Postcards from peers: a new weapon against veteran loneliness?
NCT ID NCT05484297
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at whether sending caring postcards from fellow Veterans can reduce loneliness and improve mental health in older Veterans. Nearly 1,000 Veterans aged 50 and older who had missed VA appointments took part. They received up to 10 postcards and completed surveys to measure loneliness and social connection.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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974 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Apr 2023
- Finished
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Feb 2026
- Lead sponsor
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A government agency
The lead sponsor is a US federal agency other than the NIH.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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50 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * age 50 years and above * have at least four VA appointments in the prior 6-18 months in primary care or mental health * have at least two comorbidities contained in the Elixhauser Index * a) zero completed appointments in the past 6 months and zero appointments scheduled, or b) in the 90th percentile or higher in terms of no-shows or appointments canceled by patient in the prior 12 months Exclusion Criteria: * no valid mailing address * no valid phone number * inclusion in an existing Caring Contacts program * diagnosis of neurocognitive disorder or other significant cognitive impairment indicative of inadequate decision-making capacity
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48105-2303, United States
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VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR
Portland, Oregon, 97207-2964, United States
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VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, WA
Seattle, Washington, 98108-1532, United States
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