Coping skills program to help COPD patients and caregivers feel better together
Official title: Leveraging the dyad: mechanisms of an intervention for psychological distress in chronic lung disease
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11370552 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A COPD-focused program tests whether teaching coping skills to patients and their caregivers reduces stress, anxiety, and distress over 12 weekly remote sessions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $759,825 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NR020819-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11370552 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with COPD and their informal caregivers who are engaged in daily care and experiencing psychological distress.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without significant distress or without a willing caregiver may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project gives COPD patients and their caregivers access to a structured coping skills program delivered remotely over 12 weeks. Participants are randomized to CST or a minimally enhanced usual care control, with focus on stress management and practical strategies for daily living. The study aims to see improvements in psychological distress and quality of life for both members of the patient–caregiver dyad. Results could guide how palliative care can be delivered through family relationships in chronic lung disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce distress for patients and caregivers and improve daily functioning.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests coping skills training can help with distress, but applying it to COPD dyads is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hart, Joanna Lee — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Hart, Joanna Lee
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Mobile app to help family caregivers in Thailand manage distress
A mobile app called CAMMA would help family members caring for adults with chronic illnesses in Thailand feel less depressed and anxious through a culturally tailored mental health support program.
-
Caregiver Mental Health Mobile App (CAMMA) for family caregivers of adults with chronic disorders
A mobile app in Thailand aims to support family caregivers of adults with chronic conditions by reducing depression and anxiety through an evidence-based mental health program.
-
Phone app to spot and support emotional distress in family caregivers
Researchers are creating a Thai-language phone app to help family members who care for adults with chronic illnesses notice early stress and get brief mental-health support.
-
Including informal caregivers in a video-based meditation to ease distress for breast cancer survivors
A caregiver-inclusive online compassion-meditation program is being tested to help breast cancer survivors feel less anxiety and depression.
-
Mindfulness app to support youth in the legal system
A multi-site, youth-focused trial tests a mindfulness meditation smartphone app to boost wellbeing and reduce distress for young people on probation.
-
Adaptive symptom self-management to ease distress for cancer survivors on immune checkpoint inhibitors
A study tests a phone-based symptom-monitoring program, with tailored support, to help cancer survivors on immune checkpoint inhibitors feel less distressed and manage side effects.
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.