زهرا نادری ملک

Female cancers, as a major public health challenge, impose significant psychological, social, and economic burdens on patients and their families, in addition to physical consequences, substantially affecting their quality of life and psychosocial resilience. This study aimed to design a comprehensive empowerment model for married women with female cancers, considering individual, familial, and systemic support dimensions. The research was conducted in three phases. The first phase involved a systematic review of scientific studies on empowerment interventions for women with female cancers to identify effective strategies. The second phase, a qualitative study, included interviews with ۲۴ women with cancer and experts in social work, psychology, and medicine. This phase aimed to explore the participants’ needs, challenges, strengths, and expert perspectives on empowerment strategies. Qualitative data were analyzed and categorized into two main domains: challenges and needs and proposed interventions.

Based on the findings of these phases, two models were developed: a three-part evaluation model, encompassing individual factors, disease-related factors, and support system factors; and a three-level empowerment intervention model, applicable across three temporal stages: pre-treatment (encounter stage), during treatment, and post-treatment. These models propose interventions at the individual, family, and systemic levels, including psychological and educational support, strengthening the supportive role of families, enhancing healthcare services, and establishing support groups.

During the validation phase, the evaluation model indicators and proposed interventions were assessed by ۱۰ experts using Content Validity Ratio (CVR) and Content Validity Index (CVI). Results showed that out of ۵۱ evaluation indicators, ۳۹ were retained, and out of ۶۴ proposed interventions, ۵۵ achieved acceptable content validity. The final model demonstrated a mean CVR of ۰.۸۵۶ and a CVI of ۰.۸۹, indicating satisfactory content validity and practical applicability.

The proposed model provides a multi-level and time-sensitive framework that is conceptually coherent, culturally adaptable to the Iranian context, and can serve as a practical guide for social workers, psychologists, and other professionals in women’s health. Beyond enhancing quality of life, psychosocial resilience, and individual and familial empowerment, the model facilitates the design of targeted and effective interventions across the three stages of the cancer experience.