Background Effective care models for treating older African Americans with depressive symptoms are needed. Objective To determine whether a home-based intervention alleviates depressive symptoms and improves quality of life in older African Americans. Design Parallel, randomized trial stratified by recruitment site. Interviewers assessing outcomes were blinded to treatment assignment. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00511680) Setting A senior center and participants’ homes from 2008 to 2010. Patients African Americans aged 55 years or older with depressive symptoms. Intervention A multicomponent, home-based intervention delivered by social workers or a wait-list control group that received the intervention at 4 months. Measurements Self-reported depression severity at 4 months (primary outcome) and depression knowledge, quality of life, behavioral activation, anxiety, function, and remission at 4 and 8 months. Results Of 208 participants (106 and 102 in the intervention and wait-list groups, respectively), 182 (89 and 93, respectively) completed 4 months and 160 (79 and 81, respectively) completed 8 months. At 4 months, participants in the intervention group showed reduced depression severity (difference in mean change in Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score from baseline, −2.9 [95% CI, −4.6 to −1.2]; difference in mean change in Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score from baseline, −3.7 [CI, −5.4 to −2.1]); improved depression knowledge, quality of life, behavioral activation, and anxiety (P < 0.001); and improved function (P = 0.014) compared with wait-list participants. More intervention than wait-list participants entered remission at 4 months (43.8% vs. 26.9%). After treatment, control participants showed benefits similar in magnitude to those of participants in the initial intervention group. Those in the initial intervention group maintained benefits at 8 months. Limitation The study had a small sample, short duration, and differential withdrawal rate. Conclusion A home-based intervention delivered by social workers could reduce depressive symptoms and enhance quality of life in most older African Americans. Primary Funding Source National Institute of Mental Health.

This study evaluated the acceptability of a supportive model of follow‐up. One hundred and twelve women recovering from breast cancer were randomised to receive standard breast clinic aftercare (Control n = 56) or on demand by open access aftercare by breast care nurses (Intervention n = 56). Participants attended a support‐based psycho‐educational programme delivered in four half‐day group sessions. Three quality of life questionnaires (EORTC QLQ‐C30, QLQ‐BR23, HADS) were administered at baseline and 6‐monthly intervals for 2 years. Multilevel linear regression modelling methods were used for evaluation. Age was found to be a statistically significant predictor of quality of life in several sub‐scales. Increasing age was negatively associated with sexual functioning, systematic therapy side effects and physical functioning, and positively associated with future perspective. Aftercare assignment was not found to be a statistically significant predictor. Women treated for early breast cancer were not disadvantaged by allocation to the open access supportive care model in terms of quality of life experienced. The model for follow‐up was demonstrated to be a feasible alternative to routinised hospital‐based follow‐up and adds to the evidence for stratified follow‐up for low‐risk cancer patients, incorporating self‐management education. Stratified follow‐up pathways are viewed as a preferable approach.

BackgroundPrimary care is the principle setting for depression treatment; yet many older African Americans in the United States fail to report depressive symptoms or receive the recommended standard of care. Older African Americans are at high risk for depression due to elevated rates of chronic illness, disability and socioeconomic distress. There is an urgent need to develop and test new depression treatments that resonate with minority populations that are hard-to-reach and underserved and to evaluate their cost and cost-effectiveness.Methods/DesignBeat the Blues (BTB) is a single-blind parallel randomized trial to assess efficacy of a non-pharmacological intervention to reduce depressive symptoms and improve quality of life in 208 African Americans 55+ years old. It involves a collaboration with a senior center whose care management staff screen for depressive symptoms (telephone or in-person) using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Individuals screened positive (PHQ-9 ≥ 5) on two separate occasions over 2 weeks are referred to local mental health resources and BTB. Interested and eligible participants who consent receive a baseline home interview and then are randomly assigned to receive BTB immediately or 4 months later (wait-list control). All participants are interviewed at 4 (main study endpoint) and 8 months at home by assessors masked to study assignment. Licensed senior center social workers trained in BTB meet with participants at home for up to 10 sessions over 4 months to assess care needs, make referrals/linkages, provide depression education, instruct in stress reduction techniques, and use behavioral activation to identify goals and steps to achieve them. Key outcomes include reduced depressive symptoms (primary), reduced anxiety and functional disability, improved quality of life, and enhanced depression knowledge and behavioral activation (secondary). Fidelity is enhanced through procedure manuals and staff training and monitored by face-to-face supervision and review of taped sessions. Cost and cost effectiveness is being evaluated.DiscussionBTB is designed to bridge gaps in mental health service access and treatments for older African Americans. Treatment components are tailored to specific care needs, depression knowledge, preference for stress reduction techniques, and personal activity goals. Total costs are $584.64/4 months; or $146.16 per participant/per month.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00511680

PPPP significantly improved PD and PV knowledge. It could be delivered more efficiently by holding larger events on fewer dates, staffing with volunteers where appropriate, and utilizing a local pharmacy to manage the vaccine supply.

GBGB treatment components were highly acceptable to participants. Future implementation and sustainability challenges include staffing, training requirements, reimbursement limitations, competing agency programmatic priorities, and generalizability to other groups.