Feasibility of a telephone-based counseling program for informal caregivers of hospice patients.

Objectives: 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.