Improving social connection in older people
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN76583833 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN76583833 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | N/A |
- Submission date
- 11/07/2011
- Registration date
- 19/10/2011
- Last edited
- 10/02/2016
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Social isolation and loneliness are common in older people and are associated with poor health outcomes, including depression, insomnia, lower quality of life, illness and death. In spite of the evidence supporting an association between health and social relationships there have been relatively few scientific studies in this area. This study aims to determine whether a short-term volunteer visiting programme for older people who experience loneliness can improve their mental and physical outcomes.
Who can participate?
People over 65 years of age from two counties in Ireland (Co. Meath and Co. Kilkenny) who feel lonely.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to the intervention group or the control group. Participants in the intervention group receive ten home visits over ten to twelve weeks from a volunteer visitor. The volunteer visitor is an older person who has been trained for the purposes of the study. The visits are social and informal with the aim of helping the older person think about improvements they would like to make in relation to contact with friends, family and their local community. Both the control and intervention participants have four home visits from a member of the research team to collect data. Two of these visits are before the start of the intervention and two after the intervention.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The research team does not anticipate any risks associated with participating in the study.
Where is the study run from?
Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing (Ireland)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
May 2011 to January 2012
Who is funding the study?
Atlantic Philanthropies (USA)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Gillian Paul
Contact information
Scientific
Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing
St James's Hospital
Dublin
8
Ireland
Study information
| Study design | Randomised controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | Other |
| Study type | Quality of life |
| Participant information sheet | Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet |
| Scientific title | A randomised controlled trial of a community based volunteer visiting programme for older people experiencing loneliness |
| Study objectives | To ascertain if a volunteer visitor scheme can improve mental and physical health of older people experiencing social isolation and loneliness |
| Ethics approval(s) | Joint Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin Incorporating the National Children's Hospital and St Jamess Hospital Ethics Committee approved on 19/08/2011, Ref: 2010/31/01 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Loneliness and social isolation in older people |
| Intervention | 1. Participants in the intervention group will receive ten home visits from a volunteer visitor who has been trained for the purposes of the study 2. The visits are informal and social 3. Discussions between the participant and volunteer progress to focus on problem solving, and goal setting with the aim of assisting the participant in making a new social connection |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure | De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale measured pre and post intervention at one month and three month follow-up. |
| Secondary outcome measures | 1. Oslo Social Support Scale 2. Hospital Anxiety And Depression Scale (HADS) 3. 8-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-8) 4. Control, Autonomy, Self realisation, Pleasure 19 scale (CASP 19) 5. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) 6. Lubben Social Network Scale 7. Pittsberg Sleep Questionnaire 8. Body mass index (BMI) 9. Timed up and go 10. Grip strength The outcomes will be measured pre and post intervention at one month and three month follow-up. |
| Overall study start date | 01/05/2011 |
| Completion date | 31/01/2012 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Senior |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 100 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Over 65 years of age 2. Living at home 3. Experiencing loneliness - must pass a screening test (score 3 or more on the 11 item De Jong Gierveld loneliness scale or answer Yes when asked question 5 from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Have been socially isolated all their lives 2. Visual or hearing impairment severe enough to make social contact difficult or impossible 3. Require nursing assistance 4. Dementia, psychotic illness, alcohol misuse, any tendency to violence, or personality disorder |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/05/2011 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/01/2012 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Ireland
Study participating centre
8
Ireland
Sponsor information
Research council
16-17 College Green
Dublin 2
Dublin
2
Ireland
| Website | http://www.ageingwellnetwork.com/ |
|---|
Funders
Funder type
Charity
Private sector organisation / International organizations
- Alternative name(s)
- The Atlantic Philanthropies, atlanticphil, Atlantic, The Atlantic Philanthropies (Bermuda) Limited, AP
- Location
- Bermuda
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan |
Editorial Notes
10/02/2016: Plain English summary added
