CARES: an EHR-linked program to spot and treat depression, pain, and fatigue in people with cancer
Hybrid Type I Cluster Randomized Effectiveness-Implementation Trial of CARES
This project will bring an electronic health record–linked CARES program to cancer centers to help people with cancer start treatment for depression, pain, and fatigue and improve quality of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11247545 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you go to a participating cancer center, your medical record will be used to screen for depression, pain, and fatigue and the CARES team will offer stepped, coordinated care. Cancer centers are randomized in clusters to roll out CARES or continue usual care so researchers can see how CARES works when used in routine practice. The trial tracks who starts treatment, changes in quality of life, emergency visits, hospital readmissions, and healthcare costs. The team previously ran a Phase III trial that showed large improvements in treatment initiation, quality of life, and reduced healthcare use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people receiving cancer care at participating centers who screen positive for clinically significant depression, pain, or fatigue.
Not a fit: People without significant depression, pain, or fatigue, those who do not receive care at participating centers, or those who decline CARES services may not experience benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, CARES could help more patients begin treatment for distressing symptoms, improve quality of life, and reduce emergency visits and hospital readmissions.
How similar studies have performed: A prior Phase III trial of CARES showed much higher treatment starts (75% vs 4%), better quality of life, fewer emergency visits and readmissions, and substantial cost savings, supporting this larger implementation trial.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Steel, Jennifer L. — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Steel, Jennifer L.
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.