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Empowerment of Women to Provide Home-based Supportive and Palliative Care for Patients with Cancer: Participatory Action Research Protocol

Background: Determining the needs and challenges of women, who care for patients with cancer and providing appropriate strategies to empower them in the design and implementation of appropriate change programs pave the way for the promotion of these women's health and empowerment. Objectives: This study aims at identifying the needs and challenges of women and developing a program to empower women, who care for patients with cancer. Methods: The present study is based on a participatory action research approach and uses the Kemmis and McTaggart model. The participatory action research of this study will be in 4 phases of planning, action, observation, and reflection. In the planning phase, the needs and challenges of female caregivers are examined from the perspective of women and the health team and, then, women's empowerment strategies in providing home-based supportive and palliative care for patients with cancer are determined, using the results of the qualitative phase and review of the literature by using the decision matrix. In the action phase, the selected strategies are implemented with the help of process owners. In the observation phase, combining different methods, data will be collected to measure the results of change. Finally, in the reflection phase, the results of the implementation of the strategies are evaluated and this cycle continues until the intended results are achieved. Discussion: Empowerment of the women, who care for patients with cancer requires awareness, motivation, and active participation of women and the health team. As many cultural and social factors affect the health and participation of these women, participatory research can involve them in promoting their health.