Improving skills of family caregivers for cancer patients using simulations

Building Family Caregiver Skills Using a Simulation-Based Intervention for Care of Patients with Cancer

NIH-funded research Case Western Reserve University · NIH-10927207

This study is all about helping family caregivers learn important skills to better support their loved ones who are being treated for different types of cancer, so they can feel more confident and provide the best care possible during this tough time.

Quick facts

Grant typeR37 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionCase Western Reserve University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Cleveland, United States)
Project IDNIH-10927207 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on enhancing the skills of family caregivers who support patients undergoing treatment for various cancers, including head and neck, lung, esophageal, rectal, and anal cancers. It employs a simulation-based intervention to provide caregivers with the necessary training to manage complex caregiving tasks, such as wound care, pain management, and emotional support. By using experiential learning techniques, the study aims to empower caregivers during the critical period of active treatment and transition to survivorship. The effectiveness of this approach will be evaluated through its impact on caregiver confidence, patient outcomes, and healthcare utilization.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are family members of patients currently undergoing treatment for head and neck, lung, esophageal, rectal, or anal cancers.

Not a fit: Patients who are not currently receiving treatment for the specified cancers or those without family caregivers may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the quality of care that family caregivers provide, leading to better health outcomes for cancer patients.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that simulation-based training can effectively enhance the skills of healthcare professionals, suggesting potential success for similar approaches in training family caregivers.

Where this research is happening

Cleveland, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Anal CancerAnal CancersAnus CancerCancer Center
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.