CommunityRx: A real-world controlled clinical trial of a scalable, low-intensity community resource referral intervention

Objectives: To test the effect of CommunityRx, a scalable, low-intensity intervention that matches patients to community resources on mental health-related quality of life (HRQOL) (primary outcome), physical HRQOL, and confidence in finding resources.

Methods: A real-world trial assigned publicly insured residents of Chicago, Illinois, aged 45 to 74 years to an intervention (n = 209) or control (n = 202) group by alternating calendar week, December 2015 to August 2016. Intervention group participants received usual care and an electronic medical record-generated, personalized list of community resources. Surveys (baseline, 1-week, 1- and 3-months) measured HRQOL and confidence in finding community resources to manage health.

Results: At 3 months, there was no difference between groups in mental (-1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -3.02, 0.96) or physical HRQOL (0.59; 95% CI = -0.98, 2.16). Confidence in finding resources was higher in the intervention group (odds ratio = 2.08; 95% CI = 1.18, 3.63); the effect increased at each successive time point. Among intervention group participants, 65% recalled receiving the intervention; 48% shared community resource information with others.

Conclusions: CommunityRx did not increase HRQOL, but its positive effect on confidence in finding resources for self-care suggests that this low-intensity intervention may have a role in population health promotion.

Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02435511.

This article is included in the PCORI Social Needs Interventions to Improve Health Outcomes Evidence Map. Click here to access evidence map.