Medication adherence coaching for cancer patients guided by social cognitive theory
Official title: Design and implementation of a social cognitive theory-based medication adherence coaching intervention
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11395579 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A mentorship-based program in cancer care tests a coaching approach to help people take their cancer medications as prescribed.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $194,201 |
| NIH project number | 5K08CA279500-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395579 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients receiving oral anticancer agents who need support to maintain high adherence in routine cancer care.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not on oral anticancer therapies or without adherence challenges may see minimal benefit.
What this research studies
This program trains and supports a clinician-researcher to develop and test a social cognitive theory–based coaching method aimed at improving how cancer patients follow their oral medication regimens. It uses behavior change principles, implementation science, and real-world cancer care settings to create practical strategies. The goal is to generate an evidence base that can be translated into clinics to boost adherence and outcomes. The work is designed to fit into an early-career researcher’s plan with mentorship and structured development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could have better adherence to their cancer medications, potentially improving survival and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Other adherence interventions show promise when guided by theory but often lack sustained, theory-driven implementation in real-world cancer care.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Muluneh, Benyam — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Muluneh, Benyam
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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.