Testing a Community Health Worker Program to Reduce Chronic Pain and Loneliness in Older Adults Living in Rural Areas

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate a new program called Strengthening COnnections to Overcome Pain SCOOP designed for older adults living in rural areas who experience chronic pain and loneliness. The study seeks to find out if participating in SCOOP reduces how much pain interferes with daily life and decreases feelings of loneliness, while also measuring participant engagement in the program. The SCOOP program lasts 7 weeks and is delivered mainly over the telephone by community health workers. Participants in the SCOOP group will watch brief weekly videos teaching strategies for managing pain and improving social connections, followed by coaching sessions with a community health worker to support behavioral goal-setting and connect participants to helpful resources. A control group will receive usual care and later be offered educational materials and a workshop. Participants will complete two telephone interviews one at the start of the study and another 8 weeks later to assess changes in pain interference, loneliness, and satisfaction with the program. Researchers will track how many coaching sessions are completed as a measure of engagement. The total participation spans the 7-week intervention period plus follow-up assessments, with the study concluding in May 2027.

A Community Health Worker-Led Program for Chronic Pain and Loneliness in Older Adults