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Can a short internet training program improve social isolation and self-esteem in older adults with psychiatric conditions?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

Samantha M. Loi Open the ORCID record for Samantha M. Loi [Opens in a new window] ,
Samuel Hodson ,
David Huppert ,
Jodie Swan ,
Angela Mazur  and
Nicola T. Lautenschlager
Samantha M. Loi*
Affiliation:
Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, 34–54 Poplar Road, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia NorthWestern Aged Mental Health, Royal Park Campus, Building 5, Level 1, 34–54 Poplar Road, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
Samuel Hodson
Affiliation:
NorthWestern Aged Mental Health, Royal Park Campus, Building 5, Level 1, 34–54 Poplar Road, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
David Huppert
Affiliation:
NorthWestern Aged Mental Health, Royal Park Campus, Building 5, Level 1, 34–54 Poplar Road, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
Jodie Swan
Affiliation:
NorthWestern Aged Mental Health, Royal Park Campus, Building 5, Level 1, 34–54 Poplar Road, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
Angela Mazur
Affiliation:
NorthWestern Aged Mental Health, Royal Park Campus, Building 5, Level 1, 34–54 Poplar Road, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
Nicola T. Lautenschlager
Affiliation:
Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, 34–54 Poplar Road, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia NorthWestern Aged Mental Health, Royal Park Campus, Building 5, Level 1, 34–54 Poplar Road, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia School of Clinical Neurosciences and the Western Australia Centre and Health and Ageing, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr Samantha M Loi, Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, 34–54 Poplar Road, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia. Phone: +61 3 8387 2767. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether an educational training course on using the internet and touchscreen technology (TT) would decrease social isolation and improve self-esteem in residents living in a low-level residential facility. Twelve sessions over six weeks with two facilitators were provided to five participants with a variety of psychiatric disorders. Measures were completed before and after the 12 sessions. There were no statistically significant improvements or worsening in social isolation (mean score 6.2, SD 3.35) or self-esteem (mean score 18.2, SD 3.56) post the training sessions for the residents. Qualitative feedback suggested that the residents enjoyed this experience and learnt new skills. Further study is recommended using larger samples and alternative outcomes measures.

Keywords

aged carehealth agingpsychosocial interventionsresidential facilities
Type
Brief Report
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 28 , Issue 10 , October 2016 , pp. 1737 - 1740
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2016 

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