Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad

But then we also have to think about even other kinds of technology and how particularly during the pandemic, we got really comfortable using more tools to interact more remotely. Many people are now preferring to work remotely. We can now stream just about whatever we want to get our entertainment at home without ever leaving the house.

But then we also have to think about even other kinds of technology and how particularly during the pandemic, we got really comfortable using more tools to interact more remotely. Many people are now preferring to work remotely. We can now stream just about whatever we want to get our entertainment at home without ever leaving the house.

We can order our groceries, order our food without leaving the house. And so in a way, a lot of these technological advancements are making things more touchless, automated, and can potentially reduce our contact with other humans.

We can order our groceries, order our food without leaving the house. And so in a way, a lot of these technological advancements are making things more touchless, automated, and can potentially reduce our contact with other humans.

And so technology is really complex because it brings all sorts of incredible conveniences and things that we love, but also can potentially have some other kinds of consequences as well.

And so technology is really complex because it brings all sorts of incredible conveniences and things that we love, but also can potentially have some other kinds of consequences as well.

Happy to. So first off, I should just mention that loneliness and isolation can often go hand in hand with depression, but it is independent of depression. And so many studies have shown independent effects over and above any effects of depression. So it is something different. It's not the same thing. So just measuring depression won't be enough.

Happy to. So first off, I should just mention that loneliness and isolation can often go hand in hand with depression, but it is independent of depression. And so many studies have shown independent effects over and above any effects of depression. So it is something different. It's not the same thing. So just measuring depression won't be enough.

But there are standardized and validated instruments for measuring loneliness. The most widely used is a short version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale. And I will note that I was part of the Gravity Project that helped bring the isolation, loneliness, and social support into the electronic health record. So it is available there.

But there are standardized and validated instruments for measuring loneliness. The most widely used is a short version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale. And I will note that I was part of the Gravity Project that helped bring the isolation, loneliness, and social support into the electronic health record. So it is available there.

And I know it's available in Epic, which is one of the most commonly used ones. However, I am told that it's an option. And so different systems may build it in differently. So it might take some work to find it, but it is there. And so you can assess it. And in fact, it's been recommended

And I know it's available in Epic, which is one of the most commonly used ones. However, I am told that it's an option. And so different systems may build it in differently. So it might take some work to find it, but it is there. And so you can assess it. And in fact, it's been recommended

not only by the National Academies of Science and the Institute of Medicine to assess this in medical settings, but also the Surgeon General's Advisory, part of those recommendations, that's also included in that. I served on both of those.

not only by the National Academies of Science and the Institute of Medicine to assess this in medical settings, but also the Surgeon General's Advisory, part of those recommendations, that's also included in that. I served on both of those.

And for clinicians or healthcare providers who might be listening, I also published a piece in the New England Journal of Medicine that provides a framework, because I know clinicians Often they may experience patients who are dealing with this, but may not feel like they have the adequate tools to deal with it.

And for clinicians or healthcare providers who might be listening, I also published a piece in the New England Journal of Medicine that provides a framework, because I know clinicians Often they may experience patients who are dealing with this, but may not feel like they have the adequate tools to deal with it.

And so we provide a very simple framework that we call the EAR framework, which is an acronym for Educate, Assess and Respond. So the Educate is helping patients become aware of how this is relevant to their health. and their treatment.

And so we provide a very simple framework that we call the EAR framework, which is an acronym for Educate, Assess and Respond. So the Educate is helping patients become aware of how this is relevant to their health. and their treatment.

The assessment is, you know, assessing this and including this in the electronic health records so that you can see how people's or your patient's levels might be changing over time. And then respond is also really responding in a way that is responsive to their needs. And so in a way, it's not a coincidence that ear suggests that you ought to really listen, right?

The assessment is, you know, assessing this and including this in the electronic health records so that you can see how people's or your patient's levels might be changing over time. And then respond is also really responding in a way that is responsive to their needs. And so in a way, it's not a coincidence that ear suggests that you ought to really listen, right?