Tests a community health program for weight, cancer screening and mood
Tests a program linking clinics to community help for adults with obesity or mood problems.
Key facts
- Who runs it
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Where
- Boston, United StatesSee the site
- Trial code
- Registry title
- Building Connections
- Status
- Recruiting
- People taking part
- 3,600 people, planned
- Started
- 7 Aug 2025
- Expected to end
- 30 Dec 2029
- Type of study
- Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
- Treatments tested
- Treatment as Usual
- Building Connections Intervention
- Record updated
- 18 November 2025
Who can take part
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults 18 or older who speak English or Spanish. They must have obesity, be overdue for colon or cervical cancer screening, or have moderate to severe depression or anxiety symptoms.
- Age
- 18 to 75 years. Colon screening group: 45 to 75. Cervical screening group: 30 to 65.
- Sex
- All sexes. The cervical screening group is women and people with a cervix.
- Disease stage
- Obesity: body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or greater. Mental health: moderate to severe depression or anxiety symptoms. Cancer screening: average-risk people who are overdue for screening.
- Earlier treatment
- Colon screening group: last FIT more than 1 year ago, last colonoscopy more than 10 years ago, last Cologuard more than 3 years ago. Cervical screening group: last pap more than 3 years ago, last co-test or primary HPV screening more than 5 years ago. Obesity group: no prior weight-loss surgery and not in an intensive lifestyle program. Mental health group: no therapy sessions in the past 3 months and no appointment in the next month.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Current pregnancy
- Cognitive impairment
- No primary care clinic visit in the past 2 years
- Speaking a language other than English or Spanish
- Group-specific: colorectal or cervical cancer on the problem list, hysterectomy, active suicidality, active substance use disorder, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 4 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- The general inclusion criteria involve being 18+, speaking English or Spanish, and meeting one or more of the following criteria:; Obesity: Patients with a body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or greater (i.e., obese category); Cancer screening: Average-risk patients without recommended colorectal or cervical cancer screenings for their age group and biological sex. Specifically:; Colon Cancer (CRC) inclusion criteria: Patients aged 45-75 who are due for screenings, with last FIT longer than 1 year ago, last colonoscopy longer than 10 years ago, and last Cologuard longer than 3 years ago; And/or; Cervical cancer inclusion criteria: Women and patients with a cervix aged 30-65 who are due for screening: with last pap longer than 3 years ago; last co-test longer than 5 years ago; last primary HPV screening longer than 5 years ago; Mental health: Patients with moderate to severe depression or anxiety symptoms
Who cannot take part
- The general exclusion criteria are: those with current pregnancy, or the participant is cognitively impaired, not having a visit to the primary care clinic in the prior 2 years, and speaking a language other than English or Spanish
- Cervical cancer exclusion criteria: has cervical cancer documented in the problem list; has had a prior hysterectomy
- Colon Cancer (CRC) exclusion criteria: has colorectal cancer documented in the problem list; has ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease documented in the problem list
Check if you might fit
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 75 years old?
Where in United States
- Disparities Research Unit, Massachusetts General HospitalBoston, United StatesContact: Margarita Alegria, Ph.D.Taking people
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
Building Connections seeks to address health and healthcare inequities in socially vulnerable communities. The project will be conducted in collaboration with clinical practices across Massachusetts, serving a diverse population heavily represented in Community Clinics and Health Centers. The program will offer evidence-based interventions in obesity/weight management, cancer screening, and mental health.
The 2 groups in the trial
- Treatment as Usual (TAU)Existing treatment, for comparison
This comparison condition will involve treatment as usual at the clinical sites.
Treatment: Treatment as Usual
- InterventionTreatment being tested
The Building Connections intervention combines 3 interventions for Obesity, Cancer Screening, and Mental Health.
Treatment: Building Connections Intervention
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- Building Connections Between Practices, Patients, and Community Health
- Plain-language title
- Tests a community health program for weight, cancer screening and moodGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
- AI summary
- From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
- Fit questions
- Built from NCT07091032, who can take part
- Record updated
- 18 November 2025