A string of PEARLS: Using a multi-state evaluation to guide program implementation and sustainability

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This session will describe a collaborative effort examining 2015-2021 data from 1,225 PEARLS participants across four ACL-funded states (Florida, Maryland, Texas, and Washington) to assess the effectiveness of PEARLS to reduce depressive symptomatology. Using the PHQ-9, participant improvements were assessed using statistical and clinical (i.e., response and remission) criteria. Participants’ PHQ-9 scores significantly improved from baseline to their final sessions (on average from 12.74 to 5.48, p<0.001). About one-third (31.0%) achieved remission at PEARLS completion (p<0.001), and approximately two-thirds (61.1%) of participants achieved response. Findings reinforce the robustness of PEARLS to improve depressive symptomatology among older adults in diverse community settings outside of research studies. Recent COVID-19 adaptations may improve reach and adoption through distance training and delivery of telePEARLS (phone or video-conferencing sessions). The ability for PEARLS to achieve improvements in clinical outcomes sets the stage for sustainability via reimbursement opportunities and strengthening clinical-community linkages.

Matthew Smith PhD, MPH, CHES

Associate Professor

Texas A&M University

Dr. Matthew Lee Smith is an associate professor in the Texas A&M School of Public Health and primary faculty member of in the Texas A&M Health Center for Population Health and Aging. As an evaluator and interventionist, his research addresses health risk across the life-course and the uptake of evidence-based solutions for older adults. Dr. Smith has devoted his career to creating synergistic partnerships and initiatives to encourage positive lifestyles and reduce preventable morbidity and mortality. His translational work bridges research and practice issues across the healthcare sector, aging services network, and public health system.

Yoko Meusch, MA (Moderator)

Program Associate, Center for Healthy Aging

National Council on Aging

Yoko Meusch, MA, is a Program Associate for the Center for Healthy Aging at National Council on Aging. Yoko provides technical assistance to U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) grant-funded community-based organizations promoting and implementing evidence-based Falls Prevention and Chronic Disease Self-Management education programs. In addition, she is a program administrator for Aging Mastery Program®, an NCOA’s signature program for aging well.

Yoko holds a Bachelor's degree in Management Studies from the University of Maryland Global Campus and a Master's Degree in Health Communication from Johns Hopkins University.
She is originally from Japan and is bilingual.

Lesley Steinman MSW, MPH (she/her)

Research Scientist

University of Washington School of Public Health

Lesley Steinman, MSW, MPH is a Research Scientist at the Health Promotion Research Center, a CDC-funded Prevention Research Center at the University of Washington School of Public Health, and a Director at the Evidence Based Leadership Collaborative. Ms. Steinman partners with community-designed and delivered evidence-based program (EBP) participants, practitioners, and policymakers to understand, adapt, deliver, and sustain EBP delivery with diverse settings and populations across the country to improve older adult health equity.