Louise F. Haynes, MSW (Medical University of South Carolina, SC Node), Nancy Waite-O'Brien, PhD (Betty Ford Center, PA Node), Robert L. Hubbard, PhD, MBA (Duke University, NC Node).

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As lengths of stay in inpatient care have become shorter, it is increasingly important to assist clients in making successful transitions from residential to outpatient care. However, this transition often presents special challenges for both clients and staff. This article describes the intuitively compelling, scientifically promising practice of telephone-based disease management. The feasibility of implementing such a practice was recently examined as part of a National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network protocol entitled, "A Feasibility Study of a Telephone Enhancement Procedure (TELE) to Improve Participation in Continuing Care Activities" (CTN-0011). The TELE protocol was designed as a pilot test, and not as a full-scale research project, and was therefore expected to provide the results needed to support the development of subsequent research. Four residential treatment centers located in three states participated in CTN-0011, and over 330 clients were recruited into the study over a one-year period. Results from the TELE study clearly established the feasibility of making telephone calls to clients who are discharged to the community setting. When outcomes were assessed by verified attendance records, those clients who received the supportive TELE calls were more likely to attend at least one continuing care appointment than those in the standard care group (47.9% versus 36.5%). Offering continued encouragement through a TELE-like procedure appears to be a low-cost alternative that may prevent another treatment episode for a relapsing client. (Magazine Article, PDF, English, 2007)

Keywords: Aftercare | Community health services | CTN outcomes | Telephone Enhancement Procedure (TELE) | Retention | Counselor (magazine)

Document No: 221

Submitted by CTN Dissemination Librarians, 8/3/2007.