Improving techniques for caregivers who assist with transfers
Official title: Biomechanical validation of the Caregiver Assisted Transfer Technique Instrument
Funded at Veterans Health Administration · NIH-10974468 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping family members and friends who care for Veterans by creating a tool that teaches them safer ways to assist with moving their loved ones, making sure everyone stays safe and healthy during the process.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | November 1, 2023 |
| Project end | October 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX004539-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10974468 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include informal caregivers of Veterans who assist with transfers for individuals with physical disabilities.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not require assistance with transfers or those who are not informal caregivers may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the safety and effectiveness of assisted transfers performed by informal caregivers of Veterans. It aims to develop and validate a tool called the Caregiver Assisted Transfer Technique Instrument (CATT), which objectively evaluates the transfer techniques used by caregivers. The study will assess the reliability and validity of the CATT and provide individualized training to caregivers based on their performance. By improving caregiver techniques, the research seeks to reduce the risk of injury for both caregivers and care recipients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer transfer practices, reducing injuries among caregivers and improving the quality of care for individuals with disabilities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using objective assessment tools to improve caregiver techniques, indicating that this approach has potential for meaningful impact.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Health Administration
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koontz, Alicia M. — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Koontz, Alicia M.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Caregiver-led mobile tool to support healthy habits for kids treated for ALL
A caregiver-directed mobile program helps children who were treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia build healthier daily routines.
-
Biomechanical check of a caregiver transfer technique tool
This grant tests a quick, objective way to measure how well informal caregivers transfer a person, with the goal of reducing caregiver and care recipient injuries.
-
Negotiation training to help Alzheimer’s caregivers communicate with care teams
A program called NegotiAge helps families caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease learn better negotiation skills to talk with doctors, insurers, and other caregivers.
-
Improving prosthetic fitting in rural areas with remote limb scanning
A study tests whether a helper can remotely capture limb shape with affordable digital tools to create a well-fitting prosthetic socket, reducing travel for rural Veterans.
-
Autism Caregiver Coaching in Africa for Young Children
A Duke University-led project in South Africa aims to help young children with autism by training caregivers to deliver proven coaching strategies through non-specialist providers.
-
Harnessing caregiver coaching in early intervention to help young children with developmental delays
This grant tests whether coaching caregivers can help children under 3 with developmental delays get high-quality, frequent early intervention in their home environment.
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.