本研究設計為前瞻式研究，其目的在探討家庭照護計劃介入時機的早晚，是否會影響失能病患日常生活活動 (activity of daily living, ADL) 之結果，並探討影響計劃介入後一年存活者ADL 得分之相關因素。研究對象來自衛生所之137位失能病患，其收案條件為巴氏量表 (Barthel index) 總分少於80分、且失能期程二年以內十八歲以上居民。依失能期間之長短分為早期組(失能後六個月以內開始介入) 及晚期組 (失能後7-24個月內開始介入)，公衛護士於22週共計八次家訪之計劃期間，除提供相關照護及政策方面之訊息諮詢與醫療轉介外，介入之指導內容著重於照顧者居家照護知能，並記錄病患ADL得分，計劃結束後一年追蹤所有個案之資料及ADL得分。以共變數分析介入對病患ADL之影響，顯示計劃期間早期組ADL得分增加 (12.9) 高於晚期組3.0 (p < .000)；一年後存活者之追蹤發現：早期組病患ADL得分增加幅度 (6.2) 仍大於晚期組 (1.3)；而影響存活者ADL得分之因素為：年齡、收案時ADL得分及失能期程。研究建議介入計劃若能早期實施，對ADL之改善最具成效。

　　　　　The objective of this prospective study was to compare the improvement of activity of daily living (ADL) scores between two groups of disabled patients who participated in a family care intervention program. 137 patients were selected from health stations and Activity of Daily Living (ADL) scores were assessed eight times over a period of 22 weeks. Family caregivers were trained to provide home nursing care for the disabled. The patients were divided into two groups: early-stage (intervention started less than 6 months from diagnosis) and late-stage (intervention started 7-24 months from diagnosis). Over the duration of the intervention program, the results, using ANCOVA test, showed that the ADL score of the early-stage had group increased by 12.9, compared to the later-stage group, which increased by 3.0 (p < .000). At one-year follow-up, the ADL score of the early-stage group increased by a greater extent (6.2) than the later-stage group (1.3). The factors that affected ADL scores of the survivals were as follows: age, baseline ADL score and duration of disability. The authors conclude that the intervention program was most effective in improving ADL score when intervention was implemented early.