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Implementation of a Loneliness Screening and Referral Program in Primary Care: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study
Research in Gerontological Nursing
|March 21, 2025
Summary
A primary care program successfully screened older adults for loneliness, with over half of lonely patients receiving referrals. This highlights the need for loneliness screening and intervention in geriatric care.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Care
- Primary Care Interventions
- Mental Health Screening
Background:
- Loneliness screening is a recommended best practice for older adults in primary care.
- Current implementation of loneliness screening in primary care settings remains low.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of implementing a loneliness screening and referral program (SOCIAL Rx) within a primary care practice.
- To evaluate the reach, effectiveness, and adoption of the SOCIAL Rx program using the RE-AIM framework.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale for loneliness assessment.
- Provided curated referrals for patients who screened positive for loneliness.
- Conducted qualitative interviews to explore program feasibility, acceptability, and patient referral preferences.
Main Results:
- 81% of patients were screened for loneliness.
- 33.3% reported being somewhat lonely, and 17.7% reported being very lonely.
- 52% of lonely patients received a referral, with 40% of providers referring at least 50% of eligible patients.
Conclusions:
- Loneliness is highly prevalent in the older adult population served by primary care.
- The SOCIAL Rx program demonstrated feasibility in screening and referring lonely older adults.
- Findings underscore the importance of integrating loneliness screening and intervention into routine primary care for older adults.
