Using social navigators to help children with diabetes access health resources

Addressing Child and Family Social Determinants of Health Needs With Social Navigation: Navigating Social Resources for Children's Health "NSRCH" Clinic

Not applicable Interventional Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario · NCT05900505

This study is testing whether having social navigators can help families of children with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes access health resources better than traditional social workers.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment104 (estimated)
AgesN/A to 17 Years
SexAll
SponsorChildren's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Academic / other
Locations1 site (Ottawa, Ontario)
Trial IDNCT05900505 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to address social determinants of health (SDH) for children with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes by implementing a social navigator (SN) model at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Families will be screened for social needs during clinic visits, and those identified will be invited to participate in a randomized trial comparing the support provided by social navigators versus traditional social workers. The study will collect baseline data on quality of life and track the effectiveness of the intervention in improving access to necessary resources. This innovative approach seeks to fill the gap in support for families facing social challenges in managing their children's health.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are parents or guardians of children aged 0-17 years who are patients in the diabetes clinics at CHEO and have identified social needs.

Not a fit: Patients who are currently active clients of a social worker or those unwilling to provide consent will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve the health and well-being of children with diabetes by ensuring they receive the necessary social support.

How similar studies have performed: While social navigator models have shown success in primary care, this specific adaptation for pediatric specialty care is novel and untested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

Phase 1

* Parent or guardian of a child, aged between 0-17 years
* Parent or guardian of a patient in the T1D or T2D clinics at CHEO

Phase 2

* Parent or guardian of a child, aged between 0-17 years
* Parent or guardian of a patient in the T1D or T2D clinics at CHEO
* At least 1 positive response on the SDH Phase 1 Screening Tool
* Optional: child consented to allow access to medical information via electronic medical chart

Exclusion Criteria:

* Active social work client at the time of administration of the Phase 1 Screening Tool, defined as families who have had active follow up with a diabetes SW within the last 3 months, with plans for ongoing follow up.
* Unable or unwilling to provide i) implied consent for the completion of the SDH Phase 1 Screening Tool and/or ii) written informed consent for participation in the Phase 2 randomized trial

Where this trial is running

Ottawa, Ontario

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Type 1 Diabetes
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.