Family Intervention: Telephone Tracking (FITT): a pilot stroke outcome study.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to preliminarily test the efficacy of a telephone intervention, Family Intervention: Telephone Tracking, designed to assist stroke survivors and their primary caregivers during the first 6 months after stroke.


METHODS
Forty-nine stroke survivors and their caregivers were randomly assigned to treatment as usual or treatment as usual plus the telephone intervention. Global outcomes are reported for health care utilization, family functioning, and general functioning.


RESULTS
Family and general functioning were positively and significantly changed at 3 and 6 months. Health care utilization was positively and significantly changed at 3 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that the model has the potential to decrease health care utilization and improve quality of life for stroke survivors and their caregivers. Further study is warranted.
Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island.
Duane
D
Bishop
Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island Butler Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island.
Ivan
I
Miller
San Francisco Bay Area Center for Cognitive Therapy, Oakland, California University of California, Berkeley, California.
Daniel
D
Weiner
Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island Southern New England Rehabilitation Center, Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, North Providence, Rhode Island Providence College, Providence, Rhode Island.
Thomas
T
Guilmette
Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island Southern New England Rehabilitation Center, Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, North Providence, Rhode Island.
Jon
J
Mukand
Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island Department of Neurology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
Edward
E
Feldmann
Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island.
Gabor
G
Keitner
Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island.
Beth
B
Springate
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers; D015897:Comorbidity; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012919:Social Behavior; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D017741:Survivors; D013689:Telephone; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
caregiving; family function; stroke; telephone intervention