Can we Predict Chronic Homelessness?

• Conditions: Cognitive Impairment

• Registration Number: NCT01775683
• Lead Sponsor: Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Brief Summary

Homeless men and women suffer more illness and sooner death compared to housed people. Among the homeless, there is a group that suffers more illness than others. This group is usually homeless for several months, makes up a smaller proportion of homeless people and uses more resources from emergency shelters than other homeless people. Some have asked if a difference in thinking skills explains how people who are homeless for a long time need more help in getting and keeping housing compared to other homeless persons.

In this study, thinking skills that help a person plan and make decisions will be screened among those who have been homeless for a long time and those who were homeless for a short time. If there is a difference, then screening may change how future homeless people get the help they need.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2012-09-25
• Status Verified: 2013-01
• Study Start: 2013-01
• Study First Submitted QC: 2013-01-22
• Last Update Submitted: 2013-01-22
• Study First Posted: 2013-01-25
• Last Update Posted: 2013-01-25
• Primary Completion: 2013-09
• Study Completion: 2013-09

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• Men and women, greater than or equal to 18 years old, English speaking
• Group A: currently homeless and/or housed in an emergency shelter or housing facility for chronically homeless individuals ≥ 6 months
• Group B: not homeless ≥4 times in the last 3 years and currently living in stable housing ≥ 6 months and in the last 3 years, has been homeless ≤ 1 month

Exclusion Criteria

At the time of testing, individuals with the following characteristics will be excluded:

1. Altered mental status (determined by Nurse Coordinator through participant response to questions regarding orientation to person, place and season - score of at least 2/3 is considered intact mental status).
2. Present intoxication (determined by Nurse Coordinator through participant evaluation of odour, either alcohol or non-beverage alcohol).
3. Currently violent or aggressive towards testers (determined by Nurse Coordinator)

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The Quick EXIT score	Within 2 weeks of recruitment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The Colour Trails test score	Within 2 weeks of recruitment

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre; 🇨🇦 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada