An interventional study of Re-Construir Juntes in Acquired Disability, Occupational Disengagement and Loneliness, sponsored by University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia. Completed at 1 site in Spain. Open to participants aged 25 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-06.
Sponsored by University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care
This pilot study evaluated the effects of Re-Construir Juntes, a rural community-based occupational therapy group intervention, on engagement in meaningful occupations and loneliness among people with acquired disabilities experiencing occupational disengagement and social disconnection. Secondary outcomes included occupational balance, emotional wellbeing, perceived social support, health-related quality of life, and self-perceived health. The study used a mixed-methods explanatory sequential design comprising a non-randomised controlled pre-post quantitative component and a post-intervention focus group with intervention participants.
Re-Construir Juntes was a community-based occupational therapy intervention designed to promote engagement in meaningful occupations and address social disconnection among adults with acquired disabilities living in a rural area of Catalonia, Spain. The intervention was grounded in the Model of Human Occupation and participatory approaches and aimed to support participants in reconstructing meaningful occupational participation through individual reflection, group processes, and collective occupation.
The study used a mixed-methods explanatory sequential design. The quantitative component consisted of a non-randomized controlled pre-post study with two parallel groups. Participants were allocated to the intervention or control group according to their municipality of residence. Individual randomization was not considered feasible because of the community-based organization of the intervention and the need to maintain consistency in service provision within each local setting. Participants from one municipality received the Re-Construir Juntes intervention, whereas participants from the other municipality continued to receive usual interdisciplinary primary healthcare without occupational therapy.
Eligible participants were adults aged 25 to 75 years with a health condition associated with acquired disability, living in the rural study area, and presenting low or moderate engagement in meaningful occupations and moderate or high perceived loneliness. Potential participants were identified through referrals from primary healthcare and community social services. Eligibility was subsequently verified by the research team, and all participants provided written informed consent before participation.
The Re-Construir Juntes intervention consisted of 19 weekly group sessions delivered over five months, from February to June 2025. Each session lasted approximately 90 minutes and was facilitated by an occupational therapist with more than 10 years of experience in group facilitation and community practice. The intervention was delivered in a municipal civic centre and followed a planned structure while allowing minor adaptations according to group dynamics and participants' needs.
The intervention progressed through four sequential phases: group cohesion, occupational self-analysis, development of a shared purpose, and engagement in collective occupation. Across these phases, participants were encouraged to reflect on their occupational lives, identify meaningful occupations and shared interests, establish supportive relationships within the group, and participate in the development and implementation of a meaningful collective occupation. The intervention sought to create an emotionally safe environment that facilitated individual and collective processes, including self-awareness, empowerment, social support, reciprocity, and occupational participation.
Quantitative assessments were conducted before and after the intervention. Outcomes included engagement in meaningful activities, loneliness, occupational balance, emotional wellbeing, perceived social support, health-related quality of life, and self-perceived health. The control group underwent the same assessment schedule while continuing to receive usual interdisciplinary primary healthcare.
Following completion of the quantitative phase, a focus group was conducted with participants from the intervention group to explore their experiences of the intervention and the processes underlying perceived changes in occupational participation and social relationships. Quantitative and qualitative findings were subsequently integrated during the interpretation phase through narrative integration.
University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia is the lead sponsor of 36 studies on the registry; 11 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Participants assigned to the intervention arm received the Re-Construir Juntes community occupational therapy group intervention in addition to usual interdisciplinary primary healthcare. The intervention was delivered in a municipal community setting and consisted of 19 weekly 90-minute group sessions over five months (February-June 2025). Sessions were facilitated by an occupational therapist with more than 10 years of experience in group facilitation and community-based practice. The programme followed a planned structure grounded in the Model of Human Occupation and participatory practice, progressing from group cohesion and occupational self-analysis to the development and implementation of a meaningful collective occupation. Minor adaptations were made during implementation according to group dynamics and participants' needs.
Behavioral: Re-Construir Juntes
Participants continued receiving usual interdisciplinary care provided by their primary healthcare centre, including care from physicians, nurses and psychology professionals, without occupational therapy involvement.
Re-Construir Juntes was a community-based occupational therapy group intervention grounded in the Model of Human Occupation and participatory practice. It consisted of 19 weekly 90-minute sessions delivered over five months in a municipal community setting. The intervention progressed through four sequential phases: group cohesion and creation of a supportive group environment; occupational self-analysis focused on daily routines, meaningful occupations, occupational identity, and barriers to participation; development of a shared purpose and co-creation of a meaningful collective occupation based on participants' interests and needs; and implementation of the collective occupation. The occupational therapist facilitated group dynamics, reflection, participation, and collective decision-making. The intervention followed a planned programme and session structure, with minor adaptations according to group dynamics and participants' needs.
Engagement in Meaningful Activities Assessed by the Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey (EMAS)
Engagement in meaningful activities was assessed using the 12-item Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey (EMAS), which evaluates the extent to which everyday activities are perceived as meaningful and congruent with personal values, interests, competence, identity, and sense of purpose. Each item is scored from 1 to 4, yielding a total score ranging from 12 to 48. Higher scores indicate greater engagement in meaningful activities. Scores below 29 indicate low meaningful activity engagement, scores from 29 to 41 indicate moderate engagement, and scores above 41 indicate high engagement.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 5-month intervention
Loneliness Assessed by the 6-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS)
Loneliness was assessed using the 6-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS), which measures overall loneliness and distinguishes between emotional and social loneliness. The scale comprises three items assessing emotional loneliness and three assessing social loneliness. Item responses are dichotomized according to the standard scoring procedure. The total loneliness score ranges from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater loneliness. Emotional and social loneliness subscale scores each range from 0 to 3, with higher scores indicating greater emotional or social loneliness, respectively.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 5-month intervention
Occupational Balance Assessed by the Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ)
Occupational balance was assessed using the 13-item Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ), which evaluates perceived balance in everyday occupations, including the amount and variation of occupations, their meaningfulness, time use, and satisfaction with occupational patterns. Each item is rated on a 6-point scale from 0 (completely disagree) to 5 (completely agree), yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 65. Higher scores indicate greater perceived occupational balance.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 5-month intervention
Emotional Wellbeing Assessed by the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS)
Emotional wellbeing was assessed using the 7-item Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS). The scale assesses positive aspects of mental wellbeing, including positive feelings and psychological functioning. Each item is rated from 1 (none of the time) to 5 (all of the time), yielding a raw total score ranging from 7 to 35. Higher scores indicate greater mental wellbeing.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 5-month intervention
Perceived Social Support Assessed by the Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3)
Perceived social support was assessed using the 3-item Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3), which assesses the availability and perceived adequacy of social support, including the number of close confidants, perceived interest and concern from others, and availability of practical help. The total score ranges from 3 to 14, with higher scores indicating stronger perceived social support. Scores from 3 to 8 indicate poor social support, 9 to 11 moderate social support, and 12 to 14 strong social support.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 5-month intervention
Physical Health-Related Quality of Life Assessed by the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) Physical Component Summary (PCS)
Physical health-related quality of life was assessed using the Physical Component Summary (PCS) of the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). The SF-12 assesses health-related quality of life across physical and mental health domains. The PCS summarizes the physical health component of the instrument and was expressed on a 0-to-100 scale, with higher scores indicating better physical health-related quality of life.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 5-month intervention
Mental Health-Related Quality of Life Assessed by the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) Mental Component Summary (MCS)
Mental health-related quality of life was assessed using the Mental Component Summary (MCS) of the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). The SF-12 assesses health-related quality of life across physical and mental health domains. The MCS summarizes the mental health component of the instrument and was expressed on a 0-to-100 scale, with higher scores indicating better mental health-related quality of life.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 5-month intervention
Self-Perceived Health Assessed by the EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS)
Self-perceived health was assessed using the EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS), which records the participant's self-rated overall health on the day of assessment. Participants rate their health on a vertical visual analogue scale ranging from 0 to 100, where 0 represents the worst health they can imagine and 100 represents the best health they can imagine. Higher scores therefore indicate better self-perceived health.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 5-month intervention
Plan to share: No
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University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia