Psychoeducation for Chronic Disease Management in Re-entered Seniors

(SRRS Trial)

Overseen By Stephanie Grace Prost, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Male

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Louisville

Disqualifiers: Age 44 or younger, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 8

8 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The trial aims to develop and test a new educational program called Psychoeducation for managing chronic diseases in older adults who have returned to their communities after incarceration. The first part of the trial identifies the most critical knowledge and skills these individuals need. The second part involves an 8-week group program to determine if it helps participants manage their chronic conditions better. The trial seeks participants who are at least 45 years old, have been incarcerated, and have a chronic health condition.

As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a program that could significantly improve chronic disease management for others in similar situations.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on education and skill-building, so it's unlikely that medication changes are required.

What prior data suggests that this psychoeducational intervention is safe?

Research has shown that psychoeducation is a safe and well-accepted method for managing long-term illnesses. Studies have found that these programs assist individuals in adjusting to life with a chronic illness. No major reports of negative effects from psychoeducation exist, indicating it is a low-risk option. Participants often find these programs beneficial, reporting improvements in quality of life and better management of health conditions. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this psychoeducational approach because it focuses on empowering seniors with chronic diseases by boosting their knowledge, skills, and motivation to manage their health. Unlike traditional treatments that often rely on medication or clinical interventions, this method leverages group support and education to enhance resilience and self-management. By meeting weekly, participants can share experiences, learn from each other, and develop practical strategies for better health outcomes, potentially leading to more sustainable and personalized disease management.

What evidence suggests that this psychoeducation is effective for chronic disease management?

Research has shown that psychoeducation, which involves teaching people about their health conditions, can help them adhere to medication plans and improve their attitude towards managing chronic illnesses. Studies have found that these programs enhance emotional and social well-being and teach skills like relaxation and positive thinking. While detailed evidence on overall health improvements is limited, these programs have successfully eased the burden on caregivers of people with chronic diseases. This trial will focus on a group-based psychoeducational intervention, aiming to empower older adults to take control of their health by educating them about their conditions. This method shows promise in helping older adults manage chronic diseases effectively. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for older adults, aged 45 and above, who have recently re-entered the community from jail or prison. Participants must have at least one chronic health condition and be able to speak and understand English.

Inclusion Criteria

Able to speak and understand English

Have re-entered the community from a period of incarceration from jail or prison

Have at least one chronic health condition

Exclusion Criteria

Does not have at least one chronic health condition

Have not re-entered the community from a period of incarceration from jail or prison

Unable to speak and understand English

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Participants complete a baseline survey and participate in a focus group

1-2 weeks

Intervention

Participants engage in an 8-week psychoeducational intervention, meeting once weekly

8 weeks

8 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants complete three follow-up surveys to assess the intervention's impact on chronic disease management

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Psychoeducation

Trial Overview The study aims to develop a psychoeducational program tailored for these seniors to help manage their chronic diseases better. It will test if this new intervention improves disease management and assess its appropriateness and acceptance among participants.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Supporting resilience psychoeducational group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This group-based psychoeducational intervention will take place once weekly for eight weeks and will be centered upon building older adults' knowledge, skills, and motivation to manage chronic disease.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Louisville

Lead Sponsor

Trials

353

Recruited

76,400+

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Collaborator

Trials

2,658

Recruited

3,409,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A 20-session group psychoeducation program significantly increased knowledge among 99 patients with psychotic disorders, with improvements noted immediately and sustained for at least 6 months after the program.

Coping skills improved during the program but did not show lasting effects beyond the immediate post-program period, indicating that while psychoeducation enhances knowledge, its impact on coping may be temporary.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Psychoeducation for patients with a psychotic disorder: effects on knowledge and coping. Bossema, ER., de Haar, CA., Westerhuis, W., et al.[2021]

Psychoeducation significantly reduced anxiety levels and improved the quality of life (QoL) for women with breast cancer, based on a meta-analysis of 27 randomized controlled trials involving 7742 participants.

However, psychoeducation did not show a significant impact on adherence to diagnostic procedures, treatment, depression, or breast cancer knowledge, indicating its benefits may be more focused on emotional support rather than treatment compliance.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Psychoeducation for breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Setyowibowo, H., Yudiana, W., Hunfeld, JAM., et al.[2022]

Patient education programs can significantly enhance self-management of chronic illnesses like diabetes, which is crucial for prevention and lifestyle modification.

Evaluating the effectiveness of these programs is complex due to various influencing factors, including patient demographics, disease characteristics, and healthcare system dynamics, all of which must be considered in research design.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Measures and methods in evaluating patient education programs for chronic illness. Lane, DS., Evans, D.[2019]

Psychoeducation has been effectively used for over 20 years to support families of patients with psychiatric illnesses, and adapting this approach for patients themselves has shown positive effects on their functioning and attitudes.

The psychoeducation model aims to enhance patients' understanding of their psychiatric conditions and treatments, encourage group discussions for better integration of knowledge, and teach management skills to help them cope with their illnesses.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Patient psychoeducation: the therapeutic use of knowledge for the mentally ill. Hayes, R., Gantt, A.[2015]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10961541/

Psychoeducational interventions for people living with ... Research has demonstrated that psychoeducation can be an effective intervention for enhancing medication adherence and improving attitudes ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0738399106001984

Positive effects of a psycho-educational group intervention ... Improvements in behavioral–emotional outcomes, social competence, information seeking, relaxation and positive thinking were found both in short and medium term ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9905441/

Effectiveness of therapeutic patient education interventions ... To date, there is a lack of comprehensive evidence about the effectiveness of TPE programs in improving health outcomes in chronic disorders.

4. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/382477314_Effectiveness_of_Psychoeducational_Programs_for_Caregivers_of_Family_Members_with_Chronic_Disease_A_Meta-Analysis

(PDF) Effectiveness of Psychoeducational Programs for ... The results showed that psychoeducational therapies significantly reduced caregivers' perceived load, supporting their inclusion in routine treatment for ...

5. jospt.org jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2025.13247

Efficacy of Therapeutic Patient Education for Managing ... We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic patient education in managing subacute and chronic MSK conditions for the primary outcomes of ...

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0738399121005085

Impact in the quality of life of parents of children with ... This study aimed to identify psychoeducational interventions applied to parents of children with chronic diseases and evaluate their impact on their quality of ...

7. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/rehabilitation-sciences/articles/10.3389/fresc.2025.1569526/pdf

Effectiveness of psychoeducational intervention in ... Psychoeducation is increasingly recognized for its value in facilitating adaptation to a chronic disease diagnosis (11), because it empowers ...

8. bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-021-03380-2

A collaborative, computer-assisted, psycho-educational ... Studies have consistently reported that the CCM improves depressive symptoms, health-related quality of life, and social functioning of ...

9. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9034877/

Assessment and Treatment of Adolescents With Chronic ... In this paper, an overview of chronic medical conditions and adolescent development is provided and fundamental assessment and treatment components