Round 4 Grants
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) awarded the fourth round of grants through its Interdisciplinary Nursing Quality Research Initiative (INQRI) program on September 1, 2009. Five teams of nurse scholars and scholars from other disciplines were selected to conduct two-year research projects to examine the link between nurses' contributions and the safety and quality of patient care.
Nursing's Specific Contributions to Quality Palliative Care within the Context of Interdisciplinary Intensive Care Practice
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, OR
Dr. Lissi Hansen
Dr. Richard Mularski
Very little is known about the relationships between quality palliative nursing care delivered in intensive care units (ICUs) and patient and family outcomes and on how to measure and to improve these outcomes. The purpose of this investigator-initiated study is to examine nursing's specific contributions to quality palliative care provided to patients and their families in the ICU. This interdisciplinary team is led by Lissi Hansen, Ph.D., R.N. and Richard Mularski, M.D.
Nursing Intervention to Facilitate Patient Activation for Improved Pain Self Management
University of California, Davis
Sacramento, CA
Dr. Deborah Ward
Dr. Richard Wanlass
This experimental study will evaluate an assessment-based counseling intervention to promote successful pain self-management in spine surgery patients. The team will evaluate for Return On Investment by measuring outcomes (pain, function and depression) and value to the care delivery system as well as to patients. The team will track costs to patients (care utilization over and above usual post-surgical care), costs of the intervention and opportunity costs. This interdisciplinary team is led by Deborah Ward, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N. and Richard Wanlass, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Interdisciplinary Mobility Team Approach to Reduction of Facility-Acquired Pressure Ulcers
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
Dr. Tracey Yap
Dr. Jay Kim
This nurse-led interdisciplinary research team will develop a sustainable, system-wide program for pressure ulcer prevention that enhances mobility of long-term care residents. The primary goal, under nursing's leadership, is to reduce LTC facility-acquired pressure ulcer incidence by 50% using a cost-effective innovative program to increase resident active or passive movement. The team will be led by Tracey Yap, Ph.D., a nurse researcher, and Jay Kim, Ph.D., an engineer.
SPEACS 2: Improving Patient Communication and Quality Outcomes in the ICU
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Dr. Mary Beth Happ
Dr. Amber Barnato
This project examines the value of a nurse-generated and nurse-led innovation by testing the impact of a computer-based nurse communication training and materials program (SPEACS-2) on patient care outcomes: nursing care quality (coma-free days, physical restraint use, pain symptom management, pressure ulcers, patient/family satisfaction with communication), clinical outcomes(ventilator-free days, ICU/hospital days discharge disposition) and cost. The interdisciplinary research team from the University of Pittsburgh includes nurses, physicians, speech-language pathologists and biostatisticians co-led by Mary Beth Happ, Ph.D., R.N., a nurse researcher, and Amber Barnato, M.D., M.P.H., a physician-health policy researcher.
A Diabetes Prevention Program in the Community
Yale University
New Haven, CT
Dr. Robin Whittemore
Dr. Alana Rosenberg
This team will conduct a randomized clinical trial to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in at-risk adults with a diabetes prevention program provided by visiting nurses in subsidized housing units. They will modify a research-based diabetes prevention program; evaluate the preliminary effects of the modified diabetes prevention program provided by visiting nurses; and they will explore the reach, adoption, implementation, and cost of a diabetes prevention program delivered by visiting nurses to residents in subsidized housing units. The interdisciplinary team is led by Robin Whittemore, Ph.D., a nurse scholar, and Alana Rosenberg, M.P.H., a scholar in public health.