Actively Recruiting
Targeting Loneliness and Chronic Pain Self-Management in Older Adults Living in Rural Areas
Led by University of Michigan · Updated on 2026-03-12
80
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of Michigan
Lead Sponsor
N
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are evaluating a new program called Strengthening COnnections to Overcome Pain (SCOOP) designed for older adults living in rural areas who experience chronic pain and loneliness. This program aims to teach strategies for managing these conditions and to determine whether participation reduces pain interference in daily life and decreases feelings of loneliness. The study also looks at how engaged participants are with the SCOOP program compared to those who do not participate. The SCOOP program lasts for 7 weeks and is mainly delivered over the telephone by community health workers. Participants in the intervention group watch brief weekly videos that teach pain management and social connection skills, followed by coaching sessions to support goal-setting in these areas. Community health workers also screen for unmet social needs and connect participants to resources. Those in the control group receive usual care and after the 8-week follow-up, are offered an educational workshop and access to the intervention materials. Participants will be involved in two telephone interviews, one at the start and another 2 months later, to assess their health, mental health, and functioning. Researchers will measure engagement by counting the number of sessions completed and will evaluate changes in loneliness using the UCLA 8-item Loneliness Scale and changes in pain interference with the PROMIS-43 Adult Profile pain subscale. Satisfaction with the SCOOP program will also be assessed. The total participation period covers baseline through 8 weeks with follow-up assessments.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
A Community Health Worker-Led Program for Chronic Pain and Loneliness in Older Adults
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age 60 years or older
- Have a mobile or landline phone
- Self-reported chronic musculoskeletal pain for 3 months or more with average pain level of 4 or higher over the last week
- Pain caused difficulty in usual activities on at least 1 day in the previous 30 days
- Self-reported loneliness "some of the time" or more often
- Able to converse comfortably in English
You will not qualify if you...
- 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 that would significantly prevent participation
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 screening and enrollment visit (in-person or by phone)
Duration - 7 weeks
Participants in the SCOOP intervention group receive weekly sessions for 7 weeks with a community health worker via telephone, focusing on pain management and social connectedness skills. Control group participants receive usual care during this period.
Weekly telephone sessions for 7 weeks
Duration - 1 week
Participants complete an 8-week follow-up survey to assess engagement, satisfaction, loneliness, and pain interference. Control group participants are then invited to an educational workshop and receive intervention materials.
1 follow-up survey visit (can be remote)
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 48109
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
M
Mary R. Janevic, PhD
R
Rebecca Lindsay, MPH
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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