title: Randomized Trial of the Family Intervention: Telephone Tracking-Caregiver for Dementia Caregivers: Use of Community and Healthcare Resources.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dyads (n = 250) of distressed informal dementia caregivers and care recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.|Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tremont
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.|Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Jennifer D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.|Department of Neurology, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Brian R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.|Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Galioto
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Cara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crook
authors.affiliation: Center for Statistical Sciences, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Papandonatos
authors.affiliation: UConn Center on Aging, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Fortinsky
authors.affiliation: Center for Gerontology and Health Care Research, Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gozalo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Duane S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Bishop
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: caregiver; dementia; healthcare use; telephone intervention