Improving Adult Coping with Social Isolation During COVID-19 in the Community Through Nurse-led Patient-centered Telehealth Teaching and Listening Interventions

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to social isolation which both threatens mental health and has been shown to increase the risk for early death by 50%, and to contribute to increased rates of heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and inflammation.

Local Problem: No identified special programs to address loneliness related to social isolation were in place. This project aimed to improve adult coping with COVID-19 in the community to 80% over 8 weeks.

Methods: Three interventions were implemented concurrently and studied through Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles. Each cycle started with a test of change, followed by data collection and analysis using run charts, aggregate data tables, and field notes. This analysis guided the design of new tests of change for each intervention in the following cycle. Iterative changes were introduced through four cycles over 8th weeks.

Interventions: These included a data-gathering survey, a telehealth teach-back tool and a telehealth listening tool. All interventions were implemented remotely through telehealth contacts.

Results: The project engaged 44 participants and successfully addressed loneliness by creating a social connection with 100% of participants and 82% of participants learned something new.

Conclusion: Telehealth interventions hardwired to be patient-centered can provide isolated populations with meaningful social contact.