Palliative Care
Access and Outcomes

A Cluster Randomized Trial of a Primary Palliative Care Intervention (CONNECT) for Patients with Advanced Cancer

Dr. Schenker and her team are currently analyzing data from this cluster randomized trial of an oncology nurse-led primary palliative care intervention, which enrolled 672 patients with advanced solid-tumor cancers and their 441 caregivers across 17 UPMC community oncology practices. (Funding Source: NIH/NCI Grant R01CA197103) Project-related publications Effect of an Oncology Nurse–Led Primary Palliative Care … Read more

A Mobile Sensing System to Monitor Symptoms During Chemotherapy

The project aims to combine smartphone and wearable sensor data with machine learning to remotely monitor symptoms during chemotherapy and to develop a system that automatically recommends patient-provider contact when severe symptoms are detected. (Funding Source: NHI/NCI Grant R37CA242545)

Description and Outcomes of an Innovative Concurrent Hospice-Dialysis Program

A Concurrent Hospice and Dialysis Program was created by Dr. Schell and colleagues, where patients could obtain palliative dialysis alongside hospice services. The program aims to enhance access to quality end-of-life care and the experiences of patients, caregivers, and clinicians. (Funding Source: Palliative Care Research Cooperative Group)

Impact of Lifetime Stress, Racism & Neighborhood Deprivation on Outcomes of NSCLC

In this mixed methods approach, Dr. Rosenzweig and her team will quantify how social, cultural and physical factors including race, racism, poverty, trauma and neighborhood deprivation comprising allostatic load influences subsequent NSCLC disease outcomes directly or are moderated through patient physical, emotional and financial distress. This examination provides risk metrics and patient voice for the … Read more

Palliative Care Technological Extension and Assistance in the Community for Healthcare Outcomes in Western PA (Pal-TEACH)

Pal-TEACH is a project designed to improve access to palliative care using technology. The project began at McKeesport Medical Oncology, where Dr. Schenker piloted telemedicine and provided palliative care visits to high-risk patients. Currently, the project is at its second clinic, New Castle Medical Oncology, testing an e-consult model to address the unique palliative care … Read more

Randomized Trial of a Scalable, Interactive Tool to Support Surrogate Decision-Makers of Elderly Critically Ill Patients

The goal of this randomized control trial, led by Dr. Douglas White, is to conduct an appropriately powered randomized clinical trial of the Family Support Tool (FST) intervention among the surrogates of critically ill older adults to determine the effects of the FST on patients’ clinical outcomes, surrogates’ psychological outcomes, measures of decision quality, and … Read more

Technology-supported Sedentary Behavior Intervention to Promote Recovery from Cancer Surgery

Building on her background in clinical psychology and psychoneuroimmunology, Dr. Low’s goals for this project are to develop scalable behavioral interventions for patients undergoing potentially curative cancer surgery and to examine the effects of these behavioral interventions on clinical outcomes and biobehavioral mechanisms. (Funding Source: NIH/NCI Grant K07CA204380)

The Breast Cancer Treatment Symptom Experience, Management and Outcomes According to Race (SEMOARS) Study

The Symptom Experience, Management, Outcomes According to Race (SEMOARS) is comparing the symptom incidence and distress, symptom reporting methods and outcomes, including the ability to receive full dose of prescribed chemotherapy between Black and White women as they proceed through chemotherapy. (Funding Source: NIM/NIMHD Grant 1R01MD01224501) Project-related publications  Symptom Experience, Management, and Outcomes According to … Read more