Healthcare use and out-of-pocket costs for rural family caregivers and care recipients in a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Rural family caregivers (FCGs) in the United States often experience high economic costs. This randomized controlled trial compared a transitional palliative care intervention (TPC) to support FCGs of seriously ill care recipients (CRs) to an attention control condition. We evaluated the TPC's effect on healthcare use and out-of-pocket spending for both FCGs and CRs.

Methods

TPC FCGs received teaching, guidance, and counseling via video calls for 8 weeks following CR discharge from the hospital. After discharge, a research assistant called all FCGs once a month for up to 6 months or CR death to collect self-reported healthcare utilization (e.g., outpatient, emergency department, and hospital), out-of-pocket healthcare spending (e.g., deductibles and coinsurance),

SUBMITTER: Kaufman BG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11323163 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature