Effect of coaching on psychological adjustment in patients with spinocerebellar degeneration: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine effect of coaching intervention on psychological adjustment to illness and health-related QOL (HRQOL) in patients with spinocerebellar degeneration.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Twelve independently living patients with spinocerebellar degeneration aged 20-65 years old, without cognitive impairment or psychiatric disorder received coaching intervention, which was postponed in another 12 (control).


METHODS
Three physician coaches telephoned assigned patients for 15-30 minutes in each of 10 weekly coaching sessions over three months.


METHODS
Primary endpoints were HRQOL (SF-36) and psychological adjustment to illness (Nottingham Adjustment Scale, Japanese version; NAS-J).


RESULTS
Two-way analysis of variance (group x time) showed statistically significant main effects of time for vitality (F = 5.00; P = 0.036), anxiety/depression (F = 5.15; P = 0.033), and locus of control (F = 5.58; P = 0.027), indicating improvement of scores over time in both coaching and control groups. No main effect of group or interaction was seen. However analysis of covariance with baseline scores as the covariate showed the coaching group to have better self-efficacy scores than controls at follow-up (least-square mean, experimental group, 65.1; control group, 52.7; P = 0.037).


CONCLUSIONS
Carefully structured telephone coaching can improve self-efficacy in patients with spinocerebellar degeneration.
Izumi
Shin-Ichi
S
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. s-izumi@mail.tains.tohoku.ac.jp
Ando
Kiyoshi
K
Ono
Masafumi
M
Suzukamo
Yoshimi
Y
Michimata
Akira
A
Fukuhara
Shunichi
S
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D020377:Self Efficacy; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013132:Spinocerebellar Degenerations / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone