Did a simple phone call keep chronic patients out of the hospital?

NCT ID NCT04359875

Completed Knowledge-focused Sponsor: University Hospital, Tours Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether a systematic phone call from a medical student, supervised by a general practitioner, could reduce hospitalizations in patients with chronic heart or mental health conditions during the COVID-19 lockdown in France. Over 22,000 patients aged 70 and older were enrolled. The goal was to see if proactive outreach could catch problems early and prevent emergency care.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: phone-call screening and management by a medical student/general practitioner team
What this could lead to: If successful, this approach could show that simple phone check-ins help keep vulnerable patients out of the hospital during crises.
What could go wrong: This is a completed trial, but its findings may not apply to other settings or diseases. The intervention was tested only during a unique pandemic period.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cardiovascular disorder Chronic Disease COVID-19 mental disorder psychiatric disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES MENTAL DISORDER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Dibao-Dina

Tours, 37000, France

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