National Institutes of Health

Description

The purpose of this research initiative is to (a) Examine predictors of progression to life threatening illness, End of Life (EOL) issues, and death among individuals diagnosed with acute illnesses in the presence of underlying chronic diseases, adverse health risk factors, or other negative variables; (b) Develop algorithms for such adverse progressions to life limiting disease or EOL; (c) Examine the burden of illness imposed by acute illnesses when superimposed on individuals with underlying chronic diseases or other negative variables / adverse risk factors (such as age) that carry the potential to exacerbate and / or potentiate the impact of the acute illness and / or the severity or prognosis of the underlying chronic disease such that progression to End of Life can occur; (d) Explore the trajectories of disease in these individuals and their covariates, and issues and needs among such patients and their caregivers; (e) Identify the complex palliative and End of Life Care issues and needs arising as a result of the multi factorial etiology and co-occurrence of two (or more) co-existing diseases or negative variables; (f) Study the medical, physical and psychosocial inter-relationships between disease status, symptoms, psychosocial or functional status, spiritual concerns and the impact of such key variables on both length and / or QOL; (g) Develop and test appropriate palliative and End Of Life care interventions for individuals with acute illnesses occurring in the presence of underlying chronic diseases or adverse risk factors leading to severe illness requiring complex palliative care or End of Life care; (h) Assess similarities and differences in palliative and or EOL Care needs, issues, barriers, or success among those whose progression to the EOL phase is sudden compared to those progressing to this phase gradually or as a function of time; (i) Examine the impact on, needs of, and interventions for the caregivers of this population.

Who can apply

• State governments
• County governments
• City or township governments
• Special district governments
• Independent school districts
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• Public housing authorities / Indian housing authorities
• Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized)
• Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
• Private institutions of higher education
• For-profit organizations other than small businesses
• Small businesses
• Others

Contact

NIH OER Webmaster<br/>FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV<br/>
FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV