Caring for Older African Americans: Training Clinicians to Provide Quality End-of-Life Care
Official title: African American (AA) Communities Speak: Partnering with AAs in the North and South to Train Palliative Care Clinicians to Provide Quality Care
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11399316 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant aims to adapt and deliver a training program for clinicians so they can better understand and meet end-of-life care needs of older African American adults in both the South and North.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $660,991 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG078255-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399316 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older African American adults with serious illness and their families who receive care in urban settings in Birmingham or the Bronx.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not engage in end-of-life planning conversations or who do not participate in clinician training may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
The project builds on a community-driven training program and expands it to urban settings in Birmingham, AL and the Bronx, NY to fit regional differences in culture and communication. It uses a Community-Based Participatory Research approach to engage African American communities in shaping what clinicians need to know and do at end-of-life care moments. Clinicians will be trained to have more effective goals-of-care conversations and to align care with patient values, preferences, and experiences. The program will be delivered through partnerships with local health systems and community organizations to ensure relevance and sustainability.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients and families may experience more compassionate, clearer, and value-aligned end-of-life care.
How similar studies have gone: Previous CBPR-based clinician trainings showed improvements in communication and patient-centered care in diverse communities, supporting further expansion.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Elk, Ronit — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Elk, Ronit
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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.