SBO project with a primary societal finality: Flanders' project to understand and improve social connection in serious illness, dying, and bereavement (CONNECT)

Social connection has a demonstrated strong influence on people’s health and well-being and is regarded as one of the most fundamental social determinants of health. Yet, how social connection can improve quality of life and well-being in contexts of serious illness, dying, and bereavement has been largely neglected in research, practice and policy. While some programs to improve social connection in these contexts exist, how these can be effectively implemented and how these impact well-being, for whom, in what circumstances, and through which mechanisms, remains vastly understudied. The CONNECT project will bring together an interdisciplinary consortium of researchers to develop an evidence base for innovative programs, practices, and policies, aimed at improving social connection in serious illness, dying and bereavement at individual, relational, community, organizational, and societal levels. This overarching scientific aim will be addressed by 5 studies with the following research objectives:
1. To implement and evaluate a person- and family-centered social connector program for people with serious illness and their family carers
2. To identify and evaluate policies and practices in nursing homes aimed at creating environments that foster social connection in serious illness, dying, and bereavement
3. To identify and evaluate innovative community development initiatives aimed at improving social connection in serious illness, dying, and bereavement
4. To identify and evaluate the impact of health and social policies on social connection in serious illness, dying, and bereavement and understand how to improve them
5. To evaluate inequities in programs, practices, and policies targeting social connection in serious illness, dying, and bereavement, and understand how they can be made more equitable and inclusive.
Mixed-methods approaches will be applied, guided by theory (e.g. integrative theory on social connection) and implementation science frameworks.