Improving Mental Healthcare Outcomes for Minoritized Veterans Through a Peer-led, Patient Navigation Program (PARTNER-MH 2.0)

Summary

The proposed project is a randomized controlled trial that seeks to test the effectiveness of a peer-facilitated, patient navigation program to improve mental healthcare experiences and outcomes for under-supported Veterans from diverse cultural backgrounds and communities. PARTNER-MH is a structured, telehealth-based intervention delivered by VHA peer specialists over a three-month period. It integrates two evidence-based care delivery models, peer support and patient navigation, and addresses three primary contributors to healthcare disparities: unmet social needs, low patient engagement in care, and unproductive patient-clinician communication. Findings from this study will support ongoing efforts to improve mental health services for all Veterans in the VHA.

Conditions

• Diagnoses of Depression
• Anxiety
• PTSD

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

PARTNER-MH

PARTNER-MH is a manualized, peer-facilitated, patient navigation intervention that involves the delivery of three services: 1) peer support to increase patient engagement in care, 2) patient navigation to address unmet social needs and increase access to services, and 3) psychoeducation to increase communication self-efficacy. PARTNER-MH consists of 10 sessions, lasting up to 60 minutes, that will be delivered over 12 weeks via videoconference or phone. It also includes a rapport building/orientation session that will be delivered in person or via videoconference to facilitate study engagement and two flex weeks with no scheduled lessons to accommodate rescheduling if needed.

BEHAVIORAL

Educational Brochure

The control condition consists of informational/educational materials that will be distributed to study participants after randomization and completion of baseline assessment. The content of the educational brochure includes 3-4 brief, healthy living articles about stress management, well-being, and navigation of health services.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center

  collaborator FED

• Indiana University

  collaborator OTHER

• VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

  collaborator FED

• White River Junction Veterans Affairs Medical Center

  collaborator FED

• VA Office of Research and Development

  lead FED

Principal Investigators

• Johanne Eliacin, PhD · Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2027-01-04

Primary Completion

2029-09-28

Completion

2031-12-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations