The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR within NIH has issued a funding announcement to encourage research to improve self-management and the quality of life for children and adolescents with chronic conditions.
The research will study how individual differences, biological and psychological factors, family issues, and the role of the environment can affect self-management of chronic conditions. NINR is seeking to find ways that new technologies could possibly help children and adolescents to better manage their chronic conditions.
So far, research has primarily focused on older populations where the burden and costs of chronic illnesses and disability are increasingly evident. However, the economic and quality of life costs of chronic illness and disability in youths are equally burdensome and costly.
Although chronic conditions are more common among older adults, the rate of chronic conditions among children has increased. More than half of children ages 8 to 14 have had a long-term health problem at some point.
For example, asthma continues to be the leading chronic disorder among children and youth. Asthma morbidity continues to pose a significant personal and societal burden despite the availability of effective medications to manage the disease.
More research is also needed related to diabetes which is the third most prevalent severe chronic disease in childhood in the U.S. Managing diabetes requires the complex balancing of medication dosing, diet, and exercise in order to achieve good glucose control. Complex and demanding treatment regimens may be overwhelming to families and especially for adolescents. New technologies are available such as insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors but adolescents are sometimes reluctant to use the technology.
Some of the specific research objectives include but are not limited to:
- Developing and testing biotechnological methods for monitoring chronic conditions and treatment adherence
- Developing and testing new measurements of biological parameters to help children and adolescents monitor and determine the progress of their chronic condition
- Developing and testing state-of-the-art technologies to use to improve disease management
- Testing how to self-manage in rural areas, medically underserved settings, and in racial/ethnic groups
Organizations eligible to submit an application include higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profits, small businesses, governments and others. The budget for the award will reflect the needs of the applicants proposed project.
Applications for the FOA titled “Chronic Condition Self-Management in Children and Adolescents” (PA-14-029) may be submitted beginning January 5, 2014.
For more information, go to http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-14-029.html.