Improving care for head and neck cancer survivors and their caregivers
Official title: A Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Survivorship Needs Assessment Planning Tool for Head and Neck Cancer Survivor-Caregiver Dyads
Funded at Medical University of South Carolina · NIH-10994666 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a helpful tablet tool called SNAP that aims to support head and neck cancer survivors and their caregivers as they move from treatment to home care, and it’s designed to make their recovery easier and improve their overall well-being.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $471,048 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA259186-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10994666 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are head and neck cancer survivors and their caregivers who are transitioning from treatment to home care.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not head and neck cancer survivors or do not have a caregiver may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance the recovery of head and neck cancer survivors and their caregivers by implementing a tablet-based tool that assesses their survivorship needs. The tool, known as the survivorship needs assessment planning (SNAP) system, will be integrated into clinical workflows to help caregivers transition from treatment to home care. By participating in a randomized controlled trial, caregiver-survivor pairs will receive either the SNAP tool or standard care, allowing researchers to evaluate its impact on caregiver burden, survivor symptoms, and overall well-being. The study will also explore healthcare utilization and identify barriers to effective care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved recovery outcomes and reduced caregiver burden for head and neck cancer patients and their families.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using technology-based tools for improving care coordination and outcomes in cancer survivorship, indicating a promising approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sterba, Katherine Regan — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Sterba, Katherine Regan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Survivorship needs planning for head and neck cancer survivors and caregivers
This project tests a tablet-based planning tool to help head and neck cancer survivors and their caregivers manage recovery after treatment.
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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.