Measuring how cancer patients and doctors talk to each other to improve treatment outcomes
Official title: Quantifying patient-provider communication using machine learning to assess its impact on metastatic cancer patients' outcomes
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11357591 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses machine learning to study how patient-provider conversations affect cancer patients’ use of oral therapies and their health results.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | June 6, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,081,426 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA285737-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11357591 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with cancer who are using or likely to use oral cancer therapies and who engage in secure messaging with their care team.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving oral therapies or not using patient portals may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
The team will analyze large sets of patient messages from secure portals to identify patterns of communication that relate to adherence and outcomes in cancer care. They will combine digital health data with clinical information to see how empathy, timing, and clarity in messages influence treatment success and emergency visits. The study aims to translate findings into practical tools for providers to improve communication and support for patients on oral cancer therapies. The work focuses on patients with cancer and leverages existing data from Yale’s health system.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may experience better adherence to oral cancer therapies and improved health outcomes through more effective, timely communication with their providers.
How similar studies have gone: prior research suggests that improved patient-provider communication correlates with better adherence and outcomes, though large-scale patterns are still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jarad, Samah Jamal Fodeh — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Jarad, Samah Jamal Fodeh
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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.