Social Worker in an Eye-Care Service

The Impact of a Social Worker in a Glaucoma Eye-Care Service: A Prospective Study

The purpose of this research study is to determine whether involvement with a social worker helps reduce distress, depression, and increase patient activation in participants over a 6 month intervention period. The study will also describe common barriers to care that participants face.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Glaucoma

Detailed Description

An appointment will be scheduled for participant to meet with a social worker. The appointment may happen on day of participant's scheduled clinic appointment or on another mutually decided upon date and time. Should participant choose to participate, this first visit will be Visit 1 for the study.

Visit 1: Baseline

Informed consent will be obtained demonstrating an interest in participating.

A visit with the social worker will take place during Visit 1. This session will be held in a private office and allows participant time for discussion regarding any challenges, struggles and/or barriers they may be experiencing.

The following baseline questionnaires/surveys will be administered:

Modified Patient Activation Measure - measures participant confidence in taking care of their own health.

Distress Thermometer - measures participant distress level during the past week.

Patient Health Questionnaire -measures depression symptoms and severity if any.

Clinical information will be taken from participant's medical record. There may be follow-up questions related to data if information is unclear or incomplete.

Upon completion of Visit 1, participant will receive a satisfaction survey to evaluate how participant satisfaction with social worker interaction.

Social Worker Interventions: After Visit 1 and before Visit 2

The social worker will develop an intervention for participant during Visit 1 appointment. As many calls or in person meetings participant requires will take place. There will be no limit and it will be determined by participant's needs.

Visit 2: Follow-up After 6 Months

Upon completion of participant's six month follow-up in the study, the following questionnaires/surveys will be administered:

Modified Patient Activation Measure - measures how confident participant is at taking care of their own health.

Distress Thermometer - measures how much distress participant has been experiencing in the past week.

Patient Health Questionnaire - measures if participant has symptoms of depression and the severity of those symptoms.

Satisfaction Survey - measures how satisfied participant is with the social worker interaction.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 40

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Pennsylvania
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19107
      • Wills Eye Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with any type of Glaucoma

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients seen at Wills Eye Hospital in the Glaucoma Service
• Glaucoma of any type, characterized by glaucomatous optic neuropathy and corresponding visual field (VF) defect
• Referred to staff social worker for intervention
• Ability to read, write, speak and understand English

Exclusion Criteria:

• None

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in response to Patient Health Questionnaire 9	Measures participant levels of depression based on questions related to depressive symptoms. The investigator will assess change in the number of participants with major, moderate, and minimal depressive symptoms.	6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in response to Distress thermometer	Measures participant level of distress on a scale of 1 to 10 and asks additional questions regarding contributors to distress.	6 months
Change in response to Modified Patient Activation Measure 13	Measures participant self-capacity for and confidence regarding glaucoma management.	6 months
Descriptive results of the Social Worker Baseline Assessment	Social worker will assess each participant's internal and external barriers to care, limitations, and strengths that may help them to manage their glaucoma.	6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Wills Eye
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Scott J Fudemberg, MD, Wills Eye Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Fudemberg SJ, Amarasekera DC, Silverstein MH, Linder KM, Heffner P, Hark LA, Waisbourd M. Overcoming Barriers to Eye Care: Patient Response to a Medical Social Worker in a Glaucoma Service. J Community Health. 2016 Aug;41(4):845-9. doi: 10.1007/s10900-016-0162-1.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 1, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): August 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 22, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 3, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): October 9, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 9, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 3, 2017
• Last Verified: October 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Glaucoma; Social Worker
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Eye Diseases; Ocular Hypertension; Glaucoma
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB#15-XXX

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO