676 Age is only a number: Treatment modality preferences in a randomized controlled trial of CBTI in older adults

Abstract

Introduction: Use of telemedicine platforms for conducting CBTI has the potential to reach more patients than in person treatment alone. While CBTI has been shown to be effective in older adults, questions about proficiency with technology and preference for treatment modality have not been addressed. Methods: Baseline data from participants in the RCT of the Effectiveness of Stepped‐Care Sleep Therapy In General Practice (RESTING) study were used. Analyses compared CBTI treatment modality preference (in person, online [video platform], no preference) across the following variables: insomnia severity (Insomnia Severity Index; ISI), depression (Geriatric Depression Scale; GDS), cognitive functioning (telephone‐based cognitive screen) and internet proficiency (IP; assessing comfort with and frequency of internet use). Data collected prior to the pandemic‐shut down (March 2020) were utilized for the primary analysis of treatment preference; n=71, mean age = 62.5 (SD = 8.1); 64.8% female; treatment preferences: in person (33.8%), no preference (25.4%), online (40.8%). A secondary analysis compared IP data from participants with baseline data from prepandemic (Nov 2019‐Feb 2020, n=71), early pandemic (March‐June 2020, n=28), and late pandemic (the most recent four months of enrollment, July 2020‐Nov 2020, n=40) periods. Results: Pre‐pandemic, age was not significantly associated with treatment modality preference, nor any baseline clinical characteristics or demographic variables (p's >.01). Only 'comfort' and 'comfort+frequency' scores from the internet proficiency measure differed significantly between treatment preference groups (p's