Increasing Social Connection Through Crisis Caring Contacts: A Pragmatic Trial

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Loneliness

In brief

The main purpose is to learn if sending messages from the VA (called "Caring Contacts") reduces loneliness and improves mental health. The investigators want to understand if these messages are effective in Veterans aged 60 and above who have missed appointments at the VA even though they have health problems. Participants will receive up to 10 postcards mailed in envelopes from a fellow Veteran (Peer Specialist) from their local VA, and will be asked to fill out four surveys. The investigators are recruiting 920 Veterans aged 50 years and older who have felt isolated and have missed appointments at the VA to join this study.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05484297

Run by

VA Office of Research and Development

People needed

974

Starts

2023-04-04

Expected to finish

2026-02-17

Last updated by the study team

2026-04-02

Who can join

Age: 50 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• age 50 years and above
• have at least four VA appointments in the prior 6-18 months in primary care or mental health
• have at least two comorbidities contained in the Elixhauser Index
• a) zero completed appointments in the past 6 months and zero appointments scheduled, or b) in the 90th percentile or higher in terms of no-shows or appointments canceled by patient in the prior 12 months

You may not qualify if…

• no valid mailing address
• no valid phone number
• inclusion in an existing Caring Contacts program
• diagnosis of neurocognitive disorder or other significant cognitive impairment indicative of inadequate decision-making capacity

Where it is running

• VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI — Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
• VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR — Portland, Oregon, United States
• VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, WA — Seattle, Washington, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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