Analysis of subjective evaluations of the functions of tele-coaching intervention in patients with spinocerebellar degeneration

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Hayashi, Akiko^{a; *} | Kayama, Mami^{b; *} | Ando, Kiyoshi^c | Ono, Masafumi^d | Suzukamo, Yoshimi^e | Michimata, Akira^f | Akiyama, Miki Onishi^g | Fukuhara, Shunichi^h | Izumi, Shin-Ichi^f

Affiliations: [a] Formerly Department of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, St. Luke's College of Nursing Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, Nagoya, Japan | [b] Department of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, St. Luke's College of Nursing Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, Tokyo, Japan | [c] Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara-shi, Japan | [d] Department of Ophthalmology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan | [e] Department of Epidemiology and Health Care Research, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Sendai, Japan | [f] Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan | [g] Department of Psychiatric Nursing, School of Nursing, Tokyo Healthcare University, Tokyo, Japan | [h] Department of Epidemiology and Health Care Research, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto, Japan

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding authors: Akiko Hayashi, Formerly Department of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, St. Luke's College of Nursing Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, Nagoya, Japan. Tel.: +81 52 682 6292; Fax: +81 52 682 6292; E-mail: tochii-tky@umin.ac.jp. Mami Kayama, Department of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, St. Luke's College of Nursing Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, Tokyo, Japan. Tel./Fax: +81 3 5550 2276; E-mail: mami-tky@umin.ac.jp E-mail: tochii-tky@umin.ac.jp. Mami Kayama, Department of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, St. Luke's College of Nursing Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, Tokyo, Japan. Tel./Fax: +81 3 5550 2276; E-mail: mami-tky@umin.ac.jp

Abstract: Few studies have revealed the impact of tele-coaching on patients with intractable diseases, including intractable neurological diseases. This study aimed to analyze and describe subjective evaluations of coaches and intervention subjects on the functions of tele-coaching intervention for patients with spinocerebellar degeneration. This qualitative descriptive study was conducted between December 2005 to July 2006. Immediately prior to data collection three experienced coaches had delivered individual 10 session semi-structured tele-coaching interventions to 24 subjects. Data from the 24 logs kept by coaches and individual interviews with the three coaches and nine patients were analyzed using a content analysis technique. Although patients' subjective evaluations varied, the themes that emerged from the data analysis were generally positive: that the tele-coaching enabled patients to tell their own stories in a daily-life setting, encouraged them to experience and adopt fresh points of view, and helped them to start working towards attainable goals without giving up. Our results indicate that it is especially important to encourage patients with intractable diseases to become aware of their latent desires and goals. For patients such as those with spinocerebellar degeneration the time frame for coaching interventions might be extended when required to accommodate treatment of their changing medical and mental condition.

Keywords: coaching, tele-coaching, rehabilitation, spinocerebellar degeneration, qualitative research, content analysis

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-2008-23205

Journal: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 159-169, 2008