VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA

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Global Leader in Prostate Cancer
Conducts research for Depression
Conducts research for Diabetes
Conducts research for Stroke
Conducts research for Lung Cancer
187 reported clinical trials
21 medical researchers
Photo of VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA in PittsburghPhoto of VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA in PittsburghPhoto of VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA in Pittsburgh

Summary

VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA is a medical facility located in undefined, undefined. This center is recognized for care of Prostate Cancer, Depression, Diabetes, Stroke, Lung Cancer and other specialties. VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA is involved with conducting 187 clinical trials across 258 conditions. There are 21 research doctors associated with this hospital, such as Daniel Forman, MD, Edith I. Tzeng, MD, Isabella Soreca, MD, and Matthew J. Chinman, PhD.

Area of expertise

1Prostate Cancer
Global Leader
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA has run 11 trials for Prostate Cancer. Some of their research focus areas include:
Stage I
Stage II
2Depression
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA has run 9 trials for Depression.

Top PIs

Clinical Trials running at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA

Mental Illness
Acute Kidney Injury
Opioid Use Disorder
Serious Mental Illness
Stroke
Lung Cancer
Sleep Disorders
Insomnia
Spinal Cord Injury
Bipolar Disorder
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CoachToFit Weight Management

for Serious Mental Illness

This project addresses obesity in the population with SMI by evaluating a weight management program that is not only evidence-based, it is sustainable, transportable, appealing to patients, easy to use, and minimally burdensome to the healthcare system. This effort addresses two HSR\&D priority areas: 1) Mental Health: Testing new models of care to improve access, cost, and/or outcomes, and 2) Health Care Informatics: Building the evidence base for ehealth/mhealth tools. Innovation: CoachToFit's use of mobile technology is an important innovation in VA service delivery and its user-centered design involving individuals with SMI was the first of its kind. CoachToFit is enhanced by data visualization in real-time via a web-based dashboard used by VA peer specialists and their supervisor. The Investigators are aware of no other evidence-based mobile platforms to help people with SMI reduce their weight
Recruiting2 awards Phase 34 criteria
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Exercise Programs

for Severe Mental Illness

This is a hybrid1, effectiveness-implementation study of yoga-based exercises (YE) as an adjunctive tool for rehabilitation among persons with Severe Mental Illness (SMI). The two-arm randomized controlled trial will compare the efficacy of YE compared to the Wellness Lifestyle Program (WLP). Primary outcomes of the study will be self-report and performance-based measures of community functioning, defined in the investigators study as social, leisure, employment, and life skills functioning in the community. Secondary outcomes will include cognition and physical fitness measures.
Recruiting1 award N/A
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Peer-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training

for Serious Mental Illness

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is advocating that Veterans with serious mental illness (SMI) receive recovery-oriented, rehabilitation approaches that target real-world functioning. One such approach is Cognitive-Behavioral Social Skills Training (CBSST). Unlike traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy, CBSST is a more recovery-oriented psychosocial rehabilitation intervention that teaches Veterans with SMI to correct errors in thinking and build social skills. While effective, CBSST has only been tested when facilitated by masters- or doctoral-level therapists, which limits its use in VHA. However, the investigators' pilot data shows that Peer Specialists-individuals with SMI who are hired and trained to use their own recovery experience to assist others with SMI-can also provide CBSST (called CBSST-Peer). Stand-alone social skills training (SST) is also a recovery-oriented program that VHA is attempting to rollout nationwide for Veterans with SMI. A few Peer Specialists have been trained to co-lead SST with professionals. However, SST is not widely implemented because professionals are busy and Peer Specialist delivered SST has not been tested. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of Peer Specialist-delivered CBSST and SST, which would increase access Veterans with SMI have to effective treatment. The investigators' aims are: Aim 1 (Effectiveness): To compare the impact of CBSST-Peer on outcomes in Veterans with SMI to Veterans receiving Peer Specialist-delivered SST groups of equal duration and to treatment as usual. The investigators will also assess fidelity of SST and CBSST. Aim 2: (Helpfulness of CBSST/SST--Peer and implementation barriers and facilitators): To use focus groups with patients and interviews with Peer Specialists and other staff to assess perceptions of SST- and CBSS Peer and identify potential barriers and facilitators to future implementation. Methods: This is a randomized, Hybrid 1 trial involving 252 Veterans with SMI (n=126 each from Pittsburgh, San Diego) comparing 3 treatment arms: CBSST-Peer vs. SST-Peer vs. treatment as usual. Hybrid 1 trials test the effectiveness of an intervention and collect implementation data that could inform its future adoption. At each site, across 6 waves (a wave = 1 CBSST-Peer and 1 SST-Peer group), 2 Peer Specialists will co-lead 12 groups, each lasting 20 weeks. Peer Specialists will be trained and receive an hour of supervision weekly by the CBSST developers. Master trainers from the SST rollout will train and supervise Peer Specialists in each site. All three arms' sessions will be taped and 25% rated for fidelity on standardized measures. A survey battery that assesses functioning, quality of life, recovery, and symptoms will be administered to the Veterans in each wave at: baseline, mid-intervention (10 weeks), end-of-intervention (20 weeks), and follow-up (32 weeks, 3 months post intervention). The investigators will examine all outcomes using Hierarchical Linear Models (HLM), with treatment condition included as a time-invariant covariate, and random intercepts for person and random slopes for time. Relevant covariates will include site, treatment attendance, symptom severity, service use, and demographic variables. The investigators will evaluate the effect for treatment conditions (CBSST-Peer vs. SST-Peer vs. treatment as usual group) in the expected direction and the time X group effect. Qualitative data on SST- and CBSST-Peer helpfulness and implementation factors will be collected from 8 focus groups, audio-recorded from a random sample of Veterans who participated in SST- and CBSST-Peer. Interviews will be conducted with participating Peer Specialists (n=approximately 8 per site), and key mental health staff (n=3-4 per site). The qualitative interviews and focus groups will be analyzed using rapid assessment, a team-based, iterative data collection and analysis approach providing data on the barriers and facilitators to future implementation of SST- and CBSST-Peer. Innovation: No study has tested peer-delivered SST or CBSST, or compared the two, in a rigorous trial. Significance/Expected Results: CBSST and SST are not widely available. If SST- or CBSST-Peer is effective, it could greatly increase the delivery of evidence-based services Veterans receive and enhance the services by VHA Peer Specialists.
Recruiting1 award N/A3 criteria

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Frequently asked questions

What kind of research happens at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA?
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA is a medical facility located in undefined, undefined. This center is recognized for care of Prostate Cancer, Depression, Diabetes, Stroke, Lung Cancer and other specialties. VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA is involved with conducting 187 clinical trials across 258 conditions. There are 21 research doctors associated with this hospital, such as Daniel Forman, MD, Edith I. Tzeng, MD, Isabella Soreca, MD, and Matthew J. Chinman, PhD.