The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) has awarded a five-year, $3,846,851 grant to Principal Investigator Andrea Wallace, along with Co-Investigators Sara Bybee, Bob Wong, Sara Simonsen, Brenda Luther, and Ernest Grigorian, for their project titled Enhanced Digital Access to Bridge Social Needs and Reduce Health Disparities: The e-SINCERE Study. The team will provide stable cellphone access and digital support to help underserved patients connect with community resources such as food, housing, and transportation, with the goal of improving health outcomes and reducing disparities.
Using a community-engaged approach, the research team will conduct the study in three emergency departments across Utah. Partners include health systems, government programs, and community service agencies, all of whom will help co-design the final intervention. “The e-SINCERE Study will provide valuable insights into the communication needs of our communities. This information will guide us in effectively allocating resources to achieve meaningful and equitable improvements in health and well-being for underserved populations that often face significant barriers connecting to and navigating health and social service systems,” said Wallace.
Participants will receive one of three types of support: 1) a standard referral to service agencies; 2) stable cellphone access with a data plan; or 3) cellphone access with a data plan plus additional assistance in navigating online application processes. This "digital navigation" assistance is critical to ensuring that patients can effectively access services that meet both health care and social needs.
Marla De Jong, PhD, RN, CCNS, FAAN, Dean of the College of Nursing, said, “This grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research highlights the critical role nurses play in addressing social determinants of health. The e-SINCERE Study reflects our commitment here at the College of Nursing to advance health equity through innovative, community-focused research that connects clinical care with the broader social needs of patients.”
The research team will conduct the study in two phases. In the first phase, they will develop and implement the digital access program. The second phase will be a randomized controlled trial in which the team will assess whether digital navigation assistance improves resource connections, health service access, and outcomes such as perceived wellbeing and depression over six months compared to basic support for 600 patients.
The NINR Bridge to Care initiative supports research that links clinical care with community resources to address adverse social determinants of health and advance health equity. The initiative aims to develop sustainable, integrated social care approaches that go beyond referrals to provide coordinated, impactful support within communities.