Online self-help program for coping with spousal loss
An Online Self-help Intervention for Coping With the Loss of a Partner: Randomised Controlled Trial
NA · University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland · NCT05280041
This study is testing an online program to help older adults cope with the loss of a spouse and see if it can improve their emotional well-being compared to those who wait to start the program.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 85 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Olten) |
| Trial ID | NCT05280041 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study evaluates an online self-help program called SOLENA designed to assist older adults in coping with the loss of a spouse. The program spans 10 weeks, with participants completing one module each week, focusing on both grief work and adapting to life changes. Participants will be divided into groups to compare the outcomes of those who complete the program against a control group that waits to start. The study aims to assess the effectiveness of this intervention in reducing prolonged grief symptoms and improving overall psychological well-being.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults who have recently experienced the loss of a spouse and are seeking help to cope with their grief.
Not a fit: Patients who have lost their spouse less than one month ago or those with acute suicidality may not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly improve coping mechanisms and emotional well-being for individuals grieving the loss of a spouse.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that similar online self-help programs can be effective in supporting individuals coping with grief, indicating a promising approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Experience of spousal bereavement * Seeking help for coping with grief or the psychosocial adaptation to a life without the partner * Having access to an internet connection and adequate equipment * Mastery of the German language * An informed consent by the participant. Exclusion Criteria: * Loss less than one month ago * Acute suicidality * Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g., due to comprehension problems, visual impairment, lack of sufficient motor skills or severe psychological or somatic disorders which require immediate treatment which impedes the continuous work on the self-help programme.
Where this trial is running
Olten
- University of Applied Science Northwestern Switzerland — Olten, Switzerland (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jeannette Brodbeck, PhD — University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland
- Study coordinator: Jeannette Brodbeck, PhD
- Email: jeannette.brodbeck@fhnw.ch
- Phone: +41 62 957 27 56
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Grief, Grief symptoms, Depression symptoms, Loneliness, Prolonged grief, Self-help online program