Optimizing Family Involvement in Late-Life Depression Care

Jennifer L.沃尔夫博士是约翰霍普金斯布隆伯格公共卫生学院的助理教授 世卫组织接受过老年学和保健服务及成果研究方面的培训。此建议NIMHMentored 研究科学家职业发展（KOI）奖将提供必要的支持，以促进博士。 沃尔夫成功转型为老年心理健康服务领域的独立调查员 干预研究沃尔夫博士的最终目标是制定一项研究计划，以优化家庭 参与晚年抑郁症护理过程，并在此过程中，促进改善心理健康， 老年抑郁症患者的生活质量拟议的培训计划包括 一系列的学习活动，以增加候选人的知识晚年抑郁症，其治疗， 抑郁症护理提供模式，以及发展健康教育和沟通的新技能 research研究and the conduct执行of clinicaltrials临床试验.在这些学习活动的基础上， 活动将在整个颁奖过程中同时进行。首先，二次分析将 阐明家庭参与对晚年抑郁症诊断和治疗的影响 从两个出发点：一个基于人口的方向，使用全国代表性的调查， 关联的行政索赔（目标1），以及通过检查现有的 患者-（家庭）-医生办公室访问的录音会面（目标2）。第二组研究 活动涉及原始数据收集。焦点小组将与抑郁的老年人，他们的 家庭和初级保健卫生专业人员，以确定促进和适得其反的行为 在抑郁症护理过程中由家庭承担（目标3）。最后，根据从目标1- 3，将制定一项旨在优化抑郁症护理过程中家庭参与的干预措施 并进行试点测试（目标4）。拟议的培训计划和研究目标旨在为沃尔夫博士提供 支持成功提交R 01赠款所需的额外经验和资源， 在奖励期结束前严格测试这种干预措施的效力。

Jennifer L. Wolff, Ph.D. is an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of PublicHealth who is trained in gerontology and health services and outcomes research. This proposed NIMHMentored Research Scientist Career Development (KOI)award will provide the necessary support to facilitate Dr. Wolffs successful transition to an independent investigator in the field of geriatric mentalhealth services intervention research. Dr. Wolffs ultimate goal is to develop a program of research to optimize family involvement in late-life depression care processes, and in doing so, to facilitate improved mental health and quality of life outcomes among older adults living with depression. The proposed training plan includes a series of learning activities to increase the candidate's knowledge of late-life depression, its treatment,and models of depression care delivery, as well as to develop new skills in health education and communication research and the conduct of clinicaltrials. Buildingon these learning activities,two types of research activities will be simultaneously pursued throughout the course of the award. First, secondary analyses will be undertaken to elucidatethe influence of family involvementon late-life depression diagnosisandtreatment from two points of departure: a population-based orientation using a nationallyrepresentative survey and linked administrative claims (Aim 1), and an individual patient perspective through examinationof existing audio-taped encounters of patient-(family)-physician office visits (Aim 2). The second set of research activities involves primary data collection. Focus groups will be conducted with depressed older adults, their families, and primary care health professionals to ascertain facilitativeand counterproductive behaviors assumed by family in depression care processes (Aim 3). Lastly, building on knowledge gained from Aims 1- 3, an interventionthat seeks to optimize family involvement in depression care processes will be developed and pilot tested (Aim 4). The proposed training plan and research aims are designed to provide Dr. Wolff with the additionalexperience and resources necessary to support the submissionof a successful R01 grant to rigorously test the efficacy of this intervention by the end of the award period.