Dataset Information

FROM ISOLATION TO COMMUNITY: EXPLORATORY STUDY OF A SENSE-OF-COMMUNITY INTERVENTION.

ABSTRACT: This exploratory pilot study analyzes the role a facilitated neighborhood intervention, geared towards meeting one's neighbors and discussing local needs and civic action, can play in moving individuals from isolation to community. It focuses on whether NeighborCircles, a neighborhood intervention run by a non-profit in Massachusetts, is associated with increases in social capital (SC); the main constructs used are Perkins and Long's (2002) four dimensions of SC (sense of community (SOC), collective efficacy, neighboring and participation), with a primary focus on SOC. Surveys and interviews with a majority Latino sample group reveal NeighborCircles is associated with increases in all four dimensions of SC. The author concludes by considering what may have led to these reported increases, as well as implications for both future research about and experimentation with similar interventions.

SUBMITTER: O'Connor B

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6474243 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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FROM ISOLATION TO COMMUNITY: EXPLORATORY STUDY OF A SENSE-OF-COMMUNITY INTERVENTION.

O'Connor Brendan B

Journal of community psychology 20131007 8

This exploratory pilot study analyzes the role a facilitated neighborhood intervention, geared towards meeting one's neighbors and discussing local needs and civic action, can play in moving individuals from isolation to community. It focuses on whether NeighborCircles, a neighborhood intervention run by a non-profit in Massachusetts, is associated with increases in social capital (SC); the main constructs used are Perkins and Long's (2002) four dimensions of SC (sense of community (SOC), collec ...[more]

PMID: 31007302

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Project description:BackgroundThe proportion of older people has dramatically increased in recent decades. Moreover, social and demographic trends show a global increase of older people at risk of loneliness and lack of social relationships. The objective of this study was to evaluate the process, the effectiveness and the cost-effectiveness of a planned 22 weekly group sessions called School of Health for Older People to reduce social isolation.MethodsThis is a mixed methods multi-approach evaluation that includes: 1) A qualitative evaluation among coordinators and participants taking part in the intervention, through in depth-interviews and focus groups, respectively. The main topics covered will be positive and negative aspects of the intervention, suggestions for its improvement, opinions on different aspects of the intervention, and perceived benefits; 2) A quantitative quasi-experimental design, comparing a group of individuals taking part in the intervention with another group with similar characteristics not receiving the intervention. Data will be collected at the beginning and at the end of the intervention. Social support will be measured through questions drawn from the Medical Outcomes Study and the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project questionnaires. Psychological morbidity will be measured through Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire, and Health-related Quality of Life will be measured through the EuroQoL questionnaire. Information on visits to the primary care center in the years before and after the intervention will be obtained from the electronic records of the primary care centers; 3) A cost-utility analysis, which will be conducted from a health system (primary care) perspective, including direct costs of the program and the primary care health services used. The effects of the intervention will be measured on quality-adjusted life years.DiscussionThere is an urgent need for studies assessing the effectiveness and the efficiency of potential interventions to reduce social isolation among older persons. The results of this study will help to fill the knowledge gap in this area and might be especially useful for the development of social and public health policies and programs for older people in disadvantaged neighborhoods in urban areas.Trial registrationNCT03142048 retrospectively registered (April 11, 2017).

Project description:BackgroundHeart failure (HF) is an important health problem and guidelines recommend multidisciplinary management. The pharmacist is an important member of the multidisciplinary heart failure team, both in the hospital and community setting. This study aims to explore the perceptions of community pharmacists on their role in HF care.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative study based on face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 13 Belgian community pharmacists between September 2020 and December 2020. We used the Qualitative Analysis Guide of Leuven (QUAGOL) method as guidance for data analysis until data saturation was reached. We structured interview content into a thematic matrix.ResultsWe identified two major themes: heart failure management and multidisciplinary management. Pharmacists feel responsible for the pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of heart failure, citing easy access and pharmacological expertise as important assets. Diagnostic uncertainty, lack of knowledge and time, disease complexity and difficulties in communication with patients and informal care providers are barriers to optimal management. General practitioners are the most important partners in multidisciplinary community heart failure management, although pharmacists perceive a lack of appreciation and cooperation and deplore communication difficulties. They feel intrinsically motivated to provide extended pharmaceutical care in HF but cite the lack of financial viability and information sharing structures as important barriers.ConclusionThe importance of pharmacist involvement in multidisciplinary heart failure teams is undisputed by Belgian pharmacists, who cite easy access and pharmacological expertise as important assets. They point out several barriers impeding evidence-based pharmacist care for outpatients with heart failure: diagnostic uncertainty and disease complexity, lack of multidisciplinary information technology and insufficient resources. We recommend that future policy should focus on improved medical data exchanges between primary and secondary care electronic health records as well as the reinforcement of interprofessional relationships between locally affiliated pharmacists and general practitioners.

Dataset Information

FROM ISOLATION TO COMMUNITY: EXPLORATORY STUDY OF A SENSE-OF-COMMUNITY INTERVENTION.

Publications

FROM ISOLATION TO COMMUNITY: EXPLORATORY STUDY OF A SENSE-OF-COMMUNITY INTERVENTION.

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