Linking people with AIDS in rural communities: the telephone group.

People with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) living in rural areas have difficulty obtaining needed information and support. Bringing support groups into the homes of rural residents through telephone conference call technology is an innovative practice strategy to address this problem. The authors describe the development, implementation, and evaluation of a model program consisting of six telephone group sessions. The goals of the psychoeducational group were to increase information and social support, reduce feelings of isolation, and enhance individual coping with living with AIDS.