Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41218068›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Evaluating and implementing The CONNECT Program-A group-based telehealth intervention to reduce social isolation, loneliness, and mental health symptoms in adults 55+ vs routine community programming: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Kira Kudar, Georgia Gopinath, Alex Ross, Robert Balshaw, Edwin Chau, Inga Christianson, Lesley Koven, Corey S Mackenzie, Stacey Miller, Nancy Newall and 5 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07107906 (The CONNECT Program), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT07107906 narecruitingnot on this map

The CONNECT Program: Engaging Community Organizations in the Implementation and Evaluation of a Group Telehealth Mental Health Program for Older Canadians

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of ManitobaRan2025 to 2026Enrolled128ConditionsLoneliness, Social Isolation, Depression Disorders, AnxietyArmsThe CONNECT Program, Community Participation as Usual (Service as Usual)
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Kira KudarDepartment of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1925-6431
Georgia GopinathDepartment of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Alex RossDepartment of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Robert BalshawDepartment of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Edwin ChauBrella Community Services Society, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
Inga ChristiansonDepartment of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Lesley KovenDepartment of Clinical Health Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Corey S MackenzieDepartment of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Stacey MillerA & O: Support Services for Older Adults, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Nancy NewallDepartment of Psychology, Brandon University, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Lyne OuelletDepartment of Gerontology, St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.
Kathryn SibleyDepartment of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Alina SaninaDepartment of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Ronda WedhornSeniors Centre Without Walls Saskatchewan, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Kristin A ReynoldsDepartment of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe population of adults aged 55 years and older in Canada is growing steadily to be one of the largest demographic groups, creating an aging society. Adults 55 + are facing dynamic changes in employment and finances, relationships, living situation, and health, which may contribute to increased psychosocial and psychological challenges, including social isolation, loneliness, depression, and anxiety. Importantly, when adults 55 + need mental health support, they are less likely to access this support compared to other demographics. When supports are grounded in the community and are available through telephone and video-conferencing, access can be improved. Developed in partnership with community organizations, The CONNECT Program is designed to improve the psychosocial well-being of older adults, focusing on psychological flexibility, and in this randomized controlled trial will be compared against routine community-based programming across Canada.

methodsThis randomized crossover trial is embedded within a type 1 hybrid implementation-effectiveness design across four Canadian provinces. Adults aged 55+ with self-reported experiences of loneliness, social isolation, and/or mental health challenges are randomly assigned to begin with either the intervention (The CONNECT Program) or community-based programming, then cross over to the other condition. The CONNECT Program is a six-week, group-based telehealth intervention grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, self-compassion, theories of successful aging delivered via telephone or videoconference. The primary outcome is psychological flexibility; secondary outcomes include loneliness, social isolation, emotional support, anxiety, depression, and mental health literacy. Implementation outcomes will be assessed using the Proctor Framework. DISCUSSION: The CONNECT Program is a novel community-based mental health intervention addressing the needs of adults 55 + who experience isolation, loneliness and mental health challenges. The results of this trial will strengthen support for a scalable mental health support for Canadians 55+ in a time of high need to promote health in later life. Trial registration The trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT07107906, 08/05/2025, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07107906.

Indexed as

LonelinessMental HealthSocial IsolationTelemedicineAgedCanadaCross-Over StudiesDepressionFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRandomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Identifiers

PMID41218068
PMCPMC12604767

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.