The effects of the Digital Buddy programme on mental health in older adults: A multi-centre, cluster randomised controlled trial

Background Digital technologies offer the potential to promote mental health by improving older adults’ digital and mental health literacy. Intergenerational support is a promising medium to promote the mental health of older adults. Nonetheless, the effects of interventions employing digital and mental health literacy training through intergenerational support on the mental health of older adults remain unclear. Objectives This study evaluated the effects of the Digital Buddy programme on the mental health of older adults. Methods This study used a multi-centre, cluster-randomised, two-parallel-group (1:1 allocation ratio), controlled trial design. People aged ≥60 years without diagnosed mental illnesses were eligible. In the intervention group, participants attended 14 training sessions conducted by young volunteers over 2 months, using materials on a website and a smartphone app. The content included digital skills and mental health knowledge. Volunteers continued tele-coaching participants for 6 months. The control group received usual care. Outcomes measured at baseline (T0) and 1-week post-intervention (T1) included mental well-being, depressive symptoms, health-related quality of life, self-efficacy, and perceived social support. Generalised estimating equations tested the hypotheses. Results A total of 310 participants from 15 clusters entered the study, with each group containing 155 participants. The WHO-5 (mean difference = 7.0, d = 0.32, p < .001) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores (mean difference = 0.9, d = 0.24, p = .02) of the intervention group improved after the intervention with statistical significance, but not in the control group. Likewise, the interaction effects of group and time on the two outcomes were not statistically significant. Discussion There was a main effect of time in the intervention group over the outcomes of mental well-being and depressive symptoms. However, the interaction was non-significant and therefore the change over time did not differ between groups and therefore groups had similar change trajectories. However, future studies should devise measures to enhance its effects. Trial registration This trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05553730) on 23 September 2022, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05553730