Outcomes of Interventions for Reducing Loneliness in Elderly Patients in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Abstract – Introduction: Loneliness among the elderly population has been well established as a risk factor for poor health outcomes, including increased morbidity and mortality. The study objective was to evaluate the feasibility of assessing and implementing patient-tailored interventions to reduce loneliness among elderly patients in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). Methods: This randomized control trial conducted at the CICU included 58 patients; 28 patients were in control and 30 in the intervention groups. The University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale and the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale were administered at the time of admission to the CICU and immediately before discharge. The intervention group was given an individualized questionnaire to determine their needs and preferences, which were used to create patient-tailored interventions provided by CICU staff. The control group received standard care. Results: The results of the study revealed that while there was no significant reduction in overall loneliness scores between the intervention and control groups, there was a significant difference in the reduction of loneliness scores for the item “I miss having people around me” (p = 0.02) in the intervention group compared to the control group. Additionally, a near significant difference in loneliness score reductions was observed for the item “I feel left out” (p = 0.05) in the intervention group. These results suggest that patient-tailored interventions focused on addressing patient-specific needs may lead to a reduction in certain aspects of loneliness. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the feasibility of identifying loneliness in a critical care setting, as well as developing an intervention strategy tailored to the individual patient’s needs. These findings highlight the importance of addressing loneliness in the setting of an intensive care unit and provide support for the need to further explore and implement strategies to reduce loneliness in this population.