Behavioural Activation in Social Isolation (BASIL+) v1.0 [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Behavioural Activation in Social Isolation (BASIL+)
IRAS ID
293203
Contact name
David Ekers
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN63034289
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 0 days
Research summary
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults (65 years and over) and those with ongoing health conditions (such as diabetes, heart problems, asthma) were advised by the UK Government to follow social distancing/isolation guidelines (which at times included strict isolation for the most vulnerable in this group). Older adults with ongoing health conditions are more likely to experience depression, which can lead to poorer quality of life. Social isolation due to COVID-19 may lead to a disruption of daily routine, loss of social contact and loneliness; thereby further increasing the risk of depression for this group.
Behavioural Activation (BA support) is a type of support which might be useful for people who experience social isolation and/or symptoms of depression. It aims to help people maintain or introduce activities which are important to them. Such activities may benefit physical and emotional wellbeing.
The BASIL+ (Behavioural Activation in Social Isolation) study aims to find out whether this BA Support helps to reduce or prevent depression and loneliness in older adults who have ongoing health conditions during isolation.
People who are suitable to take part (participants) will be asked to complete a questionnaire. They will then be randomly allocated (this is a bit like flipping a coin) to either receive the BA Support or continue with their usual care in addition to receiving information about maintaining health and wellbeing.
Participants in the BA Support group will be offered up to eight BA Support sessions over a 3 month period delivered via telephone/video call with a trained BASIL support worker. All participants will be asked to complete questions about their health and wellbeing one month, three months and 12 months after joining the study. Participants and BASIL support workers may also be invited to provide their feedback on taking part in the study.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/YH/0347
Date of REC Opinion
11 Dec 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion