NHIS Publishes Research Findings on Long-term Care 'Family Counseling Support Project' in Academic Journal

The National Health Insurance Service announced on the 9th that it conducted the 'Family Counseling Support Phase 1 Pilot Project Target Follow-up Study' and published it in the recent online issue of the international academic journal "Geriatrics."

The 'Family Counseling Support Project' is a program in which the Service's utilization support staff who have completed 'family counseling support job training' provide family counseling support programs (Care Journey Compass) including caregiving training, social support, counseling, and linkage to care resources to families caring for home-based long-term care elderly, aiming to alleviate the caregiving burden and establish a support system. The project was conducted from October 12, 2015, to May 27, 2016, targeting 739 family caregivers of home-based long-term care elderly in 12 regions nationwide (336 in the experimental group and 403 in the control group), providing the 'Care Journey Compass' (Phase 1 pilot project) and confirming its effectiveness through a single-blind randomized controlled trial. After conducting two additional pilot projects, it was institutionalized in 2019.

This study analyzed whether the effects observed immediately after receiving the Care Journey Compass service were maintained by following up 739 participants of the Phase 1 pilot project for one year after the project ended. Among the 739, 416 participants (203 in the experimental group and 213 in the control group) took part in the follow-up survey. Compared to the control group, the experimental group showed statistically significant reductions in depression and health risk behaviors (insufficient rest, delayed hospital visits, irregular exercise, and inadequate meals).

Dr. Eunjeong Han, the principal investigator, stated, "This study confirmed that the positive effects observed immediately after participating in the 'Family Counseling Support Project' persisted even after one year," adding, "The family counseling support project is meaningful as a key strategy to help beneficiaries maintain their lives in the community." She continued, "To ensure the sustainability of the long-term care system in a super-aged society, it is necessary to expand the family counseling support project, currently conducted at 174 operating centers, nationwide," and emphasized, "Efforts to improve the quality of the support project, such as workforce development and strengthening education, should also be made simultaneously."

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