Increasing Veterans' Social Engagement and Connectedness

Launched by VA OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT · Jun 14, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, called the Increasing Veterans' Social Engagement and Connectedness (CONNECTED) intervention, is studying ways to help Veterans who feel socially isolated. Social isolation is when someone feels lonely or disconnected from others, and it’s a significant issue for many Veterans. The trial aims to test a program that provides support through telehealth, which means participants can join sessions from home. Over 8 weeks, Veterans will receive peer support, help to improve their social connections, and assistance in finding local resources to help them engage more with their community.

To participate in this trial, Veterans need to be receiving care at the Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center or its outpatient clinics and have recently been identified as socially isolated based on a specific screening tool. However, those who have severe mental health issues or other significant health problems that could affect their ability to participate safely are not eligible. Participants can expect to engage in both individual and group sessions, which will be led by trained peers, to help them build connections and improve their social well-being. This study is important because it seeks to improve the overall health and quality of life for Veterans by addressing their social needs.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Eligible participants for Aim 1 \& Aim 2
• • 1. Must be Veterans at the Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center or its Community-Based Outpatient Clinics who had a primary care encounter in the prior 6 months and
• • 2. Veteran obtained a score 12, indicating social isolation, on the Lubben Social Isolation Scale (LSNS-6), a validated, 6-item social isolation measure, at the time of screening in Aim 1.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • For Aim 1 and Aim 2, the investigators will exclude Veterans with
• • 1. Active suicidal ideation needing immediate mental health treatment
• • 2. severe cognitive, hearing or speech impairment,
• • 3. current exacerbation of severe psychiatric symptoms (e.g., active psychosis), or
• • 4. severe illness that makes study participation not feasible.