When accessibility is an issue: Telephone support groups for caregivers

Telephone support groups provide access to underserved and hard-to-reach individuals who are not able to attend in-person groups. This article examines the pros and cons of using telephone groups for family care-givers of patients with advanced disease, a population whose responsibilities often preclude leaving the house and/or scheduling the time necessary to obtain support. The clinical work in this initial effort with palliative care patients and the related literature seem to demonstrate that, although there are intrinsic barriers to effective telephone groups, the advantages make it a viable alternative for this population. An attempt to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention will also be described.