The high need population are patients who have three or more chronic diseases and have a functional limitation in their ability to take care for themselves. Investigators aim to understand the effects of a support group intervention, with the use of group medical visits and understand longitudinal effects in emotional wellbeing and loneliness.
The high need population with functional limitations are patients who have three or more chronic diseases and have a functional limitation in their ability to care for themselves (such as bathing or dressing) or perform routine daily tasks. Two-thirds of the population is female, and three-quarters of them are white non-Hispanic and half of the population were described as low income. The High Need Population with functional limitations also utilizes the emergency department at twice the rate of adults with multiple chronic diseases and more than three times more likely to be hospitalized than adults of other populations. Loneliness is seen as a significant independent risk factor for poor health behaviors, physical health problems and psychiatric conditions. Loneliness and isolation are becoming a more recognized entity that contributes to worsening depression. Investigators aim to compare the of effects of a Social Worker and Physician/APP-led support group intervention on loneliness at 9 months, after up to 3 group visits. Shared Medical Visits as a form of support Group increase clinician-patient contact time and provide patients with support and prevention of chronic conditions increasing patient empowerment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
23
Group visit wherein physician and Social Worker, would be discussing topics relevant to the population.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Change in Loneliness from Baseline at 0 and at 3, 6 and 9 months.
Using the Validated De Jong Giervald Loneliness Scale, scored from 0 (not lonely) to 11 (severely lonely),
Time frame: 0, 3, 6, and 9 months
Change in the number of ED visits, Inpatient, Observations
ED Visits and Hospital Utilization (Inpatient, Observation Admissions)
Time frame: 0, 3, 6 and 9 months
Change in Depression from Baseline (0), and at 3, 6, and 9 months
Will be using PHQ 9 to evaluate depression in the population, 0-4 points equals "normal" or minimal depression. Scoring between 5-9 points indicates mild depression, 10-14 points indicates moderate depression, 15-19 points indicates moderately severe depression, and 20 or more points indicates severe depression
Time frame: 0, 3,6, and 9 months
Change in Active alcohol use disorders (including alcohol abuse or dependence) from Baseline (0), and at 3, 6, and 9 months
he AUDIT-C has 3 questions and is scored on a scale of 0-12. Each AUDIT-C question has 5 answer choices valued from 0 points to 4 points. In men, a score of 4 or more is considered positive, optimal for identifying hazardous drinking or active alcohol use disorders. In women, a score of 3 or more is considered positive. Generally the higher the score, the more likely it is that a person's drinking is affecting his or her safety.
Time frame: 0,3,6, and 9 months
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