Increasing Veterans' Social Engagement and Connectedness

Part of paid clinical trials in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Sponsor
VA Office of Research and Development
Study ID
NCT06467214
Status
Recruiting
Apply to this trial

Conditions

  • Social Isolation

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • CONNECTED — BEHAVIORAL
    CONNECTED is a manualized, peer-led, group-based social isolation intervention for diverse veteran populations in VA primary care settings. It is delivered via videoconference through individual and group sessions over 8 weeks.
  • VET BEFRIENDING — BEHAVIORAL
    VET BEFRIENDING (attention control arm) consists of weekly social interactions with a research assistant (RA) over videoconference or phone.

Study Details

Social isolation is a negative social determinant of health that affects 1-in-5 adults in the U.S. and 43% of Veterans. Social isolation is estimated to cost the nation $6.7 billion annually in federal healthcare spending. Yet, social isolation has rarely been the direct focus of healthcare interventions. The proposed project is a randomized controlled trial that seeks to test the effectiveness of the Increasing Veterans' Social Engagement and Connectedness (CONNECTED) intervention on social isolation among diverse Veteran groups in primary care clinics. Increasing Veterans' Social Engagement and Connectedness involves three key services delivered by peers via telehealth through individual and group sessions over 8 weeks: 1) peer support, which includes person-centered assessment for social isolation, 2) psychosocial interventions to address social isolation, and 3) navigation (i.e., connecting Veterans to social resources). Findings from this study will contribute to the VA's efforts to address social determinants of health among Veterans and to provide high quality, person-centered, and equitable care to all Veterans.

Key Dates

Start date
Oct 4, 2024
Status verified
Jul 2025
Primary completion
Jun 30, 2028
Completion
Jun 30, 2028

Study Design

Enrollment
264 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: CONNECTED
    CONNECTED integrates two evidence-based care models--peer support and patient navigation--and involves the delivery of three services by peers: 1) peer support, which includes person-centered assessment for drivers of social isolation; 2) group-based interventions to address Veterans' social isolation and 3) navigation, which involves connecting Veterans to social resources to facilitate social participation. CONNECTED is delivered through individual and group sessions over 8 weeks. All sessions will be delivered via videoconference. Veterans may choose to receive some peer support sessions in person when feasible, to facilitate engagement and retention.
  • Active Comparator: VET BEFRIENDING
    VET BEFRIENDING (attention control arm) consists of weekly social interactions with a research assistant (RA). It will match the number of social contacts (12 contacts), frequency (weekly), intervention expectancy (positive treatment expectations), and working alliance (rapport with interventionist) in the intervention arm. The control condition has no overlap with CONNECTED in terms of content and therapeutic elements (e.g., goal setting, navigation).

Primary Outcome Measure

Lubben Social Network Scale-6 [ Time Frame: Baseline, 2, 4, 8 months ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, INIndianapolisIndiana46202-2884
Jasma Adams, BA MPH
[email protected]
Diana Natividad, BA MPH
[email protected]
(317) 988-3114
Johanne Eliacin, PhD (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)
Marianne Sassi Matthias, PhD MS BA (SUB_INVESTIGATOR)

Find similar trials in Indianapolis, IN

By research site
Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN· Indianapolis, IN

Related Studies