A Process Evaluation of Developing Older Adult Research Advisory Boards in Long-term Care Settings.

BACKGROUND: Enhancing the capacity of researchers, providers and older adults to collaborate in research is critical for promoting relevant, useful research findings. OBJECTIVES: The Sages in Every Setting project aimed to disseminate a flexible model for developing research advisory boards (RABs) comprised of older adults receiving long-term services and supports (LTSS) via partnerships between academic researchers and LTSS providers. METHODS: Process evaluation assessed the feasibility of using resources to develop RABs. Partners sought regular feedback from facilitators and RAB members, which was shared with the evaluator. The evaluator conducted regular debriefings with academic partners and observed some RAB meetings. LESSONS LEARNED: The development of RABs was impacted by pre-existing collaborations, characteristics of providers, flexible use of the resources, facilitator capacity, member capacity, and researcher capacity. CONCLUSIONS: Developing RABs was feasible. Long-term partnerships between research institutions and LTSS providers that serve diverse populations could improve successful dissemination of this model.

Developing a faith-based caregiver support partnership.

Caring Together, Living Better (CTLB), a partnership of nonprofit and faith-based organizations, developed a culturally appropriate regional network of supportive caregiver services in the south suburbs of Chicago, IL. This article describes the findings of a mixed-methods evaluation that included network analysis to track network growth and development, tracking of service delivery, assessment of caregiver-related outcomes using standardized pre-post measures, and analysis of change stories elicited from project partners. Results include documentation of network expansion and statistically significant improvements in caregiving self-efficacy and adequacy of help. Story themes highlight participants' positive experiences with CTLB and improved caregiver quality of life.

The effectiveness of an online mind-body intervention for older adults with chronic pain.

UNLABELLED: The Self-care Pain Management Project assessed the feasibility and efficacy of delivering online mind-body self-care techniques to 78 adults aged 55 and older with chronic pain. To assess feasibility, the study monitored use of the intervention and documented participant satisfaction. A randomized trial with intervention (n = 41) and waiting list comparison groups (n = 37) was used to assess changes in pain intensity, limitations due to pain, pain self-efficacy, depression, anxiety, and awareness of responses to pain from baseline to follow-up at 6 weeks. There were statistically significant results for between-group difference in awareness of responses to pain, improvements in pain intensity and pain interference for both groups, and increases in confidence with using nonmedical self-care techniques to manage pain for the intervention group. Reductions in mean pain scores reported by the intervention group at log on and log off also suggest that the intervention may have an immediate impact on reducing pain. Findings document the feasibility of a relatively short-term, online mind-body pain management intervention that can have benefits for participants. The characteristics of those who volunteered for an online self-care pain management intervention also have implications for identifying target populations for such interventions. PERSPECTIVE: This article documents the outcomes of an Internet-based self-care pain management intervention that focused on mind-body exercises. The study suggests that the Internet can be an efficient mode for delivering self-care education to older adults with chronic pain and has potential benefits that complement clinical care.