The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) https://www.pcori.org approved $22.6 million for 7 studies. Generally, the funding would develop and assess various approaches to improve outcomes for people infected by COVID-19.
The studies would also address how to lessen the effects of the coronavirus on healthcare workers and communities, the effectiveness of telemedicine in dealing with chronic conditions, how to improve mental health outcomes, how to deal generally with disparities in care in the U.S. population, and how to help nursing homes with access to Project Echo deal more effectively with infections.
Some of the PCORI approved studies include:
- The Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University with funding for $3 million would examine how telemedicine is offered and experienced by diverse populations as well as telemedicine’s effectiveness on outcomes and disparities among people with chronic conditions. The study will use PCORnet® and take place at many clinics
- The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine with funding for $2.5 million would evaluate the COVID Watch, an automated home monitoring program for people with COVID-19 self-isolating at home and whether it reduces disparities in care among Black and Latino patients. The study will assess the COVID Watch with and without the use of fingertip pulse oximetry to measure oxygen levels
- The State University of New York study with funding for $2.5 million would compare a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) group intervention via teleconference with an MBSR mobile app to help improve mental health outcomes among adults living in low-income racial and ethnic minority neighborhoods lacking access to mental healthcare
- Penn State University’s Hershey Medical Center with funding for $2.3 million would study infection control in nursing homes with assess to Project ECHO to enable nursing home staffs and university-based experts to discuss guidelines and best practices via interaction virtual sessions
Other newly approved studies would take place at the University of California, San Francisco with $5 million to compare the impacts of COVID-19 related to policy decisions in seven states concerning people’s health and financial well-being, with the focus on racial and ethnic communities. Participants will be recruited through PCORnet®, and the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network.
The RAND Corporation would receive $4.9 million to compare the effectiveness of strategies to improve the mental and physical well-being of healthcare workers. The project will compare the usual method of care versus a peer-led program called Stress First Aid to study how Stress First Aid with supportive actions can be delivered by individuals without mental health training.
The University of Southern California with $2.5 million would explore the comparative effectiveness of housing and support services co-located in group housing facilities versus independent housing located throughout the community in combination with mobile case management services. The goal for the study is to determine if it is more likely to influence COVID-19 related health behaviors and improve the quality of life among people experiencing homelessness.
For details on all projects approved for funding, go to http://www.pcori.org//research-results?