View clinical trials related to Social Isolation.
Filter by:AGE-ON is a series of workshops developed by the Regional Geriatric Program central, based in Hamilton, Ontario. The goal of these workshops is to teach older adults with limited computer knowledge how to use tablet computers to connect with friends and family and gather information related to issues of importance to them. The overwhelming positive response to three initial pilots proved the interest in such a program from seniors in the community. Preliminary feedback from program participants was collected as part of the initial pilot; the investigators would now like to use this feedback to improve the existing workshops and expand implementation of the program to a diverse population of older adults. The objective of this study is to conduct a formal mixed-methods evaluation of the updated AGE-ON workshops implemented at multiple community-based sites.
The purpose of this project is to evaluate an interactive training program for military-connected caregivers (MCCs) of wounded warriors. The program leverages existing resources and incorporates evidence-based training and peer-based support networks to enhance continuity of care. The program consists of an educational Toolkit (workbook) and an avatar training interaction where an MCC can practice skills learned from the toolkit training with the avatar (how to navigate difficult conversations). This is an educational training evaluation to determine whether or not avatar interaction can effectively improve health outcomes in MCCs.
Emerging evidence from social neuroscience suggests that prefrontal cortex (PFC), insular and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) regulate social and emotional responses to acute threats to social connectedness among young adults. Deficient neural reserve or overused neural compensation resulting from neurodegeneration is commonly observed in these frontal regions in old age. This aging-related "neural depletion" may have implications for how older adults respond to social threats, potentially increasing maladaptive emotional and social behavioral responses, such as social anxiety and social avoidance, which contribute to social disconnectedness. The central hypothesis is that cognitive deficits and associated aging-related 'neural depletion' in the frontal regions will contribute to maladaptive social-emotional responses to a social stressor -- social exclusion. Ultimately, maladaptive responses to acute social stress, such as social anxiety and avoidance, can compromise social connectedness by increasing social strain and isolation. The investigators have recently developed a neuroplasticity-based cognitive training program, called vision-based speed of processing (VSOP) training, targeting multiple aspects of cognitive capacity (e.g., attention, working memory and inhibition) and incorporating the speed component to improve the efficiency of these cognitive processes. VSOP training also targets several neural networks seeded in ACC and insular (default mode network) or PFC (the frontal-striatal network and central executive network). These networks also overlap with neural substrates of emotion regulation. Notably, VSOP training appears to improve emotion regulation, as depressive symptoms were reduced in older adults following VSOP training. Finally, the autonomic nervous system (ANS), critical to stress adaptation, is regulated by these frontal regions. The objective of the proposed pilot study is to provide proof-of-concept for the hypothesis that improvements in older adults' cognitive capacity, frontal regions' neural efficiency, and ANS function via the VSOP training will be associated with more adaptive social-emotional response to social exclusion, which, in turn, should confer longer-term protection for older adults' sense of social connectedness. Randomized Controlled Trial Design: 30 older adults will be randomly assigned to engage in 6-week VSOP training, or to an active control group. Differential changes from baseline to post-training in cognitive capacity, neural efficiency, and ANS function, and sense of social connectedness, will be compared between VSOP control groups. A social exclusion paradigm ('cyberball' task) will be conducted post-training to evaluate VSOP training effects on social-emotional responses to social exclusion, including anxiety and motivation for social affiliation.
The purpose of this study is to test a peer-led intervention intended to promote the community living and participation of individuals with psychiatric disabilities entitled "Bridging Community Gaps Photovoice" (BCGP). The intervention targets increasing community involvement of individuals with psychiatric disabilities through reduction in self-stigma and perceived stigma, enhancing opportunities for community participation, and support to achieve community participation goals.
This study is a randomized trial evaluating "Recovery 4 US", a social media program aimed at the enhancement of community participation and overall recovery of individuals with psychiatric disabilities.This innovative e-mental health program integrates Internet and mobile technologies and is designed to be a self-sustaining recovery-oriented virtual community for individuals living with a disabling mental illness based on the principles of Photovoice.
Background: The proportion of elderly people has dramatically increased in recent decades. Moreover, social and demographic trends show a global increase of elderly people at risk of loneliness and lack of social relationships. The objective of this study was to evaluate the process, the effectiveness and the cost-effectiveness of an intervention to reduce social isolation and its negative effects on health in elderly persons. Methods: This is a mixed methods multi-approach evaluation that includes: 1) A qualitative evaluation among coordinators and participants taking part in the intervention, through in depth-interviews and focus groups, respectively. The main topics covered will be positive and negative aspects of the intervention, suggestions for its improvement, opinions on different aspects of the intervention, and perceived benefits. 2) A quantitative quasi-experimental design, comparing a group of individuals taking part in the intervention with another group with similar characteristics not receiving the intervention. Data will be collected at the beginning and at the end of the intervention. Social support will be measured through questions drawn from the Medical Outcomes Study and the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project questionnaires. Psychological morbidity will be measured through Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire, and Health-related Quality of Life will be measured through the EuroQoL questionnaire. Information on visits to the primary care center in the years before and after the intervention will be obtained from the electronic records of the primary care centers. 3) A cost-utility analysis, conducted from a health system (primary care) perspective, including direct costs of the program and the primary care health services used. The effects of the intervention will be measured on quality-adjusted life years. Discussion: There is an urgent need for studies assessing the effectiveness and the efficiency of potential interventions to reduce social isolation among elderly persons. The results of this study will help to fill the knowledge gap in this area and might be especially useful for the development of social and public health policies and programs for older people in disadvantaged neighborhoods in urban areas.
We will evaluate the acceptability, feasibility and impact of an online tool that helps patients identify financial benefits that they are entitled to at six clinic sites over a three month period. We will answer the following questions: Is an online tool that addresses income security feasible and acceptable to clinicians? Can such a tool be integrated into regular clinic workflow? What is the patient perspective on the tool and what is the short-term impact?
Community Paramedicine @Home (CP@Home) is a novel community paramedicine health assessment program for high users of Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Individuals who have been identified as active callers to EMS, individuals who have called EMS for lift-assists, and direct paramedic referrals are referred into the community paramedicine home visit program. The program will focus on in-home chronic disease management, community health service connections, and EMS usage education. Aside from chronic disease management, aspects of the program include health-related quality of life, social isolation and other social determinants of health. Participants in the program will have up to 3 one-on-one home visits from a community paramedic to ultimately reduce repeat EMS calls and improve their overall health.
The overall purpose of this multi-phase study is to develop (Phase 1) and test potential effectiveness and feasibility of Keep On Stepping On (KOSO)/Stepping Online, an online falls prevention maintenance program for Stepping On (SO) graduates in a group randomized trial (Phase 2). This application refers to effectiveness component of Phase 2, which entails the randomized clinical trial. Phase 1 has been completed. The feasibility component of Phase 2 will entail process evaluation of the Stepping Online intervention group only.
The SHINE study is a randomized controlled study of the effect of a park-based family support group on multiple outcomes (including stress and physical activity) in a low income population.