Can we Predict Chronic Homelessness?

NCT ID: NCT01775683

Last Updated: 2013-01-25

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: UNKNOWN
• Total Enrollment: 60 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2013-01-31
• Study Completion Date: 2013-09-30

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.

Conditions

Cognitive Impairment

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: CASE_CONTROL
• Study Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

Group A - chronically homeless

Men and women, greater than or equal to age 18 years, English-speaking, who are currently homeless and/or housed in an emergency shelter or housing facility for chronically homeless individuals ≥ 6 months.

No interventions assigned to this group

Group B - control/formerly homeless

Men and women, greater than or equal to 18 years, English-speaking who are 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

No interventions assigned to this group

Eligibility Criteria

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)

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Claire Vayalumkal, BASc, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre

Locations

The Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Countries

Canada

Facility Contacts

Claire Vayalumkal, BASc, MD

Role: primary

cvayalumkal@toh.on.ca

613-737-7350 ext. 0

Other Identifiers

20120651-01H

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id