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.