Virtual peer support for Veterans with multiple chronic conditions
Official title: Telehealth-delivered peer support to improve quality of life among Veterans with multimorbidity
Funded at VA Puget Sound Healthcare System · NIH-11216516 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers virtual peer coaching to help Veterans who have two or more chronic health conditions better manage their care and feel healthier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Puget Sound Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2022 |
| Project end | September 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003452-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11216516 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Veterans enrolled in VA care who have two or more chronic health conditions and can join sessions by phone or video.
✕Less likely to help
People without reliable phone or internet access, those not enrolled in VA care, or those needing specialist medical interventions rather than peer support may not benefit.
What this research studies
You would work with trained Veteran peer coaches over phone or video through a program called VetASSiST to get practical help with daily treatments, lifestyle changes, and staying connected to your health care team. The coaches are Veterans who share similar experiences and will support goal-setting, problem-solving, and appointment planning. The program is delivered remotely so you do not need to travel to clinics, and the team will track quality of life, self-management activities, and health care use to see if the support helps. If you join, you may be asked to follow a coaching schedule and complete short surveys and health-record checks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make daily care easier, reduce stress, and improve quality of life for Veterans managing multiple chronic conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Other telehealth and peer-support programs for chronic illnesses have shown promise for improving self-management and well-being, but evidence specific to Veterans with multiple conditions is still being built.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Puget Sound Healthcare System
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gray, Kristen E — VA Puget Sound Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Gray, Kristen E
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.