Optimizing Family Involvement in Late-Life Depression Care

詹妮弗·L·沃尔夫博士，约翰霍普金斯大学彭博公共卫生学院助理教授 世卫组织接受了老年学、卫生服务和成果研究方面的培训。此建议为NIMHMentored 研究科学家职业发展奖(KOI)将提供必要的支持，以促进博士 沃尔夫斯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。沃尔夫斯博士的最终目标是开发一项优化家庭的研究计划 参与老年抑郁症护理过程，并在这样做的过程中，促进改善精神健康和 老年抑郁症患者的生活质量结果。拟议的培训计划包括 一系列学习活动，以增加候选人对晚年抑郁症的知识，其治疗，以及 提供抑郁症护理的模式，以及发展健康教育和沟通方面的新技能 研究和临床试验的进行。在这些学习活动的基础上，进行两种类型的研究 将在整个颁奖过程中同时开展各项活动。首先，二次分析将 旨在阐明家庭参与对老年抑郁症诊断和治疗的影响 从两个角度出发：使用具有全国代表性的调查以人口为基础的导向； 相互关联的行政索赔(目标1)，以及通过检查现有的 对病人(家人)-医生办公室的会面进行录音(目标2)。第二组研究 活动涉及主要数据收集。焦点小组将在抑郁的老年人中进行，他们的 家庭和初级保健保健专业人员，以确定促进和反生产行为 在抑郁症护理过程中由家人承担(目标3)。最后，以从目标1获得的知识为基础- 3、将制定旨在优化家庭参与抑郁症护理过程的干预措施 并进行了试点测试(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 支持提交成功的R01赠款至 在奖励期结束前严格测试这一干预措施的效果。

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.