The PALS (Project About Loneliness and Social isolation) study is being led by Dr Rebecca Band from the University of Southampton. PALS will evaluate the acceptability, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of implementing the GENIE intervention within a community setting to reduce loneliness and unwanted social isolation of adults in Southampton and Liverpool.
The PALS team are working with local organisations, groups and services to conduct a pragmatic, randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing the GENIE intervention to a waitlist control group (who will receive normal care) among 394 adults. The study is taking place over 3 years from 2018-2021. The GENIE(Generating Engagement in Network Involvement) intervention is an interactive web-based social networking tool which will be delivered by trained facilitators within the community, who support participants to create a visual map of their support network, then connect people to local organisations and others within the community who have similar needs and interests.
Other team members include: Karina Kinsella from Liverpool John Moores University
