Wellness Programs for Disabilities

Overseen By Zara Ambadar, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh

Disqualifiers: Age under 55, over 64

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 24 months

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores two different wellness programs to determine how they can improve the lives of people with disabilities. The goal is to identify which program reduces health issues, enhances the healthcare experience, and lowers costs. The trial compares a community-based care program with a program originally designed for older adults (PACE) to see which is more effective for people aged 55-64 with disabilities. Those who qualify for the Community Partners or Community LIFE programs may be a good fit for this trial. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to research that could enhance wellness programs for people with disabilities.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that these wellness programs are safe for individuals with disabilities?

Research has shown that wellness programs can enhance the health and daily functioning of people with disabilities. For instance, one study found that participants in a wellness program could perform daily activities more easily and felt healthier overall.

Another study discovered that more than half of workers with disabilities expressed interest in joining wellness programs. This indicates that many people find these programs appealing and believe they might be beneficial.

While these findings are encouraging, specific information on serious side effects from these programs is lacking. However, because wellness programs typically focus on healthy lifestyle changes, they are generally considered low-risk. They often include safe activities like exercise, nutrition advice, and stress management. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about wellness programs for disabilities because they offer a holistic approach that focuses on community integration and personalized care. Unlike traditional medical treatments that often concentrate on specific symptoms, these programs emphasize overall well-being and social engagement, which can significantly improve quality of life for individuals with disabilities. By partnering with community organizations, these programs provide tailored support that aligns with the participants' unique needs and local resources, potentially leading to more sustainable and impactful outcomes.

What evidence suggests that this trial's wellness programs could be effective for people with disabilities?

Research has shown that wellness programs can help people with disabilities improve their social skills and relationships. These programs encourage individuals to engage more with their communities, which is crucial for enhancing quality of life. For instance, the Living Well with a Disability program aids people in managing their health, resulting in better overall outcomes. Although limited published information exists specifically about wellness programs for insurers and employers, studies highlight their benefits in promoting social inclusion and mental well-being. Overall, wellness programs are valuable for supporting people with disabilities, but additional data would strengthen the evidence. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Brad Dicianno, MD

Principal Investigator

University of Pittsburgh

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for people with disabilities such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, and spina bifida. Participants should be eligible for the Community Partners program or aged 55-64 and eligible for the Community LIFE program.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 55 and 64 years old and qualify for the Community LIFE program.

Individuals who are eligible for the Community Partners program

Exclusion Criteria

I am either younger than 55 or older than 64 and qualify for the Community LIFE program.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants are enrolled in community-based wellness programs, including Community Partners and Community LIFE programs, to evaluate their impact on the Triple Aim

24 months

Regular visits every 3-6 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in health outcomes, mood, quality of life, and community integration

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Wellness Programs

Trial Overview The study tests two community-based wellness programs aimed at improving health outcomes, patient care experience, and reducing healthcare costs (the 'Triple Aim'). One is a non-profit's care management program; the other adapts an eldercare model (PACE) for younger disabled adults.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Wellness Programs Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Community Partners and Community LIFE programs

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Pittsburgh

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,820

Recruited

16,360,000+

Community Living And Support Services

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

130+

Community LIFE

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

130+

Published Research Related to This Trial

People with disabilities face significant health disparities due to inadequate access to wellness programs, leading to higher rates of secondary conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes.

A proposed three-stage model aims to improve health equity by promoting person-centered referrals to inclusive wellness programs, empowering individuals with disabilities to manage their health effectively.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Addressing Disability Inequities: Let's Stop Admiring the Problem and Do Something about It. Rimmer, JH.[2023]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10029810/

Effectiveness of interventions for improving social inclusion ... There is promising evidence that interventions can improve the social skills and relationships of people with disabilities in low‐ and middle‐income country ( ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12035253/

Community-Engaged Mental Health and Wellbeing Initiatives ... This review aims to examine community-engaged mental health/wellbeing initiatives across Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) and under-resourced settings ...

3. cdc.gov cdc.gov/disability-and-health/articles-documents/cdc-disability-inclusion.html

CDC's Commitment to Disability Inclusion We work across public health disciplines to improve disability inclusion and considerations in ongoing data monitoring systems, disease prevention and health ...

4. soa.org soa.org/493879/globalassets/assets/files/resources/research-report/2024/effectiveness-of-wellness-programs.pdf

Effectiveness of Health and Wellness Programs However, there is limited published data and industry survey results demonstrating the outcomes of health and wellness programs for insurers and employers.

5. cdc.gov cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/su/su6501a10.htm

Living Well with a Disability, a Self-Management Program The Living Well with a Disability program was developed to support persons with disabilities to manage their health.

6. link.springer.com link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00586-023-07971-3

The effect of a workplace wellness program on disability ... Healthcare providers with LBP who completed the WWP improved in most dimensions of HRQOL and disability and functional outcomes.

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9339535/

Workplace wellness program interest and barriers among ... 51.4% of workers with work-related impairments expressed interest in WWPs, with 34.2% of those not interested citing participation barriers.

8. cdc.gov cdc.gov/disability-and-health/articles-documents/disability-impacts-all-of-us-infographic.html

Disability Impacts All of Us Infographic This infographic shows healthcare access barriers for adults with disabilities. It also shows how many adults in the United States have a disability.

9. cidny.org cidny.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Wellness-Paper-final-2014.pdf

The ACA, Wellness Programs, and People with Disabilities These data yield a cost to savings ratio of approximately 1:4. Many of these results persist for as long as three years.15 NYFAHC member, S.L.E. Lupus.

10. odphp.health.gov odphp.health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/people-disabilities

People With Disabilities - Healthy People 2030 | odphp.health ... Studies have found that people with disabilities are less likely to get preventive health care services they need to stay healthy. Strategies to make health ...