Connect ME: Improving Social Connectedness

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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To assess the reach and effectiveness of a behavioral activation intervention for older adults experiencing low social connectedness by Area Agency on Aging Staff.

Official Title
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Improving Social Connectedness in Homebound Older Adults by Integrating a Brief Evidence-Based Telehealth Intervention Into Area Agency on Aging Services

Conditions
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Social Connectedness

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Brief Behavioral Activation for Improving Social Connectedness


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Older adults (age>60) will be enrolled because they are the target population served by the home-delivered meals program and the target sample for this study. Exclusion Criteria: Clinically significant depression (Patient Health Questionnaire; PHQ-9 ≥ 10) or active suicide risk (Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale; C-SSRS), or Cognitive Impairment (Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test>9) Clients who score 1 or greater on question 9 of the PHQ-9 will be further assessed for suicide risk using the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) Clients will meet exclusion criteria for a positive response to any item We will exclude older adults with uncorrectable hearing or vision impairment rendering them unable to use the tele-conferencing equipment. Those who cannot speak English and have impaired decision-making capacity Adults unable to consent will be excluded Individuals who are not yet adults (infants, children, teenagers) will be excluded Pregnant women will be excluded Prisoners will be excluded

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 60 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Brief Behavioral Activation for Improving Social Connectedness<br>Active, 6 session Brief Behavioral Activation for Improving Social Connectedness | Behavioral: Brief Behavioral Activation for Improving Social Connectedness<br>* Brief Behavioral Activation for Improving Social Connectedness (BBAISC): BBAISC was developed to address social connectedness. Grounded in Behavioral Activation (Lejuez et al., 2011), BBAISC is a structured, 6-session skill-building intervention that has 4 key elements (Pepin et al., 2020): Psychoeducation: Psychoeducation focused on homebound status, social connectedness, and associated changes in behavior. Behavioral Activation intervention rationale: Framing how changing behavior can positively impact social connectedness (i.e., improve social connectedness and reduce loneliness). Exploration of life areas, values, and activities: Focused on identifying life areas and values most relevant to the participant. Then, these values are used to generate activities that are aligned with those values. Activity monitoring and planning: Participants are encouraged to schedule and organize their day based on what is important rather than their current mood or feeling state.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Social Connectedness A, Baseline | 10-item Duke Social Support Index (DSSI) | before the intervention | 
| Social Connectedness A, Change from Baseline to Post Intervention | 10-item Duke Social Support Index (DSSI) | immediately following the intervention | 
| Social Connectedness A, Change from Post Intervention to Follow Up | 10-item Duke Social Support Index (DSSI) | 12 weeks post intervention | 
| Social Connectedness B, Baseline | 8-item PROMIS Social Isolation Scale | before the intervention | 
| Social Connectedness B, Change from Baseline to Post Intervention | 8-item PROMIS Social Isolation Scale | immediately following the intervention | 
| Social Connectedness B, Change from Post Intervention to Follow Up | 8-item PROMIS Social Isolation Scale | 12 weeks post-intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Intervention Reach | Reach will be determined by the proportion of eligible agency clients who agree participate in the study. | 12 Months |