To investigate the intervention of family doctor management system on the loneliness in people who lost their only child.

Sixty two residents who lost their only child in Shanghai Xujiahui district were enrolled in the study from December 2015 to June 2016. The participants were randomly divided into study group and control group with 31 cases in each group; the participants in study group were signed by family doctors and the psychological intervention was provided, those in control group had no intervention, the participants were followed up for 6 months, the psychological status was evaluated with UCLA loneliness scale in two groups.

There were no significant differences in UCLA scores (63.26±7.17 vs. 60.03±7.59, t=1.709, P>0.05) and in the severity of loneliness (mild 0/30 vs. 1/31, moderate 9/30 vs. 11/31, severe 21/30 vs. 19/31, χ²=1.284, P>0.05) between study and control groups before the intervention. There were significant differences in UCLA scores (63.26±7.17 vs. 40.13±5.61, t=15.631, P<0.05) and in the severity of loneliness (mild 0/30 vs. 17/30, moderate 9/30 vs. 13/30, severe 21/30 vs. 0/30, χ²=38.727, P<0.05) before and after 6 months of intervention in study group; while there were no significant changes in UCLA score (60.03±7.59 vs. 59.64±6.90, t=0.650, P>0.05) and in the severity of loneliness (mild 1/31 vs. 0/31, moderate 11/31 vs. 14/31, severe 19/31 vs. 17/30, χ²=1.471, P>0.05) in control group after 6-month follow-up. The UCLA scores (40.13±5.61 vs. 59.64±6.90, t=12.086, P<0.05) and the severity of loneliness (mild 17/30 vs. 0/31, moderate 13/30 vs. 14/31, severe 0/30 vs.17/31, χ²=34.030, P<0.05) in study group were significantly lower than those in control group after intervention.

The family doctor management system can improve the loneliness and mental health status of people who lost the only child, to reduce the risk of mental illness and the family and social burden.

Loneliness; Family doctor; Lost the only child