Refugee Mental Health and Wellness Pilot Study

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Social Isolation

Treatments: Other: Wellbeing Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05031247

21-000174

Details and patient eligibility

About

This pilot study will develop and examine the acceptability of a Community Navigator program of support for 10-24 older adult Arab Americans participants receiving services at a refugee-serving organization based in Southern California. This program will provide participants with social support from a 'Community Navigator,' who will work with clients to help promote attendance and engagement with the community during social activities and community events. This program aims to reduce feelings of loneliness or social isolation. In partnership with the refugee-serving organization, the UCLA investigators will implement this program in addition to services provided as usual at the community partner site. Researchers will then conduct interviews to explore participants' experiences and perceptions for improvement of the program.

Full description

The Refugee Mental Health and Wellness Pilot Study aims to increase community connections and reduce loneliness for older adult immigrants and refugees, specifically from MENA countries of origin through the implementation of a Community Navigator program. This program will be implemented within an existing aging program for older adults at a refugee-serving organization that provides social services, English language classes, and computer classes for this population. The pilot program is an extension of case management services at this organization. The program provides up to ten weekly virtual (through video or telephone) home-visiting sessions. During these sessions, an Arabic-speaking program coordinator or an Arabic-speaking nurse will assess client wellbeing, social service needs, as well as referral to social activities and other services needed over three months. The coordinator or nurse will be trained in a trauma-informed approach to working with refugee and immigrant clients. Participants will be recruited at the partner site. This study aims to recruit between 10-24 older adults interested in participating in semi-structured interviews to examine program acceptability and explore suggestions on improving the program. The baseline and completion survey will collect data on social demographics, social support, depressive symptoms, and loneliness score. Interviews will be conducted at least 6-8 weeks upon enrollment in the program. This pilot study will provide preliminary evidence of the acceptability of Community Navigator support and trial evaluation procedures for testing this. The results will inform a future feasibility study and potentially, and potentially, a randomized controlled trial of this intervention.

Enrollment: 10 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 55+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Adults who self-identify as Arab or Middle Eastern/North Africa over the age of 55

Exclusion criteria

• For all participants, those who do not have the capacity to consent to participate.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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10 participants in 2 patient groups

Community Navigator Social Support

Experimental group

Description:

More intensive case management and weekly check-ins with older adults. The Community Navigator will be focused on increasing social contact and connection for older adult refugees and immigrants. Those who receive the intervention will be offered up to ten (30-minute-long) meetings with a Community Navigator and access to up to three group sessions over a 3-month period, alongside the standard services they receive for enrollment with the organization.

Treatment:

Other: Wellbeing Program

Program Support as Usual

No Intervention group

Description:

Standard program support will be provided to participants enrolled. These services are offered to all enrolled in the program and may include, but is not limited to the following: financial assistance services, case management, healthcare access services, employment and tax services, education services, citizenship and immigration services, community services and civic engagement, and refugee services.