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Health Coaching: A Pilot Trial Among Reintegrating Veterans

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Veteran Reintegration
Interventions
Behavioral: VA Benefits Information
Behavioral: Health Coaching
Registration Number
NCT05199467
Lead Sponsor
VA Office of Research and Development
Brief Summary

Health coaches help people focus on goals, identify strengths and values, and work towards building the life they wish to live. Health coaching may be especially helpful for people navigating a life transition, such as Veterans who recently separated from military service (i.e., reintegrating Veterans). In this pilot trial the investigators will 1) examine the feasibility of study procedures and acceptability of health coaching among reintegrating Veterans, 2) evaluate measures for suitability in a future trial that will examine efficacy of the intervention, 3) determine barriers and facilitators to implementing the intervention among reintegrating Veterans.

Detailed Description

This pilot study is designed to provide data to inform the design and procedures of a future efficacy trial of health coaching among reintegrating Veterans. An enrollment rate 30% and an assessment completion rate 65% at 9 months will be considered feasible enrollment and assessment completion rates for a future efficacy trial. An intervention completion rate 70% and mean score 27 on the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 will indicate acceptability. Evaluation of measures will entail quantifying the mean levels in this population, characterizing typical variation in the outcomes, descriptive analyses of within-person change across time, and adjusted estimates of treatment effect sizes with 95% confidence intervals to calibrate the sample size needs of a fully powered trial. Qualitative interviews with participants will provide information on barriers and facilitators to implementation as well as perceived benefits and potential harms.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
95
Inclusion Criteria
  • United States military Veterans recently separated from service
Exclusion Criteria
  • Currently living in an institution (e.g., nursing home, prison)
  • Cognitive impairment as indicated by a score equal to or greater than 10 on the Short Blessed Test
  • Currently experiencing psychosis as indicated by endorsing thought interference or hallucinations on the Psychosis Screening Questionnaire
  • At acute risk for suicide as indicated by the P4 screener
  • Unable to read or understand English

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
VA Benefits InformationVA Benefits InformationReceipt of printed materials providing information on VA benefits
Health CoachingHealth CoachingReceipt of up to 12 sessions of health coaching, plus printed materials providing information on VA benefits
Health CoachingVA Benefits InformationReceipt of up to 12 sessions of health coaching, plus printed materials providing information on VA benefits
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Depressive Symptom Index - Suicidality subscaleMonth 9

The Suicidality subscale of the Depressive Symptom Index scores range from 0 to 12, with higher scores indicating higher suicidal ideation severity.

Columbia Suicide Severity Rating ScaleMonth 9

The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale - Screen scores range from 0 to 7, with higher scores indicating higher suicidal ideation severity.

Military to Civilian QuestionnaireMonth 9

The Military to Civilian Questionnaire scores range from 0 to 4, with higher scores indicating a higher degree of reintegrating difficulty.

Well-being Inventory - Functional StatusMonth 9

The Functional Status composite measure from the Well-being Inventory scores range from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating a higher level of functioning.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of VA healthcare visits (primary care, mental health, or other specialty care visits)Month 9

Number of VA healthcare visits (primary care, mental health, or other specialty care visits) completed during study participation (9 months), with higher number of visits indicating higher VA care utilization.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR

🇺🇸

Portland, Oregon, United States

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