Authors' objectives: Background: There are increasing numbers of older people who have physical health problems, and co-morbid anxiety and depression which can make physical health worse. Loneliness is common amongst older people, and those who say they are lonely tend to be more depressed, have more physical health problems and use healthcare services more than those who do not report loneliness. We think that if older people who are depressed or anxious are supported in engaging in social activities, their depression or anxiety will improve. Aims and Objectives: We aim to find out whether it is possible and practical for us to train workers from the voluntary or 'third' sector (who we call NTPs - 'non-traditional providers') to work with older people who are depressed or anxious, and improve their mental wellbeing and decrease loneliness. Methods: We will refine an intervention which includes simple techniques to manage low mood and anxiety, and reduce social isolation and loneliness through referral to existing voluntary services. We will train NTPs to deliver this intervention, and see if this is acceptable to older people, find out how many older people are prepared to take part in the study, and how best to recruit people to the study. The findings of this feasibility study will help us to plan a future randomised controlled trial. Proposed methods: We will examine the academic literature to see what previous studies tell us, and conduct interviews with patients and primary care practitioners to explore views on what the intervention should look like. We will then hold a meeting of experts to agree the intervention and the training needed for NTPs. We will conduct a feasibility study in four general practices, and invite adults over the age of 65, living at home and suffering from anxiety or depression to participate in the study. Patients who agree to take part in the study will be randomised to either the 'intervention' group, and see the third sector work on up to four occasions, or to the 'usual care' group. We will ask participants in both groups to complete a number of different questionnaires at the start and again after four months. These questionnaires will cover areas such as mood, loneliness and social participation, general health, function, and use of health services. We will estimate the cost of the intervention, and the costs of services that participants in both groups use. We aim to recruit 100 patients overall. We will conduct interviews with patients, GPs in participating practices and the NTPs to find out whether they found the intervention acceptable and useful, and whether there were any problems in any aspect of the study. Patient and public involvement: One of our co-applicants is a Director at N Staffs Age UK and he will work with us for the duration of the study to ensure that the programme of work reflects real priorities of older people and their carers, and contribute to training and support of NTPs. The Research Users Group at Keele will help set up a PPI research advisory group and help us refine the intervention, monitor progress and advise on publicising the results to a lay audience. Dissemination: Our results will be submitted for publication in peer reviewed and professional journals, presented at conferences relevant to older people, mental health and chronic illness, nursing, primary and social care. We will also present our results to interested local and national groups such as MIND and Age UK

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/projects/hsdr/135434

Year Published: 2015

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: NIHR Health Services and Delivery Research programme

Contact Address: NIHR Journals Library, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre, Alpha House, University of Southampton Science Park, Southampton SO16 7NS, UK

Contact Name: journals.library@nihr.ac.uk

Contact Email: journals.library@nihr.ac.uk

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