Grant Details
Grant Number: |
3R37CA252868-02S1 Interpret this number |
Primary Investigator: |
Dionne-Odom, James |
Organization: |
University Of Alabama At Birmingham |
Project Title: |
Lay Coach-Led Early Palliative Care for Underserved Advanced Cancer Caregivers |
Fiscal Year: |
2021 |
Abstract
SUPPLEMENT PROJECT SUMMARY
This application (a Diversity Supplement to Dr. James N. Dionne-Odom’s parent award entitled, “Lay Coach-led
Early Palliative Care for Underserved Advanced Cancer Caregivers”) describes the background and experience
of the applicant, Erin R. Harrell, PhD and her plan to acquire knowledge and training necessary to become a
leading independent researcher in developing interventions that optimize bereavement outcomes in African
American (AA) caregivers of persons with advanced cancer. The overall goal of this supplement is to gain
advanced training in qualitative research, intervention development, and health coaching/motivational
interviewing in order to explore components that could be included in an intervention to help African American
caregivers cope with disease progression when a patient experiences cancer related cognitive impairment
(CRCI). Specific training objectives during the supplement include (1) deepening understanding of patients and
their families, to: 1a) augment knowledge and skills in health coaching and 1b) attain experience in stakeholder-
informed intervention development; (2) acquiring new skills in advanced qualitative interviewing and advance
understanding of community engagement in research using mixed methods to design and lead intervention
development relevant to family caregiving; and 3) developing practical skills and scientific management and
leadership to support development as an investigator and equity leader. The research aim during the supplement
phase is to better understand how African American caregivers cope with CRCI and what they value as being
helpful in improving bereavement outcomes to lessen psychological distress. To date, there has been little
research examining how AA family caregivers cope with care recipient CRCI along the advanced cancer
trajectory, from diagnosis, to end of life, to bereavement. Using a qualitative approach based on the Integrative
Risk Factor Framework, one-on-one interviews will be conducted with 15-25 African American caregivers of
patients with advanced cancer participating in the parent R37 (R37CA252868) to ascertain the needs and
challenges related to their care recipients CRCI. Aim 1: Identify the experiences, needs, and attitudes of African
American/Black family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer who currently are or may experience CRCI.
Aim 2: Elicit feedback on potential support strategies that might help African American/Black family caregivers
cope with caring for patients with advanced cancer who experience CRCI, including adjustment after death.
Results from this study will be foundational to a K01 application to develop and pilot an intervention to support
AA caregivers dealing with care recipient CRCI in order to help them better cope and adjust to their relative’s
death in bereavement.
Publications
None. See parent grant details.