Clinical Research Directory

Evaluating the Navajo Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment (COPE) Program

Since 2009, a programmatic community-based strategy (COPE) has been implemented to address health disparities among Navajo individuals living with multiple chronic conditions. COPE (Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment) targets individual, family, and health system-level factors through four activities: 1) coordination between community health representatives (CHRs) and Indian Health Service providers; 2) CHR competency with standardized training; 3) a culturally-sensitive health promotion curriculum for patients and families; and 4) strong CHR supervision. COPE has been implemented throughout Navajo Nation. Enrollment is programmatic; in other words, the decision to enroll a patient in COPE occurs independently of whether the patient is in this study. Participants receive the COPE intervention in the same manner and intensity, whether they are included in this observational study or not. The main goal of this observational research is to understand if COPE improves the lives of participating community members. The Primary Aim is to assess the impact of the COPE Project on changes in HbA1c and other CVD risk factors. Hypothesis: Patients enrolled in the COPE program will experience a reduction in HbA1c compared to the control group. Secondary aims are: 1) To understand if COPE improves patients' own self-reported outcomes. Hypothesis: COPE patients will report better health compared with their own baseline at 12 months. 2) To Identify factors associated with increased effectiveness of the COPE Project at the individual, community, and health system level using a mixed-model approach. 3) To understand diverse stakeholder perspectives on COPE impact and value among CHRs, providers and the health care system. Hypothesis: Compared with baseline, CHRs will report greater empowerment in their work, providers will report greater confidence in CHRs. The observational cohort will be comprised of individuals with diabetes receiving care at one of the participating health facilities. Cases include individuals participating in the COPE intervention; controls are non-COPE participants identified within the same hospital and matched based on similar baseline characteristics. Study findings will improve clinical and patient-decision making and the health of marginalized AI/ANs by informing policies to promote CHR interventions in rural and underserved communities.

Development and Evaluation of an Online Shared Decision-Making Educational Program for Nurses and Patients With Chronic Diseases

This study aims to develop and evaluate an online shared decision-making (SDM) educational program for nurses and patients with chronic diseases. Shared decision-making is a process in which healthcare professionals and patients make health-related decisions together based on the best available evidence and the patient's values and preferences. The study includes an evaluation phase. In the evaluation phase, the program will be tested among nurses working in general hospitals and adults with chronic diseases living in the community. Outcomes related to shared decision-making will be assessed at baseline, immediately after the 4-week program, and 1 month later. The study is expected to improve shared decision-making competence, experience, and preparedness among both nurses and patients.

A Web-Based Tool to Help People With Health Conditions Make Contraceptive Decisions

Among people who do not want to get pregnant, some do not use any birth control. This is also called contraceptive nonuse. Common reasons for contraceptive nonuse include concerns about birth control safety or side effects. People with health conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, also report worries about how different birth control methods might affect their health condition or medicines. The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a web tool called My Health, My Choice helps people with health conditions understand their birth control options and choose birth control that is right for them. The study will also look at the medical safety of birth control methods that participants decide to use. The main questions it aims to answer are: • Does the My Health My Choice tool lower the number of participants who do not use any birth control method? (contraceptive nonuse) In other words, does the My Health My Choice tool increase the number of participants who use any birth control method? (contraceptive use) Participants who use the My Health, My Choice tool before a clinic visit with their clinician (Intervention Group) will be compared to participants who only go to a clinic visit with their clinician (Usual Care Group). For this study, a "clinician" is any licensed health care provider who counsels about birth control, prescribes birth control, and/or inserts birth control devices. All participants will: * Complete 4-5 online surveys that take 5-10 minutes each, over a 3 month time period * Be asked to go to a scheduled clinic visit with their health care provider * A small group of participants (about 30) will be invited to a 1 hour exit interview Participants in the intervention arm will be asked to: • Use the My Health My Choice tool before their clinic visit

Phenotype-Guided Weaning in Mechanically Ventilated Patients With Chronic Comorbidities

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a phenotype-guided weaning strategy can help adults with chronic comorbidities be liberated from invasive mechanical ventilation earlier. It will also learn about the safety of this strategy. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the phenotype-guided weaning strategy increase the number of ventilator-free days within 28 days after enrollment? * Does the strategy improve the process and success of ventilator liberation? * What safety events occur when this strategy is used? Researchers will compare the phenotype-guided weaning strategy with standard care in mechanically ventilated patients with chronic cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, or respiratory comorbidities. In the intervention period, participants will receive a protocolized ventilator weaning pathway. This pathway includes assisted ventilation transition, daily weaning readiness screening, a 0 cmH2O continuous positive airway pressure test, spontaneous breathing trial, extubation assessment, and post-extubation respiratory support when appropriate. The phenotype-guided part of the strategy is mainly used for participants who fail a spontaneous breathing trial or have difficult weaning. These participants will undergo structured ABCDE screening to identify the main phenotype or mechanism of weaning failure: * A: airway or lung dysfunction * B: brain dysfunction, including delirium, anxiety, agitation, or impaired consciousness * C: cardiac dysfunction * D: diaphragm or respiratory muscle dysfunction * E: endocrine, metabolic, or nutritional problems Based on the identified phenotype, clinicians will provide targeted assessment and treatment. Participants will be followed for ventilator-free days through day 28 and for clinical outcomes through day 90.

Whole-life Investigation of Lishui Longevity

1. To establish a standardized, normalized and scientific joint screening and follow-up management system for chronic disease multimorbidity in Lishui City, and early identify common risk factors of major chronic diseases such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and tumors. 2. To carry out targeted intervention and long-term follow-up for high-risk populations, reduce the incidence risk of major chronic diseases in the target population, improve residents' health status and grassroots comprehensive prevention and treatment capacity of chronic diseases, and provide scientific evidence and practical support for the construction of Healthy Lishui.

Click & Pick Study

Unhealthy diets significantly contribute to major preventable chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease and stroke, which disproportionally impact racial/ethnic minority groups and those with lower income \[1-3\]. Although taxes and warning labels targeting sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) have been successful at shifting behavior \[4-7\], there are many other ultra-processed food products that contribute to unhealthy diets \[8\]. What is less well-known is whether a suite of healthy food policies that are expanded to target a range of ultra-processed foods can shift dietary choices and intake in meaningful ways. Our research team's long-term goal is to identify and understand the degree to which combinations of healthy food policies can improve nutrition security and reduce nutrition-related diseases.

New Clinical Rehabilitation Approach for the Management of Falls Risks

Accidental falls in older adults are one of the world's major pubic health problem, because of their strong association with injuries and mortality rates. In Quebec, falls are responsible for a high rate of hospitalization (more than 1800 emergency department visits every day) and deaths (more than 10,000 in recent years). Preventing falls is therefore a key mission for health professionals. This research program aims to develop a new clinical approach to the rehabilitation management of the older with a neuro-musculoskeletal disorder and a risk of falling. This program is part of a new partnership project between UQAC and specialized geriatric services at the CIUSSS Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean (La Baie site). These geriatric services admit more than 400 new patients per year, representing a large pool of participants for the new program's development. Specifically, this program has 4 phases: 1) Create a clinical profile of patients in rehabilitation care from specialized geriatric services (ex: reasons for consultation, neuro-musculoskeletal disorders, rates and causes of falls, etc.); 2) to diagnose functional deficits of these patients on different dimensions of functional and physical evaluations, using standardized tests and high-tech instruments (ex: platform of force); 3) determine the effectiveness of a new exercise intervention program (OTAGO) for falls prevention; and 4) Measure client and professional team satisfaction as well as long-term impact of this new approach used to prevent falls. The most significant impact of this new program will be to reduce public health expenditure for care of older adults with balance disorder and risk for falls; and therefore, be implanted in other CIUSSS institutions from Quebec.

Moxie Self-Management and Education Support Program

Health education and self-management support are key facilitators of health behaviours. Moxie is a mixed media, self-management, education and support program for Albertans living with cardiovascular-related chronic conditions. Moxie is built upon our previous work within the ACCESS study (2015-21, n=4761), a RCT that previously tested the Moxie intervention in Alberta. Results demonstrated that MOXIE reduced the rate of hospitalizations (notably for hypertension, angina, hyper/hypoglycemia, heart failure decompensation, and acute kidney complications) by 34% in a population of low-income seniors living with cardiovascular-related chronic conditions. However, before Moxie can be effectively implemented province-wide, another trial is necessary to determine whether benefits can be observed in a larger cohort of patients with cardiovascular-related chronic conditions recruited immediately after hospital discharge (n=9000). Furthermore, the effectiveness of the two components of the ACCESS trial intervention will be assessed individually: (a) The Moxie Program, a tailored health and disease education component developed by a user-experience-centric design process incorporating patients, behavioural scientists, disease specialists, health system administrators and marketing/advertising professionals; and (b) the facilitated relay of clinical information to healthcare providers (letters). The trial is designed as a 2x2 factorial pragmatic, individual-level randomized pragmatic trial of these different interventions. This would yield the following groups: 1. Moxie SMES Program 2. Facilitated Relay 3. Moxie SMES Program and Facilitated Relay 4. True control Self-management education and support (SMES) intervention: This includes weekly physical mailers sent directly to patients' homes throughout the study containing information about chronic conditions, medication use, diet, physical activity, smoking cessation, and self-management/wellness principles. These messages will be refined by the social impact creative design partner and reviewed by clinicians and patients to ensure clinical safety and appropriate tone. Weekly mailers will encourage participants to enroll and consent to participate in the digital program by scanning a QR code or accessing a website where they will sign up for their own personalized Moxie mobile health app, complete a digital consent form and opt-in for electronic delivery of Moxie messages. Facilitated relay intervention: Participants allocated to this intervention will receive letters by mail, one addressed to them, one to their primary care provider, and one to their pharmacist. The letters will not be sent to their primary care provider directly; rather, they will be sent to patients who will be encouraged to take them to their primary care provider and pharmacist should they decide to do so. We hope this will empower patients to start discussions with their healthcare providers. This also supports patient autonomy by enabling patients to decide whether they want to take them to their provider or not. If for whatever reason they do not feel that this is going to be beneficial or of interest, they are not required to do so. The letter would contain a note to the patient's healthcare provider stating that their patient is at-risk of cardiovascular disease and that evidence has shown that the pharmacotherapy is effective in improving outcomes for patients similar to the participant. The primary outcome is readmission for cardiovascular-specific ambulatory care-sensitive conditions (ACSC) based on the most responsible diagnosis listed in CIHI Discharge Abstract Database-(DAD), using established algorithms within 12 months from randomization. This outcome includes all repeat admissions in the study period as recorded in the health record. This outcome is a count variable. We will calculate and compare each intervention arm's mean number and distribution of hospitalizations.

Psychosocial, Environmental, and Chronic Disease Trends in Puerto Rico

The overall goal is to identify trends and longitudinal associations in psychosocial, food-related, and cardiometabolic risk factors that can guide public health priorities and future research needs aimed at reducing cardiovascular-related disparities in Puerto Rico. To this end, investigators will establish 'PROSPECT: Puerto Rico Observational Study of Psychosocial, Environmental, and Chronic disease Trends', an island-wide, longitudinal population cohort of 2,500 adults (30-75 years) in PR recruited with a community-wide sampling strategy, and assessed in a network of several partner clinics across the island. The study will collect comprehensive data on multiple psychosocial, dietary, and food-related factors, CVD biological markers, and medical record data, with follow-up at 2-years, and will assess variations by urban-rural area and by timing before-after Maria.

Effects of Personalized Exercise Prescriptions Through Mobile Health on Physical Activity and Health Outcomes in the Cancer Survivors

Participation in regular physical activity is vital to a healthy lifestyle. Research has shown that regular participation in physical activity among cancer survivors is not only able to improve health outcomes, but is also related to their quality of life. As we live in an age of technology, health wearables and smartphone apps might be one novel manner by which to help cancer survivors increase physical activity as well as improve health outcomes. Yet, the effectiveness of wearable and app as a tool for health promotion among cancer survivors is largely unstudied. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a personalized m-health intervention via fitness wearable (Fitbit Inspire 3) exercise app (sFitRx) on physical activity, weight, quality of life, individual beliefs, and emotions among cancer survivors.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi) in Patients With Comorbid Somatic Disease and Insomnia

Insomnia is common with co-morbid somatic disease, e.g. rheumatic disease, cancer, heart and lung disease or gastrointestinal disorders. Pain, breathing difficulties and other symptoms of disease can worsen sleep problems and cause insomnia. In turn, insomnia may aggravate pain, fatigue and reduce quality of life in patients with somatic disorders. This project aims to evaluate a course offered to patients with insomnia and somatic disease at Diakonhjemmet Hospital. The course is based on cognitive behavioral therapy, a documented treatment for insomnia.

Testing the Feasibility of a Self-Management Support Program for Patient With Chronic Diseases in Israel

This study explores an intervention to support people in Israel who are living with chronic health conditions such as cancer or after kidney transplantation. It focuses on a well-known international program called the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP), which was developed at Stanford University. The program helps individuals build confidence and skills to better manage their health, feel more in control, and improve their day-to-day quality of life. Participants will take part in a six-week group program, delivered online, where they will learn practical strategies for managing symptoms like fatigue or pain, setting achievable health goals, communicating effectively with healthcare professionals, and staying active and engaged. The sessions are guided by trained facilitators and include support from others facing similar health challenges. The study will involve surveys before and after the program, as well as a follow-up six months later, to understand how the program may have helped participants. Some participants will also be invited to share their experiences in small discussion groups. By testing this program in Israel, the researchers hope to learn how it can be adapted and offered more widely to help others living with chronic conditions.

Determinants of Medication Non-Adherence Among Patients With Chronic Diseases in Egyptian Community Pharmacies

Medication non-adherence among patients with chronic diseases is a major public health concern and is associated with poor disease control, increased complications, and higher healthcare costs. Community pharmacists play an important role in supporting patients' medication use through counseling and education; however, the determinants of medication non-adherence among patients attending community pharmacies in Egypt are not well characterized. This multicenter, cross-sectional study aims to assess the prevalence of medication non-adherence and identify factors associated with non-adherence among adult Egyptian patients with chronic diseases attending community pharmacy settings. Medication adherence will be evaluated using the Adherence in Chronic Diseases Scale (ACDS), along with sociodemographic, clinical, and medication-related factors. The findings are expected to provide evidence to inform strategies for improving medication adherence and optimizing chronic disease management in community pharmacy practice in Egypt.

Expanded Population Health Model Evaluation

This study will evaluate the impact of a comprehensive wellness and social determinants of health intervention on cardiovascular health in a community setting of the Bonton neighborhood. Participants will not be assigned to intervention activities, but health and wellbeing indicators will be collected in relation to how they choose to participate in activities over the year.

Implementation Facilitation of Exercise is Medicine Greenville

A public health priority exists for the U.S. healthcare sector to integrate physical activity (PA) as a part of the patient care model. This research will provide valuable information on facilitating optimal implementation of a clinic-to-community model that identifies, refers, and enrolls physically inactive patients to community-based PA programs for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. Further, this work will provide evidence on the cost-effectiveness of integrating PA in healthcare systems as a population health management strategy.

Identification of Vocal Biomarkers to Monitor the Health of People With a Chronic Disease

The CoLive Voice research project aims to identify vocal biomarkers of severe conditions and frequent health symptoms. The project is based on digital technologies and statistical algorithms. This is an international anonymous survey where vocal recordings are collected simultaneously with large validated clinical and epidemiological data, in the context of various chronic diseases or frequent health symptoms in the general population.

Sustainability of the Effects of an Adapted Physical Activity Program on Physical Fitness and Psycho-behavioral Factors in Patients With Chronic Diseases

This study aims to determine the extent to which different approaches to adapted physical activity coaching influence physical fitness, psycho-behavioral, and anthropometric parameters in patients with stabilized chronic conditions who have been referred to a Sport-Health Center by their physician. The trial includes four parallel groups, distinguishing between two program durations (3 months or 6 months) and the use or non-use of a smartwatch as a tool for monitoring activity. All participants complete 24 sessions of adapted physical activity (APA), in accordance with the standard practices of the La Musse Sport-Health Center, where the study is entirely conducted. However, the distribution of sessions differs by group: two sessions per week over three months or one session per week over six months. Randomization is stratified by age, sex, and baseline fitness level. Assessments are conducted at the following five time points: enrollment (T0), end of the 3-month program (T1), end of the 6-month program (T2), followed by follow-up at 12 months (T3) and 18 months (T4), to observe the durability of the effects after the supervised phase. The primary outcome measure is improvement in physical fitness and anthropometric parameters, objectively measured using tests recognized for their reliability (TDM6, Sit-to-Stand 30s, Timed Up and Go, Sit and Reach, grip strength, BMI, waist circumference). The secondary outcomes focus on changes in motivation toward health-related physical activity (EMAPS), perceived self-efficacy to engage in physical activity (ECS), and self-reported physical activity (IPAQ-SF), which will be collected regularly throughout the program, more frequently than in standard care. A total of 280 patients will be enrolled to ensure sufficient statistical power, taking into account an anticipated loss-to-follow-up rate over 18 months. Data collection and processing will be pseudonymized and conducted on the secure network of La Musse Hospital.

Chronic Diseases in Primary Care

This quasi-experimental study aims to assess if a nurse-led proactive intervention can enhance self-care and reduce hospitalizations or accesses to emergency department visits in chronically ill adults over 65 years old. The questions that it seeks to answer are the following: 1. Can a structured, proactive nurse-led intervention reduce hospitalizations and access to emergency departments? 2. Can this intervention improve self-care, medication adherence, and the overall quality of life? To assess its effectiveness, researchers will evaluate health outcomes before and after carrying out the intervention. Participants will receive an initial assessment to identify specific educational needs. To enhance self-care and symptom management, patients will participate in at least three scheduled follow-up sessions (via phone call or face-to-face) during the following six months. They will also complete questionnaires assessing lifestyle quality, medication adherence, and self-care abilities.

CHIME: Comparing Health Interventions for Maternal Equity

The goal of this comparative effectiveness trial is to compare how three different approaches to overcome barriers to resources and provide nutrition and physical activity counseling improve maternal healthy weight in pregnancy and postpartum. The main question it aims to answer is which of the two multi-level, multi-component interventions has greater effectiveness in reducing maternal postpartum weight retention at 12-months postpartum. Hypothesis (primary): Both multi-level, multi-component interventions will have greater effectiveness reducing maternal postpartum weight retention at 12-months postpartum than the usual care group. Hypothesis (secondary): The community-based intervention will have greater effectiveness than the self-management intervention. Participants will be asked to participate in one of the study interventions from early pregnancy until 12 months postpartum and complete five research visits. General procedures include completion of: * Questionnaires * Dietary recalls * In-depth interviews * Anthropometric measurements * Collection of blood via finger stick or blood panel

Families Implementing Good Health Traditions for Life

This study will provide evidence for the utility of using a community-engaged research approach to implement a tailored, family-oriented adaptation of the Diabetes Prevention Program that will have positive effects on risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes morbidity and mortality among Black families in a Southwest Georgia community.

Pursuing the Triple Aim in Hotspotters: Identification and Integrated Care

Hotspotters are patients with complex care needs, defined by problems in multiple life domains and high acute care use. These patients often receive mismatched care, resulting in overuse of care and increased healthcare costs. Reliable data on (cost-)effective interventions for these patients are scarce. The goal of this study is to assess the cost-effectiveness of pro-active and integrated care. This approach includes: an intake consultation with Positive Health; multidisciplinary meetings with physician, mental healthcare nurse, social worker and the patient; a personalised care plan and proactive care management. We aim to include 200 patients, divided over 20 primary care practices.

Integrating Vaccination Into Hospital Care Pathways for Vulnerable Patients

AMBU-VAX is a prospective, single-center observational study designed to develop and implement an organizational model for delivering recommended vaccinations within a hospital setting. The study targets adult and elderly patients with chronic diseases or immunocompromising conditions who are eligible for vaccination according to national immunization guidelines. Vaccination is actively proposed during outpatient visits, hospital admissions, or at discharge and, when accepted, administered within the hospital or coordinated with local public health vaccination services. The study aims to evaluate the feasibility, uptake, and completion of hospital-based vaccination pathways and to support integration between hospital and territorial prevention services for vulnerable populations.

The MURDOCK Study Registry and Biorepository Horizon 1.5

The MURDOCK Study Community Registry and Biorepository (Horizon 1.5) aims to create a large-scale community registry and biorepository that can be used as a vehicle for future health services, epidemiologic, clinical trials and other omics-related research.

Identification of Patients With Advanced Chronic Diseases in Need of Palliative Care

Patients with advanced chronic diseases often have complex health needs and may benefit from palliative care. However, many of these patients are not identified early enough to receive appropriate palliative care interventions. This prospective observational study aims to identify hospitalized patients and patients attending a day hospital with advanced chronic conditions who have palliative care needs, using the NECPAL tool. NECPAL is a validated screening instrument designed to identify patients with advanced chronic diseases who may benefit from palliative care, based on clinical indicators, disease progression, functional decline, and health care utilization. Adult patients with advanced oncological and non-oncological chronic diseases will be consecutively evaluated. The NECPAL tool will be applied by trained investigators as part of routine clinical assessment. Patients will be classified as NECPAL positive or NECPAL negative according to predefined criteria. The study will estimate the proportion of patients identified as NECPAL positive, describe their clinical characteristics, and analyze whether they are receiving palliative care. Secondary objectives include comparing clinical variables, comorbidity indices, and mortality between NECPAL-positive and NECPAL-negative patients over follow-up. The results of this study will provide information on the prevalence of palliative care needs among patients with advanced chronic diseases and support early identification strategies in hospital settings.