title: Feasibility of a telephone-based counseling program for informal caregivers of hospice patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Informal caregivers of hospice patients experience multiple stressors that can negatively impact physical, psychological, and emotional health. The Caregiver Life Line (CaLL) study was a one-group, intervention-only feasibility study of a telephone cognitive-behavioral stress-management intervention consisting of 10 to 12 weekly telephone counseling calls designed specifically for informal caregivers of home-based hospice patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Caregivers, who were recruited via seven participating hospices, were assessed at baseline, 3, and 6 months. Psychosocial measures included depression, perceived stress, benefit finding, social support, and quality of life (QoL). Process evaluation was also conducted at 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 25 participants, 19 completed the 12-week intervention. The mean age was 60.3 years; 91% were female and 70% married. Forty-eight percent were caring for a spouse; 51% were caring for a parent or other family member. Participating caregivers and hospice staff reported high levels of satisfaction with the intervention. Although the small sample size and lack of a control group limit our ability to assess the efficacy of the intervention, psychosocial outcomes changed in the expected direction and participants reported high levels of self-efficacy regarding their ability to implement the adaptive coping skills. Interestingly, we observed a decrease in physical QoL across the three time points.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study demonstrated that the CaLL intervention is feasible and acceptable to informal hospice caregivers. This report describes important lessons learned from the pilot study with the intention of informing future intervention studies with this population.
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Kristin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kilbourn
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costenaro
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Madore
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Deroche
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Tarah
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Keech
authors.forename: Jean S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kutner
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D013689:Telephone