A randomized controlled evaluation of an educational program in adults with high psychosocial risk of morbidity

This clinical trial tested the efficacy of a psychosocial intervention in a panel of white adults with a high level of recent stressful life changes and weak social supports. One hundred seventy users of three family practices were randomly assigned to receive a six-month educational program provided by a nurse practitioner or to a control group. Outcome variables were assessed over a 12-month follow-up period by mailed questionnaires and validated when possible by review of medical records. During the six months immediately following the intervention, recipients had a lower rate of restricted-activity days than controls. During the follow-up period, symptom experience, physical function, social function, and emotional function were similar in the two groups. While the overall improvement in social supports was not significantly better at the completion of the intervention for recipients than for controls, those recipients who developed strong supports had fewer restricted-activity days than those who continued to have weak supports. This educational program may provide temporary benefit to adults with high psychosocial risk for health impairment.