Biomechanical check of a caregiver transfer technique tool
Official title: Biomechanical validation of the Caregiver Assisted Transfer Technique Instrument
Funded at Veterans Health Administration · NIH-11629321 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests a quick, objective way to measure how well informal caregivers transfer a person, with the goal of reducing caregiver and care recipient injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | November 1, 2023 |
| Project end | September 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX004539-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11629321 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
informal caregivers of Veterans who assist with transfers and may participate in training and assessment.
✕Less likely to help
Caregivers who do not participate in training or assessment may not benefit.
What this research studies
The project focuses on caregivers who help Veterans move a person from one surface to another. It introduces the Caregiver Assisted Transfer Technique Instrument (CATT) to provide a simple, objective score of transfer technique. The study will check whether different observers agree on CATT scores and whether scores relate to biomechanical measurements and caregiver traits. It also tests whether personalized training improves transfer technique as measured by CATT. The work is conducted within the Veterans Health Administration setting in Pittsburgh.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the tool could help caregivers perform safer transfers and reduce injuries.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work established content validity; reliability and validity testing with training impact are being evaluated in this study.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Health Administration
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koontz, Alicia M. — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Koontz, Alicia M.
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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.