Exploring How Gerontological Nursing Telephone Support Can Assist Informal Caregivers of Older Adults at Hospital Discharge-A Qualitative Study.

The study reports only caregivers who completed the FECH+ programme and were interviewed, so it does not include caregivers who did not complete it. Participants were English-speaking caregivers from three Australian hospitals, so the findings may not apply to caregivers who speak other languages or live in other settings. The linked trial found no significant difference in caregivers' health-related quality of life, the primary outcome, so the positive caregiver descriptions cannot be read as proof that the programme improved that outcome. The interviews occurred after the programme ended, so they rely on caregiver recall rather than observation during the calls.

This study was funded by a grant from the National Health and Medical Research Foundation of Australia. One author, Anne-Marie Hill, receives funding support from the Royal Perth Hospital Research Foundation. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Do not conclude that nurse telephone calls alone improved caregiver outcomes. The FECH+ programme also included a booklet, tailored resources, a needs assessment tool and a problem-solving approach, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated. The linked trial also found no significant difference in caregivers' health-related quality of life, the primary outcome.