Findings demonstrated that the FEP increased family functioning
and family empowerment at one month and three
month follow up, whereas the usual care did not. The characteristics
of children and primary family caregivers were not
significantly different between the experimental group and
control group.Therefore, the improving of family functioningand empowerment could be the effect of the FEP. The FEP
was conducted with the context of a trusting relationship with
family caregivers, understanding family suffering and ability
of child care management, accepting family beliefs and experiences
without judgment, and offering commendations. The
FEP intervention was a group process focusing on exchanging
caregiving experiences and knowledge, enhancing decision
making, and providing psychosocial support (Paterson,
2001; Pibernik-Okanovic et al., 2004). This intervention
changed the perspective about illness, improved child-care
abilities, enhanced confidence in managing family situations,