Phase 2 Data Collection and Analysis
By April 2025, Research Ethics Board (REB) approvals had been secured from all participating academic institutions for Phase 2 of the ICOI project. Following this milestone, we initiated virtual training sessions for research assistants via Zoom. Each site recruited two to three research assistants per language group. Professors Sepali Guruge and Souraya Sidani conducted bi-weekly mentorship meetings via Zoom to support the data collection process.
We are pleased to report that Phase 2 data collection was successfully completed across all sites in July 2025. Phase 2 focused on examining the acceptability of interventions for social connectedness. Results of a previous literature review identified eight interventions shown to be effective in reducing social isolation and loneliness among older adults, either directly or indirectly by addressing key determinants. However, these interventions have primarily been evaluated in the general older adult population, and little is known about how older immigrants perceive their acceptability.
To address this gap, Phase 2 project aimed to examine the acceptability of these interventions among older immigrants and community leaders from Arabic-, Mandarin-, and Punjabi-speaking communities and also service providers who work with older immigrants from these communities. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected to explore participants’ perspectives on the cultural and contextual acceptability of these interventions. Academic team members provided invaluable support by training, mentoring, and supervising research assistants, as well as ensuring consistent data collection procedures across sites. Community partners played a vital role in helping recruit participants from the three communities.
Following data collection, Kaveenaa Chandrasekaran (Project Manager) and Dr. Lingqian Li (Postdoctoral Fellow) led the process of data cleaning. In August 2025, the team initiated quantitative data analysis under the leadership of Professor Souraya Sidani, the ICOI project’s co-lead.
We extend our appreciation to all team members who contributed to this phase of data collection. Your collaboration continues to strengthen the ICOI project’s goal of advancing equitable, evidence-informed approaches to support older immigrants’ social well-being in Canada.
Phase 3: Co-Designing a Multi-Component Intervention
Building on the findings from Phase 2, Phase 3 of the ICOI project focuses on co-designing a multi-component intervention to enhance social connectedness among Arabic-, Mandarin-, and Punjabi-speaking older immigrants in Canada. This phase also aims to create a logic model to guide the delivery of the multi-component intervention in community settings.
Phase 3 uses a collaborative, co-design approach that brings together three key stakeholder groups:
- Older Immigrants: The intended recipients of the multi-component intervention
- Service Providers: Including health, social, and settlement workers who may be involved in the delivery of the multi-component intervention
- Community Leaders: Individuals from the Arabic, Mandarin, and Punjabi-speaking immigrant communities who engage in unpaid leadership work to support and/or advocate for older adults within their communities
Through a series of facilitated workgroup meetings, these stakeholders will collaboratively identify the content and activities that make up the multi-component intervention. The co-design process encourages creativity, inclusivity, and cultural relevance, taking into account the social determinants of health, cultural values, and available community resources. The outcome will be a collaboratively developed logic model that outlines the resources, activities, and delivery strategies required to provide the multi-component intervention in diverse communities.
The ICOI team has also submitted a research ethics board application to Toronto Metropolitan University’s Research Ethics Board. Once Research Ethics Board approval is received at Toronto Metropolitan University, we will proceed with obtaining approvals at our other academic partner institutions to move Phase 3 forward.
Phase 3 REB Protocol
Toronto Metropolitan University obtained Research Ethics Board (REB) approval for Phase 3 in February 2026, marking an important milestone in advancing the next stage of the ICOI project. We are currently in the process of submitting and coordinating REB applications with our remaining academic partner institutions to ensure that all site-specific and institutional approvals are secured.
Knowledge Mobilization Activities
While we continue to work toward Phase 3 REB approval, a range of knowledge mobilization activities are underway. Multiple teams are actively engaged in quantitative and qualitative analyses of the Phase 1 and Phase 2 data, with several manuscripts and conference submissions currently in development.
We are also pleased to share that Professor Sepali Guruge and Professor Souraya Sidani are leading the development of an ICOI open-access textbook that will highlight key findings from Phase 1. Co-investigators are contributing to individual chapters, bringing together diverse perspectives and disciplinary expertise. Designed as an accessible knowledge mobilization resource for students, researchers, practitioners, and community partners, the open-access format will ensure that these findings are widely available to academic, community, and policy audiences.