APIC for Older Adults

(APIC Trial)

Recruiting at 5 trial locations

Overseen By Catherine Maisonneuve

Age: 65+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Mélanie Levasseur

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 12

Duration: 12 months

180 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Global aging and the growing burden of chronic diseases represent a challenge. Innovative interventions acting upon health determinants, like social participation, are required. Social participation, defined as the involvement of a person in activities that provide interactions with others in the community is critical to promote health and prevent disabilities. Many older adults do not have equitable opportunities to achieve full social participation, and interventions under-empower their personal and environmental resources and only reach a minority. To optimize current practices, the Personalised citizen assistance for social participation (APIC), an intervention demonstrated as being feasible and having positive impacts, needs further evaluation. The first aim of this study is evaluate the impacts of the APIC on older adults' health, social participation, life satisfaction and healthcare services utilisation. The second aim is to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the intervention. In parallel, the implementation of the APIC, including factors facilitating and impeding it, will be documented. Concerning the first two objectives, two hypotheses are formulated: 1) the APIC will prevent a decline in older women's and men's health, social participation and life satisfaction, and reduce their use of healthcare services, and 2) the APIC will be associated with lower costs, from older adults', healthcare system and societal perspectives, including healthcare expenditures.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment APIC for older adults?

Research suggests that APIC, which involves personalized sessions to help older adults engage in social and leisure activities, is feasible and has shown positive impacts on social participation. Although its specific effects on older adults are still being evaluated, similar interventions have been promising in increasing mobility and social activity. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the APIC intervention safe for older adults?

The APIC intervention has been shown to be feasible and to have positive impacts, but further evaluation is needed to fully understand its safety for older adults. ^{5 6 7 8 9}

How is the APIC treatment different from other treatments for older adults with disabilities?

The APIC treatment is unique because it provides personalized assistance to help older adults with disabilities engage in social and leisure activities, which are often difficult for them to accomplish. It involves weekly three-hour sessions tailored to the individual's needs, focusing on enhancing their social participation and overall well-being. ^{1 2 5 10 11}

Research Team

Mélanie Levasseur

Principal Investigator

Université de Sherbrooke; Research centre on aging

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for older adults aged 65 or above who live at home or in senior residences, have difficulty with daily tasks like house cleaning or shopping, and understand French or English well. It's not suitable for those with moderate to severe cognitive impairments.

Inclusion Criteria

I understand French or English well.

Living at home or in seniors' residences

I need help with daily tasks like shopping or cleaning.

Exclusion Criteria

I have significant memory or thinking problems.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive weekly 3-hour personalised stimulation sessions by a trained volunteer over 12 months

12 months

Weekly sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for health, social participation, and life satisfaction outcomes

12 months

Assessments at 12, 18, and 24 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Personalised citizen assistance for social participation(APIC)

Trial Overview The study tests the 'Personalised citizen assistance for social participation (APIC)' intervention aimed at improving health, social engagement, life satisfaction, and reducing healthcare service use among older adults by enhancing their social participation.

Participant Groups

Group I: Personalised citizen assistance Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The experimental group will receive the Personalised citizen assistance for social participation (APIC), i.e. weekly 3-hour personalised stimulation sessions by a trained volunteer over 12 months. Sessions will encourage empowerment, gradual mobilisation of personal and environmental resources, and community integration.

Group II: Control group Active Control 1 Intervention

The control group will receive the publicly-funded universal healthcare services available to all Quebecers.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Mélanie Levasseur

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1

Recruited

180+

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Collaborator

Trials

1,417

Recruited

26,550,000+

References

1. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Personalized citizen assistance for social participation (APIC): A promising intervention for increasing mobility, accomplishment of social activities and frequency of leisure activities in older adults having disabilities. [2018]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Attendant's experience with the personalized citizen assistance for social participation (APIC). [2023]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving Social Connectedness for Homebound Older Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial of Tele-Delivered Behavioral Activation Versus Tele-Delivered Friendly Visits. [2022]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of smartphone-supported, combined physical and cognitive activities in the Neighbourhood for stimulating social participation of the elderly. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of personalised citizen assistance for social participation (APIC) on older adults' health and social participation: study protocol for a pragmatic multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT). [2023]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"Why involve older people in research?" Revisiting Alan Walker's earlier editorial based on recent experiences from the UserAge research programme. [2023]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Deciding about the use of a Personal Safety Alerting Device-The need for a legitimation process: A qualitative study. [2022]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The personalized reminder information and social management system (PRISM) trial: rationale, methods and baseline characteristics. [2022]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Tracking down a solution: exploring the acceptability and value of wearable GPS devices for older persons, individuals with a disability and their support persons. [2022]

10. N/A pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Investigating socially assistive systems from system design and evaluation: a systematic review. [2023]

11. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

eHealth 2015 Special Issue: Effects of an Assistance Service on the Quality of Life of Elderly Users. [2018]