TY - JOUR

T1 - The "In It Together" digital intervention to treat distress among older adults with sensory loss and their spouses

T2 - Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial study

AU - Overup, Camilla S.

AU - Lehane, Christine M.

AU - Hald, Gert Martin

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Sensory impairment is common in older age and may be associated with intra- and interpersonal struggles. Treatment and intervention efforts may be hampered by functional difficulties or unwillingness to receive face-to-face mental health services. The current study seeks to assess the efficacy of an online psychological intervention for older adults with sensory loss and their spouses in Denmark, using a two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial study design. Participants will be randomly assigned to the intervention group or waiting list control group. The intervention consists of four digital, sequential modules that contain psycho-education and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy inspired therapeutic activities. Individuals will be assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 10 weeks post-baseline, and for the intervention group only, at 18-weeks. The outcomes are well-being (primary), relationship satisfaction (secondary), and depressive symptoms (tertiary). The data will be analyzed using multilevel modeling to account for non-independence of data (nesting within participant and within couple). This is the first randomized controlled trial study of an online psychological intervention for older adults with sensory loss and their spouses and it will provide valuable knowledge regarding whether internet-delivered intervention is effective for this population group.

AB - Sensory impairment is common in older age and may be associated with intra- and interpersonal struggles. Treatment and intervention efforts may be hampered by functional difficulties or unwillingness to receive face-to-face mental health services. The current study seeks to assess the efficacy of an online psychological intervention for older adults with sensory loss and their spouses in Denmark, using a two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial study design. Participants will be randomly assigned to the intervention group or waiting list control group. The intervention consists of four digital, sequential modules that contain psycho-education and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy inspired therapeutic activities. Individuals will be assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 10 weeks post-baseline, and for the intervention group only, at 18-weeks. The outcomes are well-being (primary), relationship satisfaction (secondary), and depressive symptoms (tertiary). The data will be analyzed using multilevel modeling to account for non-independence of data (nesting within participant and within couple). This is the first randomized controlled trial study of an online psychological intervention for older adults with sensory loss and their spouses and it will provide valuable knowledge regarding whether internet-delivered intervention is effective for this population group.

KW - Sensory loss

KW - Hearing impairment

KW - Vision impairment

KW - Digital intervention

KW - Acceptance and commitment therapy

KW - COMMITMENT THERAPY

KW - HEARING IMPAIRMENT

KW - ACCEPTANCE

KW - SATISFACTION

KW - PREVALENCE

KW - VALIDATION

KW - VALIDITY

KW - PEOPLE

KW - HEALTH

KW - IMPACT

U2 - 10.1016/j.invent.2022.100557

DO - 10.1016/j.invent.2022.100557

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 35910689

VL - 29

JO - Internet interventions-The application of information technology in mental and behavioural health

JF - Internet interventions-The application of information technology in mental and behavioural health

M1 - 100557

ER -