiety in the intervention group decreased from 22.3 to 12.3after the intervention, showing a significant difference (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: The program, designed to support the mothers and guide the specialists andpsychiatrists to counsel the mothers, can enhance their self‑help and reduce their anxiety level.