Using Community Health Workers to Support Rural Care Partners of Seriously Ill Older Veterans

Phase

N/A

Condition

Cancer

Dementia

Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis

Treatment

Remote Community Health Worker support

Clinical Study ID

NCT06963970

SDR 24-078

1l01HX003922-01A1

Ages > 18
All Genders
Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Summary

The investigators aim to support care partner's well-being and satisfaction with VA care and decrease their work burden by offering extra support from a trained Community Health Worker who will help connect the care partner to helpful resources in their communities and in the VA. The investigators also hope to help Veterans well-being and satisfaction with VA care by supporting their care partner more sufficiently allowing the care partner to focus on caregiving tasks.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

Care Partner Inclusion Criteria

A relative, friend, or partner (18 years of age) with whom Veteran patient has apersonal relationship who assists Veteran regularly with care and/or carecoordination as defined under "Veterans" below
Can live with or separately from the Veteran; able to communicate in English byphone

Veteran Inclusion Criteria Receiving VA care at HSA 2.1 (North Carolina and Virginia) (at least 2 encounters in past year, has a PACT/primary care provider)

Residing in a rural area based on RUCA Rural Urban Commuting Codes
Diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease,cancer, dementia, or End-Stage Renal Disease.
Requires assistance with at least one activities of daily living (ADLs) orinstrumental activities of daily living (IADL)
65 years old or older and able to communicate in English by phone (for assessments)

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

Care partner Exclusion Criteria

-Enrolled in Caregiver Support Program (CSP)

Veteran Exclusion Criteria

Flag or social work note indicating suspected Caregiver abuse
Unable to communicate in English by phone for assessments

Study Design

Remote Community Health Worker support

November 02, 2026

September 30, 2029

Study Description

Aim 1: Determine CSNAV effectiveness in increasing rural Veterans' well-being, reducing rural care partner burden, and increasing rural care partner/Veteran satisfaction with VA care in the intervention group compared with the usual care. The investigators will apply a 6-month intervention in a randomized control trial over 27 months. Primary Outcome: (H1) Care partners randomized to intervention group will have lower mean Zarit-12 burden scores at 6 months compared to the control group. Secondary Outcomes: (H2) Care partners and Veterans randomized to the intervention group will have higher mean CAHPS Global Satisfaction scores at 6 months compared to the control group. (H3) Veterans randomized to the intervention group will have higher mean Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale scores at 6 months compared to the control group.

Aim 2: Following intervention, the investigators explore Veterans' and care partners' experience of CHWs as a mode of VA support using semi-structured interviews. The investigators then facilitate Delphi Method sessions with the Community Advisory Board plus study Veterans/care partners, CHWs, and key operational partners to examine Aims 1 & 2 data for intervention improvements and implementation planning using updated CFIR.

Aim 3: Conduct budget impact analysis from the VA perspective to evaluate cost-drivers and assess feasibility to inform adaptation and implementation of the intervention within a VA regional network.

Connect with a study center

Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC
Durham, North Carolina 27705-3875
United States
Site Not Available

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