The National Institute of Nursing Research supports a study at the University of Kansas Medical Center, School of Nursing to help family caregivers improve problem solving abilities, participate in healthcare management, and deal with depression. Recruitment is being done through the Kansas University Hospital and the rural outreach centers.
Subjects in the study include 80 family caregivers plus 80 adult patients dependent on HPN infusions due to nonmalignant gastrointestinal disorders. Researchers are designing a placebo-controlled longitudinal clinical trial design with crossover and interventions to be delivered by videophone nurse visits. In addition, internet-based home care will be tested.
Traditional cost analysis will be used to describe each family’s home care efficiency in relation to health services costs, and data will be analyzed to see the effects on the caregivers and patients. Traditional cost analysis will be used to describe each family’s home care efficiency in relation to health services costs.
For more information on Grant R01NR009078-03, contact Carol E. Smith at csmith@kumc.edu or phone (913) 588-5000.
