About Our Study
Welcome to the LiveWell Study!
What is the LiveWell Study?
The LiveWell Study is led by Dr. Anne Thorndike, an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and a medical doctor, in collaboration with a team of researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH). The purpose of the study is to evaluate the health impacts of a new Massachusetts state policy that gives funds to health systems so that their primary care clinics can help certain patients with food and housing needs. People who participate in the study complete three surveys once a year, for four years (2020 - 2023). Study participants can receive up to $100 per year.
The LiveWell study is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (grant number R01DK124145) and has been approved by the Mass General Brigham Institutional Review Board (IRB). If you would like to speak to someone not involved in this research about your rights as a research subject, or any concerns or complaints you may have about the research, contact the Mass General Brigham Human Research Committee at (857) 282-1900.
Who is able to participate in the study?
We are no longer enrolling new participants into the study. Current participants were eligible to enroll if they met the following criteria at the time of enrollment:
They were a patient at an MGH or BWH Community Health Center (MGH Charlestown HealthCare Center, MGH Revere HealthCare Center, MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center, Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center, and Brookside Community Health Center);
They were between the ages of 21 and 62 years old;
They spoke either English or Spanish; and
They were enrolled in certain healthcare insurance plans, including the Partners Medicaid plan or a similar private insurance plan.
Why did I receive a call and/or letter from the LiveWell study team?
You received a letter or call from the LiveWell study team because you previously enrolled in the study sometime between December 2019 and November 2020. You may have been approached about enrolling in the study by a member of the LiveWell team in the waiting room of your health center or by a phone call. We are contacting you in 2023 to complete your three-year follow-up surveys. For completing all three surveys, you will be compensated a total of $100. If you do not wish to be contacted by our study now or in the future, you may call us at (617) 724-7206 and let us know.
Where can I learn more about what I need to do for the study?
If you want to read about what you need to do for the study, please find our information fact sheet here.
You can also explore our Frequently Asked Questions page for additional information.
To find out more information or to speak with a study staff member, please call us at (617) 724-7206. Please leave a message with your name and call-back number, in case we are unable to answer the phone.