French norms for the online Sussex-Waterloo Scale of Hypnotizability

This paper presents French norms for the online version of the Sussex-Waterloo Scale of Hypnotizability. This scale is an online adaptation of the well-established Waterloo-Stanford Group C scale of hypnotic susceptibility with both behavioural and subjective scores. Insofar as hypnotizability (the ability to respond to suggestions in a hypnotic context) varies substantially in the general population and remains generally stable throughout life, it is important to measure it in experiments using hypnotic suggestion. However, these scales are time consuming, as they often require multiple sessions in order to achieve a suitable sample size for subsequent participant screening. One promising route for overcoming this inconvenience is to perform hypnotizability assessment online. The Sussex-Waterloo Scale of Hypnotizability is the first to have demonstrated the viability of online measurement. We show that our translation of this scale yields similar statistics. Alongside recent critics of the classic scales of hypnotizability, we point to limitations of this scale and discuss ways of accommodating some of its drawbacks.

P132 Research in the time of COVID-19: Recruitment to a clinical trial comparing models of NIV implementation in people with MND

Introduction A pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) examining the feasibility of a new model of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) implementation was due to commence in early 2020. Based on previous research, it was anticipated that 100% of people with motor neurone disease (MND) would be eligible, 60% would consent to participate and 20 people would be randomised in five months. The aim of this report is to describe the impact of COVID-19 pandemic contingencies on trial recruitment. Methods Report of project progress, participant screening and recruitment. Results First reports of COVID-19 coincided with study commencement and changed usual healthcare delivery. Lockdowns meant telehealth substituted for face-to-face assessment, respiratory function testing was limited and/or patients were reluctant to seek medical treatment. This modified pathway impacted evaluation of diagnosis, timing of need for NIV and procedural safety, with patients then referred specifically for a single-day hospital NIV implementation to enable face-to-face multidisciplinary assessment to aid decisions. Of 81 potential participants screened in an 8-month period, 64% were ineligible for the RCT. Despite this shift in eligibility rate, 16 people with MND have been recruited as of May 2021. Conclusion The current climate has amplified the significance of this research trial; people with MND have had reduced access to face-to-face services globally and clinicians have had to quickly adapt to a changing landscape of telemedicine and remote monitoring of patients. This trial’s screening data suggest that COVID-19 hasn’t stopped people with MND being implemented on NIV, but it has altered assessment pathways.

Protocol for Safely Collecting Saliva as a Biospecimen During and Post the COVID-19 Pandemic

The emergence of salivary bioscience began in the 1980’s, around the same time that researchers discovered we could assess cortisol through the gathering of saliva. In recent decades, the field of salivary bioscience has exponentially grown in scientific interest. This is likely due to the fact that interest in salivary cortisol has risen as well as the emergence of noninvasive procedures to collect other biomarkers of health (e.g., c-reactive protein, alpha amylase, uric acid) through saliva. However, the global health crisis caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has presented challenges to biomedical researchers. The current manuscript provides detailed guidelines for safely collecting saliva as a biospecimen during and post the era of COVID-19. The protocol has six sections: screenings, package creation and mailing, sample collection demonstration, a contact-free drop-off or pick-up, text message reminders, and storage. Depending on participant screening responses and consistent with quarantine timelines suggested by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the entire protocol can be completed between 4 to 18 days, excluding package creation and mailing. The steps outlined can be accommodated by scientists with developing and mastery level expertise. The protocol can be applied to existing salivary bioscience protocols and maximize safety in the presence of other infectious diseases.

Recruitment of Low-wage Workers for a Time-sensitive Natural Experiment to Evaluate a Minimum Wage Policy: Challenges and Lessons Learned

Natural experiments are often used for answering research questions in which randomization is implausible. Effective recruitment strategies are well documented for observational cohort studies and clinical trials, unlike recruitment methods for time-sensitive natural experiments. In this time-sensitive study of the impact of a minimum wage policy, we aimed to recruit 900 low-wage workers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Raleigh, North Carolina. We present our recruitment strategies, challenges, and successes for participant screening and enrollment of a difficult-to-reach population.

Development and Computerized Implementation of an Impaired Driving Intervention for College Students

Excessive alcohol consumption and drinking and driving among college students are public health concerns. Online alcohol-related interventions have produced some positive outcomes in the college student populations; however, online interventions to reduce drinking and driving specifically have been neither developed nor tested. We developed an online Impaired Driving Intervention (IDI) using the Impaired Driving Assessment, a modified alcohol-specific version of timeline follow-back method of assessing behavior. This research examines: (1) the development of the IDI; (2) a pilot test of the IDI among 19 undergraduates; and (3) the refinements made to the program based on the pilot test. As a result of our pilot test, we changed the timing of our participant screening and for several program components we provided clearer instructions, including the addition of informative “pop-up” windows.

FAMILY DEMENTIA CAREGIVER RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES

Recruitment of dementia caregivers whose family members reside in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) poses unique challenges as it traditionally relies on the assistance of facility administrators. The purpose of this presentation is to examine and evaluate new recruitment strategies to determine their effectiveness in an ongoing Stage I randomized clinical trial testing the effects of a Chronic Grief Management Intervention, Video-streamed (CGMI-V) on caregivers’ mental health (grief, depression, anxiety) and facility-related outcomes (conflict with staff, satisfaction with care). A total of 144 caregivers will be randomly assigned to the CGMI-V or to the minimal treatment conditions. The initial recruitment plan was to build on already-established relationships with more than 35 LTCFs that helped recruit in a previous study. The usual approach was to offer written materials and onsite presentations about the study to facility staff and to dementia family caregivers of facility residents. Within the first six months, recruitment efforts yielded less than a dozen participants, thus we had to refine our approach. Revised recruitment strategies included the adoption of resources from the National Institute on Aging’s ADORE (Alzheimer’s and Dementia Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement) and ROAR (Recruiting Older Adults into Research) platforms. This new approach included online study advertising on NIH and Alzheimer’s Association research study repositories and advertising on parent institution’s on-hold messaging system. Adoption of these new strategies is yielding an increase in participant screening and enrollment. Results are pending.

The feasibility and acceptability of a chaplain-led intervention for caregivers of seriously ill patients: A Caregiver Outlook pilot study

Objective:When caring for a loved one with a life-limiting illness, a caregiver's own physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering can be profound. While many interventions focus on physical and emotional well-being, few caregiver interventions address existential and spiritual needs and the meaning that caregivers ascribe to their role. To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the process and content of Caregiver Outlook, we employed a manualized chaplain-led intervention to improve well-being by exploring role-related meaning among caregivers of patients with a life-limiting illness.Method:We conducted a single-arm pre–post pilot evaluation among caregivers of patients with advanced cancer or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Caregivers completed three chaplain-led intervention sessions focusing on (1) a relationship review, (2) forgiveness, and (3) legacy. Outcomes administered at baseline and at 1 and 2 weeks after the intervention included quality of life, anxiety, depression, spiritual well-being, religious coping, caregiver burden, and grief.Results:The sample (N = 31) included a range of socioeconomic status groups, and the average age was approximately 60 years. A third of them worked full-time. Some 74% of our participants cared for a spouse or partner, and the other quarter of the sample cared for a parent (13%), child (10%), or other close family member (3%). At baseline, participants did not demonstrate clinical threshold levels of anxiety, depression, or other indicators of distress. Outcomes were stable over time. The qualitative results showed the ways in which Caregiver Outlook was assistive: stepping back from day-to-day tasks, the opportunity to process emotions, reflecting on support received, provoking thoughts and emotions between sessions, discussing role changes, stimulating communication with others, and the anonymity of a phone conversation. Both religious and nonreligious participants were pleased with administration of the chaplain intervention.Significance of results:The acceptability and feasibility of Caregiver Outlook were demonstrated among caregivers of patients with an advanced illness. Our pilot findings suggest minor modifications to study participant screening, interventionist guidance, and the study measures.