Multimedia caregiver education to help families complete childhood cancer treatment
Multimedia caregiver education program to improve outcomes for children with cancer in low-resource settings
This program uses videos and mobile tools to teach caregivers how to support young children with cancer so families are more likely to finish treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11412271 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If my child is treated for cancer at a partner hospital, this program would give me short videos, phone messages, and simple materials in local languages that explain treatment steps, side-effect care, and how to get help. The team adapts content for low literacy, delivers it through phones, tablets, and clinic sessions, and trains local staff to share the materials. They will follow families at Bugando Medical Centre and other partner sites to see whether caregivers attend appointments, keep up with treatment, and feel more confident caring for their child. The focus is on low-cost, easy-to-use digital education to reduce treatment abandonment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are caregivers of young children (roughly 0–11 years old) newly diagnosed with cancer who are receiving care at partner hospitals in Tanzania, such as Bugando Medical Centre.
Not a fit: Patients outside low-resource settings, adult cancer patients, or families without access to a phone/tablet or a caregiver able to use the materials may not receive benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help more children complete cancer treatment and improve survival by giving caregivers clearer, easier-to-use guidance and support.
How similar studies have performed: Previous non-digital supports at Bugando (housing, navigation, free chemotherapy) reduced abandonment from 40% to 23%, and caregiver education is effective in high-income settings, but multimedia caregiver education in low-resource pediatric oncology is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schroeder, Kristin — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Schroeder, Kristin
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 below.