In It Together: effects from a randomized controlled trial of a digital intervention for elderly individuals with sensory loss and their spouses

Sensory impairment is common in older age and is associated with intra- and interpersonal struggles, however, treatment efforts may be hampered by functional difficulties or unwillingness to seek face-to-face mental health services. The current study examined the efficacy of an online psychological intervention for older adults with sensory loss and their spouses in Denmark, using a two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial study design with a wait-list control group. The intervention consisted of four digital, sequential modules that contained psychoeducation and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy inspired therapeutic activities. Individuals (N = 662) completed online surveys (using the SurveyXact platform) at baseline, 6 weeks, and 10 weeks post-baseline, in terms of well-being, relationship satisfaction, and depressive symptoms. The data were analyzed in SAS, version 9.4, using multilevel modeling to account for non-independence of data (nesting within participant and within couple), specifying an alpha level of 0.05. Inconsistent with the hypotheses, we found that the intervention group reported poorer well-being at 6 weeks, compared to the control group, and we found no effect in terms of relationship satisfaction or depressive symptoms. As the first study of an online intervention for older adults with sensory loss and their spouses, the study highlights the need for simple login procedures, and we speculate whether a user customizable format may be better, features that might be useful for any digital intervention aimed at elderly populations. These features may be of particular importance in implementing digital interventions into standard healthcare practices.