INcreasing Adolescent social and Community supporT (INACT): Pilot study protocol

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317823
• Publication Date: 2025-03-26T17:33:55Z
• Authors: Daniel Hayes; Alexandra Burton; Feifei Bu; Neil Humphrey; Pamela Qualter; Emeline Han; Lou Sticpewich; Joely Wright; Jessica K. Bone; Sophia Maguire; Lucas Caetano Gon...; Emily Stapley; Marc S. Tibber; Daisy Fancourt
• Keywords: Mainstream

Background Social prescribing is a mechanism for connecting patients with non-medical forms of support within the community and has been shown to improve loneliness. Yet uptake from young people (YP) lower than adults. That thought be case because are less likely engage primary care wellbeing support, where social based. The INACT study will pilot pathway via schools who lonely, testing its feasibility acceptability delivering, evaluating impact on loneliness through randomised controlled trial. Methods This utilises two-group (intervention vs. active control) parallel design, YP as unit randomisation. Approximately 78 pupils reporting recruited across 12 mainstream (6 6 secondary) in England. co-produced intervention includes 6-12 sessions over an 8-week period Link Worker work individuals, one-to-one basis, understand ‘what matters them’ connect them local sources support. Pupils control group receive signposting school staff. Data collected at baseline, 3- 6-month follow-up. Acceptability assessed participant recruitment retention, qualitative interviews. Interviews also explore barriers facilitators engagement implementation mechanisms change. Primary secondary outcomes completed assess response completeness, including measures loneliness, mental health wellbeing. Discussion provide preliminary evidence both research design intervention. Results inform planned future Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06656663 .