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Randomized Trial of the Family Intervention: Telephone Tracking—Caregiver for Dementia Caregivers: Use of Community and Healthcare Resources
Author(s) -
Tremont Geoffrey,
Davis Jennifer D.,
Ott Brian R.,
Galioto Rachel,
Crook Cara,
Papandonatos George D.,
Fortinsky Richard H.,
Gozalo Pedro,
Bishop Duane S.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/jgs.14684
Subject(s) - medicine , intervention (counseling) , randomized controlled trial , dementia , psychological intervention , family caregivers , telephone call , psychoeducation , caregiver burden , emergency department , health care , physical therapy , gerontology , nursing , disease , engineering , economic growth , electrical engineering , economics , surgery , pathology
Objectives To examine the effects of a telephone‐delivered intervention, Family Intervention: Telephone Tracking—Caregiver ( FITT ‐C), on community support and healthcare use by dementia caregivers. Design Randomized, controlled trial. Setting Academic medical center. Participants Dyads (n = 250) of distressed informal dementia caregivers and care recipients. Intervention Caregivers were randomly assigned to receive the FITT ‐C (n = 133) or telephone support ( TS ; n = 117). Both groups received 16 telephone contacts from a master's‐level therapist over 6 months. The FITT ‐C intervention provided psychoeducation, problem solving, and other directive approaches based on assessment of critical areas (e.g., mood, behavior, family functioning, social support). TS provided supportive therapeutic strategies. Measurements Outcome variables were caregiver report of community support service use, number of visits to the emergency department ( ED ) for caregivers and care recipients, and hospital stays for caregivers during the interventions. Results Intervention groups did not differ in demographic characteristics, use of support services, or use of healthcare resources at baseline. Caregivers who received the FITT ‐C used community support services at end of treatment significantly more than those receiving TS ( P = .02). FITT ‐C caregivers had a significantly lower rate of ED visits (rate difference 9.5%, P = .048) and hospital stays (rate difference 11.4%, P = .01) over the 6‐month course of the intervention than TS caregivers. Care recipient use of community or medical resources did not differ according to group. Conclusion An entirely telephone‐delivered intervention was effective in increasing caregiver engagement in community resources and reducing caregiver use of hospital‐based healthcare resources. Results highlight the potential effect of FITT ‐C on healthcare use.