BETTER transitional care for adults with traumatic brain injury and their families
Official title: A Randomized Controlled Trial of BETTER, A Transitional Care Intervention, for Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury and Their Families
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11285201 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project compares a coordinated transitional care program called BETTER to usual care to help adults (18+) with traumatic brain injury and their families manage recovery after leaving the hospital.
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 start | May 19, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $669,762 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NR020818-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11285201 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 18 and older with mild-to-severe traumatic brain injury who are transitioning from hospital to home and who have family caregivers are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People under 18, those without a traumatic brain injury, or individuals far removed from their acute hospital discharge are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from this trial.
What this research studies
If I join, researchers will randomly place me into either the BETTER program or usual care after my hospital stay. BETTER offers education, training, therapy, and care coordination focused on daily activities, symptom management, and caregiver support. The team will follow patients and family caregivers over time to track quality of life, rehospitalizations, functional abilities, and caregiver strain. Participation likely involves hospital- and home-based activities plus regular follow-up contacts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, BETTER could improve recovery, increase independence in everyday activities, reduce rehospitalizations, and lessen caregiver strain.
How similar studies have gone: Transitional care programs have improved outcomes in other acute conditions like stroke and heart attack, but few rigorous, theory-driven transitional care trials have targeted traumatic brain injury specifically.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oyesanya, Tolu O. — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Oyesanya, Tolu O.
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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.