Better communication and medication support for people with lupus
CO-LEADER: Intervention to Improve Patient-Provider Communication and Medication Adherence among Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
This project trains clinicians and uses pharmacy refill records plus patient-reported barriers to help Black people with lupus take their medicines more reliably.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11310777 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would meet with clinicians who have been trained to communicate in ways that better address the concerns of Black patients with lupus. Clinicians will use pharmacy refill data together with what you tell them about barriers to taking medicines to guide conversations and create a plan. The program is designed to be simple and fit into regular clinic visits so it could be used widely if it works. Pilot data show the approach is feasible and the team will test whether it improves adherence and narrows racial gaps in lupus outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with systemic lupus erythematosus, especially Black patients who have missed refills or report difficulty taking prescribed lupus medications, are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients without regular care at participating clinics, those not taking long-term lupus medications, or those whose challenges are unrelated to clinician communication may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could increase trust, improve medication adherence, and help reduce racial disparities in lupus complications such as kidney failure.
How similar studies have performed: Previous adherence programs in SLE using reminders and education have had limited success, so this communication-focused use of refill data is relatively new though pilot results are promising.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sun, Kai — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Sun, Kai
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.