The effectiveness of telehealth for a caregiver wellness program.

INTRODUCTION: This study compared outcomes of a telehealth and in-person delivered caregiver wellness program called Powerful Tools for Caregivers (PTC). METHODS: A total of 11 pairs of PTC class leaders delivered in-person and telehealth PTC classes. Caregiver participants completed a health-related questionnaire one week before, one week after, and six months after completing the program. A split-plot, mixed-design analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t tests were used to examine attendance and health-related outcome measures: depression as measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-Revised (CESD-R), caregiver experience as measured by the Bakas Caregiving Outcomes scale (BCOS), caregiver self-efficacy, and number of negative self-care behaviors. RESULTS: A total of 72 caregivers attended PTC in-person and 42 attended via telehealth.Mean attendance was 4.97 ± 1.21 for the in-person group and 5.21 ± 0.071 for the telehealth group, with no significant difference between delivery formats t(112) = 1.074, p = 0.285; 23 caregivers completed all three assessment periods for ANOVA. Interaction of group and time was non-significant for all outcome measures and the main effect of group was only significant for CESD-R scores at pre-PTC assessment, indicating that there were no differences between the two delivery formats for outcomes at post test or six months. The effect of time was significant for all outcome measures, indicating both in-person and telehealth participants improved on health-related outcomes over time. DISCUSSION: Telehealth is an effective delivery format for PTC - a traditionally in-person caregiver wellness program. This trial was registered [ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03800238].

Increasing Caregiver Access to Programming: A Qualitative Exploration of Caregivers' Experience of a Telehealth Powerful Tools for Caregivers Program.

Family caregivers can benefit from education-based wellness programs, but many face barriers to attending such programs. The purpose of this research was to explore telehealth as a delivery format for an education-based caregiver wellness program. This qualitative research examined the caregiver experience of a specific program called Powerful Tools for Caregivers (PTC). The traditionally in-person program was delivered via telehealth in four states. Twelve caregivers participated in focus groups the week after completing the telehealth PTC program. Three major themes emerged from the focus groups: Knowledge Gained, Interrelatedness, and Technology Pros and Cons. All affirmed a positive experience of the telehealth delivered PTC program. Participants expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the program and knowledge gained including relaxation techniques, communication skills, resources to support caregiving, and goal setting for self-care. Furthermore, participants were appreciative of the opportunity to connect with other caregivers from the comfort of their home.

The Provider's Experience of Delivering an Education-Based Wellness Program via Telehealth.

Provider acceptance is a first step to implementing a successful telehealth program. This pilot study examined the experience of six providers delivering an education-based wellness program in a telehealth format. Providers indicated an overall positive experience with high Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ) total scores (5.6 ± 1.1) and in their comments. High TUQ subscale scores for Usefulness (6.7 ± 0.4) and Ease of Use (5.3 ± 0.3) indicated providers found the telehealth system usable. Strong relationship bonds that developed offset the reported drawback of technical issues related to connectivity and audio. Providers with a wide range of computer experience all reported synchronous remote training via phone and videoconference meetings was adequate to prepare them to deliver classes via telehealth. This research indicates motivated providers with varying technology experience can have a positive telehealth experience with customized remote support.

Feasibility of Using Telehealth to Deliver the "Powerful Tools for Caregivers" Program.

Caregivers report poorer health and wellness than the general population and identify numerous barriers to their attending programs to improve health and wellness. The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of employing a telehealth delivery method to enhance access to caregiver wellness programs. This article presents the quantitative results of a mixed methods feasibility study of translating the Powerful Tools for Caregivers (PTC) program to a telehealth delivery format. Four unpaid family caregivers of older adults participated in a telehealth delivered PTC program, a wellness program with established outcomes in the in-person environment. The program was delivered using synchronous videoconferencing methods. High class attendance and a high median total average Telehealth Usability Questionnaire score of 5.7 indicated the telehealth delivery method was feasible. This research suggests that telehealth is a feasible delivery format for a caregiver program traditionally delivered in an in-person format.

Caregiver Perceptions of a Telehealth Wellness Program.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to understand caregivers' experience of an education-based wellness program delivered using telehealth. METHOD: In this qualitative pilot study, 4 caregivers participated in a focus group after completing a 6-wk telehealth program. Data analysis involved open coding, thematic analysis, and coding triangulation. RESULTS: Two major themes emerged. The first, "I feel like I am now prepared," included the subthemes of strategies for caregiver self-maintenance, the understanding that caregiving is a normal process, and the value of a group experience. The second theme, "It was just a good interaction," included the subthemes of benefits of telehealth, challenges of telehealth, and process of learning the technology. CONCLUSION: Participant discussion of the content learned and the value of group support indicated that telehealth was effective in both promoting learning and facilitating relationships. Even with challenges, participants reported an overall positive experience. Telehealth holds promise for increasing access to health promotion programs.

Effectiveness of long and short bout walking on increasing physical activity in women.

BACKGROUND: The accumulation of physical activity (PA) throughout the day has been suggested as a means to increase PA behavior. It is not known, however, if accumulated PA results in equivalent increases in PA behavior compared with one continuous session. The purpose of this investigation was to compare changes in PA between participants assigned to walk daily in accumulated shorter bouts vs. one continuous session. METHODS: In this 8-week randomized controlled trial, 60 inactive women were randomly assigned to one of the following: (1) control group, (2) 30 minutes a day of walking 5 days a week in one continuous long bout (LB), or (3) three short 10-minute bouts (SB) of walking a day, all at a prescribed heart rate intensity. Walking was assessed by pedometer and self-reported walking log. Before and after measures were taken of average steps/day, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), resting heart rate (RHR), six-minute walk test (6MWT) distance, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and hip and waist circumference. RESULTS: Both walking groups significantly increased PA measured as steps/day compared to controls (p < 0.001), and no significant differences were found between LB and SB groups. The LB group demonstrated significant decreases in hip circumference and significant increases in 6MWT distance compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Both walking groups significantly increased PA participation. LB group participants completed more walking at a higher intensity than the SB and control groups, which resulted in significant increases in health benefits.