Clinical trial NCT04225845: The Economic Consequences of Loneliness Among the Elderly
Official title: The Economic Consequences of Loneliness Among the Elderly
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Loneliness
Lead sponsor: National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: National Institute on Aging (NIA)
name: Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab
First posted: 2020-01-13
Enrollment: 1120
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 55
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: OTHER

Brief summary: Elderly individuals across the world are increasingly living alone. However, little is known about the effects of loneliness on economic and health outcomes. The elderly living alone (i.e., in a household of size 1) will be randomized into one of two cross-randomized intervention arms or a control condition to improve older individuals' mental wellbeing as well as ability to cover basic needs, particularly in times of COVID (including health). The first intervention will focus on improving the elderly's outlook on life and relationships through problem-solving therapy (PST) delivered over the phone. The second will deliver to them a one-time cash transfer of Rs.1000, equivalent to the emergency help amount distributed to ration card holder by the government of Tamil Nadu. Each intervention will be offered on its own in each of two treatment arms, and in combination in a third. A control group will receive no intervention. Investigators will track outcomes of the elderly at 3 weeks and 3 months after the intervention.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* At least 55 years of age
* Individuals living alone

Exclusion Criteria:

-

Primary outcomes:
measure: Difficulty in performing daily activities/Functional impairment score
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 weeks after intervention
measure: Difficulty in performing daily activities/Functional impairment score
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 months after intervention
measure: Mental health
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 weeks after intervention
measure: Mental health
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 months after intervention
measure: Food security
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 weeks after intervention
measure: Food security
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 months after intervention
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Seeking or receiving COVID vaccine
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 weeks after intervention
measure: Seeking or receiving COVID vaccine
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 months after intervention
measure: Loneliness
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 weeks after intervention
measure: Loneliness
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 months after intervention
measure: Healthcare utilization
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 weeks after intervention
measure: Healthcare utilization
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 months after intervention
measure: Survival of elderly person
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 weeks after intervention
measure: Survival of elderly person
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 months after intervention
measure: Social integration: non-family
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 weeks after intervention
measure: Social integration: non-family
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 months after intervention
measure: Social integration: family
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 weeks after intervention
measure: Social integration: family
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 months after intervention
measure: Cognitive function
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 weeks after intervention
measure: Cognitive function
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 months after intervention
measure: Consumption
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 weeks after intervention
measure: Consumption
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 months after intervention
measure: Health
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 weeks after intervention
measure: Health
timeFrame: Assessed at 3 months after intervention
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Chennai
country: India
facility: JPAL SA at IFMR
state: Tamil Nadu
Study officials:
References: