Family Intervention: Telephone Tracking (FITT): a pilot stroke outcome study

Abstract

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.

Method: 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.

Conclusion: 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.

Keywords: caregiving; family function; stroke; telephone intervention.