Heart Health Buddies: Peer Support to Decrease CVD Risk (HHB)

July 19, 2023 updated by: VA Office of Research and Development

Heart Health Buddies: Peer Support to Decrease Cardiovascular Risk (CDA 13-263)

This pilot study will use a hybrid reciprocal peer support and peer coach model to initiate and sustain heart-healthy behavioral changes in Veterans. Veterans who are at-risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) will be enrolled in the study and paired with another Veteran to receive and provide social support around engaging in CVD risk reduction behaviors. Enrolled participants will be offered a series of 3 group sessions focused on CVD risk reduction, goal setting and action plan development. Between group sessions, peer partners will be asked to have weekly calls to discuss action plan challenges, explore options for problem solving, and provide encouragement and accountability for personal goals. Participants who do not engage in the group sessions or weekly phone calls, or who request additional help, will receive support from trained peer coaches. The goal of this pilot study is to evaluate the proof of concept for a hybrid reciprocal peer support (RPS) and peer coach intervention to improve heart healthy behaviors among Veterans at risk for CVD.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

A total of 24 Veterans enrolled at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center will be screened and enrolled. Eligible Veterans are 35-64 years old, with at least one uncontrolled or poorly controlled risk factor for CVD. In addition, 3-6 veterans will be enrolled and trained as heart health peer coaches, with eligibility being 35-64 years old, with at least one documented CVD factor who have sustained improvement in physical activity or dietary change in the previous 3-6 months. All participants complete a baseline assessment, three structured group meetings, and a 12 week post-intervention assessment. At the first group, each participant creates a behavioral goal, and peer partners are paired with another Veteran based on behavioral goal and gender. They are expected to call their peer once a week to discuss progress or difficulty with their action plan and support each other with problem solving. Post enrollment and prior to the first group meeting, Peer coaches will have 3-5 hours of motivational and communication training with study staff focusing on skills such as active listening, non-directive support, eliciting change-talk, promoting incremental change, and patient confidentiality. Peer coaches will interact with peer buddies during a) group sessions, b) at a 6 week phone check-in, and c) on-going support if needed. Additional support will be initiated if there are no phone calls between pairs, there is a lack of participant engagement in calls to partner or attending group sessions, or upon request by the peer. There are two Aims of the current pilot study. Aim 1: examine the feasibility and acceptability of a 12-week hybrid peer coach-reciprocal peer support intervention. Feasibility will be evaluated by ease of recruitment, and enrollment and retention rates. Acceptability will be assessed by self-report of amount, frequency and modality of contacts, participation rates for group sessions, and through post-intervention qualitative interviews.

Aim 2: explore gender differences in feasibility/acceptability of the hybrid peer support model. Gender differences will be evaluated through qualitative comparison of participant reported experiences with intervention content as well as peer and group interactions by gender; and, quantitatively via exploration of differences in enrollment, retention, refusal reasons and frequency of peer contacts.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
15

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • North Carolina
      • Durham, North Carolina, United States, 27705-3875
        • Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

35 years to 64 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Peer partners and peer coaches:

  • Enrolled in a Durham Veterans Administration Health Care System primary care clinic (including the women's health clinic)

  • At risk for cardiovascular disease as defined by having at least one of the following:

    • Uncontrolled hypertension
    • history of obesity defined as (BMI >30)
    • uncontrolled non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
    • In addition, Peer coaches have made and sustained a behavioral change in past 3-6 months to improve heart health
  • English as preferred language
  • no significant hearing impairment
  • lives approximately 30 minutes from the Durham Veterans affairs Medical Center
  • agrees to attend regular visits per study protocol
  • no contraindication to engage in at least moderate physical activity
  • willing to use personal phone for peer and coach contacts

Exclusion Criteria:

  • insulin-dependent diabetes
  • serious mental illness defined as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, dementia, active psychosis psychiatric hospitalization within the last 12 months or current high-risk suicide flag in their electronic medical record
  • active substance use as documented in electronic or positive screening during telephone screening
  • limited Life expectancy (<6 months) or severely ill defined as enrolled in hospice or actively undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer
  • currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant in next 6 months

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: peer partner
Veterans with at least one CVD risk factor who are interesting in increasing heart healthy behaviors through peer support
Behavioral: reciprocal peer support and non reciprocal coach support
Peers and peer coaches provide mutual or one-way support to initiate and sustain behavioral improvements for cardiovascular health, with additional education from study staff.
Other: peer coach
Veterans with at least one CVD risk factor who have made and sustained changes in diet or exercise in the past 3-6 months prior to enrollment. While the investigators will collect data on peer coach participants, their participation is primarily as part of intervention to examine the feasibility and benefit of adding peer coaching to a peer partner intervention.
Behavioral: reciprocal peer support and non reciprocal coach support
Peers and peer coaches provide mutual or one-way support to initiate and sustain behavioral improvements for cardiovascular health, with additional education from study staff.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Feasibility of Enrollment
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Number of participants contacted, screened and enrolled in the pilot
12 weeks
Feasibility Retention
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Retention rates from consent to enrollment and from enrollment to completion of study.
12 weeks
Acceptability
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Acceptability of study based on successful peer buddy contacts per pair (not applicable to coaches) and participation in group sessions.
12 weeks
Acceptability - Weeks Contact With Peer Buddy
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Acceptability of study based on successful peer buddy contacts per pair (not applicable to coaches)
12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Gender Differences - Retention
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Quantitative and qualitative gender differences in feasibility and acceptance will be evaluated through quantitative differences in enrollment, retention and frequency of peer contacts, and qualitative comparison of participant-reported experiences with intervention content, peer and group interactions by gender. Data are presented only for reciprocal peer partner group as this was pre-specified to compare outcomes between men and women in the reciprocal peer partner group. Thus, peer coaches are not described in this outcome.
12 weeks
Gender Differences-enrollment
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Quantitative and qualitative gender differences in feasibility and acceptance will be evaluated through quantitative differences in enrollment, retention and frequency of peer contacts, and qualitative comparison of participant-reported experiences with intervention content, peer and group interactions by gender. Data are presented only for reciprocal peer partner group as this was pre-specified to compare outcomes between men and women in the reciprocal peer partner group. Thus, peer coaches are not described in this outcome.
12 weeks
Gender Differences - Mean Contacts Per Buddy Pair
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Quantitative and qualitative gender differences in feasibility and acceptance will be evaluated through quantitative differences in enrollment, retention and frequency of peer contacts, and qualitative comparison of participant-reported experiences with intervention content, peer and group interactions by gender.
12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
VA Office of Research and Development

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Karen Goldstein, MD MSPH, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 26, 2018

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 15, 2019

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 15, 2019

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 23, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 23, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 24, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 27, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 19, 2023

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
July 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • CDX 18-005

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Participants will be given personal feedback during the course of the study, such as during their baseline and 12 week assessments (weight, bp, and exercise scores), and via an activity monitor they will wear to monitor their daily activity. Participants will receive individual feedback, but as this is a feasibility study we do not intend to share study outcome results with participants.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Cardiovascular Disease

Clinical Trials on reciprocal peer support and non reciprocal coach support

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings