The Effect of Dyadic Self-Care Education Provided to Breast Cancer Patient-Caregiver Dyads on Patient and Caregiver Outcomes

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients:

* Female patients aged 18 years or older.
* Diagnosed with stage II or III breast cancer.
* Aware of their breast cancer diagnosis.
* Receiving outpatient chemotherapy after mastectomy.
* Having received at least one cycle of an EC (epirubicin-cyclophosphamide) or AC (doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide) chemotherapy regimen.
* Able to read and write Turkish.
* Having a primary caregiver who is willing to participate in the study.
* Living with the primary caregiver.
* Conscious, able to communicate effectively, and able to provide informed consent.
* No diagnosed psychiatric disorder.

Primary Caregivers:

* Aged 18 years or older.
* Able to read and write Turkish.
* Living with the patient.
* Being the patient's spouse, parent, child, friend, or another relative.
* Assuming the main responsibility for the patient's care.
* Willing and able to cooperate and provide informed consent.
* No diagnosed psychiatric disorder.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients:

* Having experienced a major adverse life event within the previous 3 months, such as bereavement or divorce.
* Admission to an intensive care unit during the study.
* Progression of the disease to stage IV breast cancer.
* Death or loss to follow-up.

Primary Caregivers:

* Having experienced a major adverse life event within the previous 3 months, such as bereavement or divorce.
* Deterioration in health that prevents continued participation.
* Transfer of the primary caregiving responsibility to another person.