Penpal Loneliness Project

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this research is to study whether sending letters helps reduce loneliness for either the facility resident or the teenager.

Detailed Description
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Hypothesis: Our hypothesis is that a social program connecting patients in residential care facilities with high school students through monthly letter writing would positively impact quality of life for both, reducing quantitative and qualitiative measures of loneliness Aims, purpose, or objectives: Our objective is to reduce loneliness and increase quality of life for patients residing in residential care facilities and for high school students. Background (Include relevant experience, gaps in current knowledge, preliminary data, etc.): In response to the Covid pandemic, to protect their residents, residential care facilities have implemented restrictions limiting visitors as well as social activities. Anecdoctally this has negative impacted the quality of life of those residents, increasing their loneliness. Previous studies have shown positive impact of intergenerational programs including penpal programs.

Official Title
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Reducing Loneliness With Penpal Connections

Conditions
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Loneliness

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Letters to increase social connection with goal to alleviate loneliness


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Care facility residents with capacity to make decisions: Measured via their most recent cognitive assessment; Subjectively measured via nursing staff. High school students will be invited via recommendation of their instructors and school administrative staff: Parental permission will be required. Exclusion Criteria: Care facility residents that have significant cognitive impairment. Residents who lack decision-making capacity.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 15 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Interventional Model Description: 5 care facility residents paired with a similar amount of students as a pilot. If this program is successful, we will plan to amend IRB to include larger numbers
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Penpal Program to Alleviate Loneliness<br>A social program connecting patients in residential care facilities with high school students through monthly letter writing would positively impact quality of life for both, reducing quantitative and qualitative measures of loneliness | Other: Letters to increase social connection with goal to alleviate loneliness<br>* Our hypothesis is that a social program connecting patients in residential care facilities with high school students through monthly letter writing would positively impact quality of life for both, reducing quantitative and qualitiative measures of loneliness<br>* Other names: Letters;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Loneliness Alleviation with Letter Writing | Writing letters between Long Term Care Residents and Students: Increasing Connection to Alleviate Loneliness | 6 months; may be extended |