Community health worker-led program to reduce pain interference and loneliness in older adults

Targeting Loneliness in the Context of Chronic Pain Self-Management: An Intervention for Older Adults Living in Rural Areas

This program will test whether brief educational videos plus up to seven weekly coaching calls from a community health worker can reduce how much pain disrupts daily life and lessen loneliness for people aged 60 and older in rural areas.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 80 (estimated)
• Ages: 60 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Michigan (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
• Trial ID: NCT06671925 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The SCOOP program delivers brief videos teaching pain-management and social-connection strategies alongside up to seven weekly coaching sessions led by a community health worker. Participants complete baseline and 2-month telephone interviews about health, mental health, and functioning. Outcomes include changes in pain interference with daily activities, loneliness, and participant engagement with the program. Researchers will compare people who participate in SCOOP with those who do not to see if the program leads to improvements.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 60 or older living in rural communities who report chronic musculoskeletal pain for at least 3 months with average pain ≥4/10 and at least one day in the past month when pain limited activities, who feel lonely at least some of the time, can speak English, and have access to a phone.

Not a fit: People planning major surgery in the next three months, recently hospitalized, with severe cognitive impairment or other major psychiatric or physical conditions that limit participation, non-English speakers, or those without phone access are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, SCOOP could reduce pain-related disruption and loneliness, leading to better daily functioning and quality of life for participants.

How similar studies have performed: Community health worker and behavioral interventions have shown promise for chronic pain and social support in prior work, but the specific SCOOP mix of brief videos plus coached sessions for rural older adults is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age \>= 60 years;
* Have a mobile or landline phone;
* Self-reported chronic musculoskeletal pain (pain in muscles or joints for \>= 3 months, \>=4 (0-10 scale) average pain level over last week, \>=1 day/previous 30 when pain made it difficult to do usual activities);
* Self-reported loneliness (Feeling lonely "some of the time" or more often);
* Able to converse comfortably in English.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Serious acute illness or hospitalization in the last month;
* Planned major surgery in the next three months that would interfere with program participation (e.g., knee or hip replacement);
* Severe cognitive impairment or other severe physical or psychiatric disorder judged by study team to pose a significant barrier to participation.

Where this trial is running

Ann Arbor, Michigan

• University of Michigan — Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Mary R. Janevic, PhD

Conditions Chronic Pain