Phone support improves wellbeing for people with chronic illnesses

A team intervention, provided by phone, leads to persistent improvements in depression, anxiety and quality of life for people managing chronic illnesses, new US research has found.

The researchers at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus also found that the improvement in quality of life results last months after intervention concludes.

David Bekelman, MD, MPH is professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and study lead author.

The researcher said: “While we do a great job caring for these patients’ illnesses, we can do more for quality of life.

“Many have persistent symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, shortness of breath, and sleep problems that can make living with these illnesses very difficult and have been associated with earlier death.

“Palliative care can help. However, access to outpatient palliative care specialists is limited to non-existent, and new, scalable ways to provide early palliative care are needed.”

In the new study, researchers observed the impact a telecare intervention programme, called ADAPT, had on veterans suffering from poor quality of life as a result of existing chronic illnesses, such as COPD, heart failure (HF) and interstitial lung disease (ILD).

The programme provides palliative care that is not widely available and tackles health concerns that may be missed in standard appointments.

Nurses and social workers reach out to study participants with structured questions and assistance, then discuss responses with a team of doctors, including specialists, to establish how best to address concerns with follow-up calls to track progress.

For adults with COPD, HF or ILD at high risk of hospitalisation and death and poor quality of life, the programme demonstrated early, persistent and clinically meaningful improvements in depression, anxiety and quality of life.

Additionally, while ADAPT lasted for four months, Bekelman and researchers saw positive results early that lasted for many months after the programme ended.

Bekelman said: “There are people who endure persistent symptoms and poor quality of life despite great treatments. We need to fill in the gaps and provide more for these patients.

“This innovative team care model is adaptable, scalable and can help make life better for people living with these illnesses.

“This programme demonstrates that even a short amount of time providing structured telecare results in increased quality of life months after the calls end.”