Phone app aims to cut ER visits for homeless adults

NCT ID NCT05365867

Disease control Sponsor: Leticia R. Moczygemba Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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

Summary

This study tested a mobile health program for adults experiencing homelessness. Participants used GPS and text messaging to connect with a case manager and health services. The goal was to reduce emergency room and hospital visits, improve medication adherence, and help meet social needs like housing and employment. 120 people took part, comparing the mobile program to usual care.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: mHealth intervention (GPS and text messaging) plus community-based case management
What this could lead to: If successful, this approach could reduce emergency room visits and hospital stays for people experiencing homelessness, improving their health and access to social services.
What could go wrong: This was a small, completed trial (120 participants) and results may not apply broadly. The intervention relies on cell phone access, which may be inconsistent.

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

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

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

120 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

May 2022

Finished

Jun 2024

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 89 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

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

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years old Homeless (defined as where the person slept most nights in past 30 days (street, shelters, transitional housing, doubling-up with family or friends) Currently own a cell phone with service or use phone with wifi (when available) at baseline Currently prescribed ≥ 2 medications for chronic medical conditions (self-report) Diagnosis of at least two chronic health conditions (self-report): e.g., hypertension, diabetes, depression * 2 hospitalizations or ED visits in the last 6 months (self-report) Score of at least 4 on the REALM-SF health literacy measure Score \> 17 on the Mini-Mental State Exam Exclusion Criteria: Unable to communicate verbally in English. This is an exclusion criteria because the text messaging, apps, procedures and measures are not validated in in other languages.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Medication Adherence

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Attainment of social needs (I.E., housing, employment, receipt of benefits) Medication adherence Number of emergency department and hospital visits among adults experiencing homelessness Pyschological distress Social support

Phone app aims to cut ER visits for homeless adults

What the study statuses mean