Nurse practitioner team communication for dementia care and health equity
Social Networks in Nurse Practitioner Teams Caring for Patients with Dementia and Impact on Health Disparities
This project looks at how nurse practitioner-led teams talk, share advice, and support each other when caring for older adults with Alzheimer's and related dementias, with attention to racial and ethnic differences.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11260234 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will combine national surveys, interviews, and health data to map who is on nurse practitioner care teams and how team members communicate and seek advice. They will use social network methods to track connections between team members and link those patterns to patient outcomes such as hospital and emergency department visits. The study focuses on adults 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, with particular attention to Black and Hispanic patients who face higher burdens. Results will inform how NP-led teams can be organized and supported to improve dementia care and reduce disparities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults aged 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias who receive primary care from nurse practitioner-led teams, particularly Black and Hispanic patients.
Not a fit: People who are younger than 65, do not have dementia, or do not receive care from NP-led or team-based primary care are unlikely to be directly involved or to see immediate benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help design better nurse practitioner-led teams that improve dementia care access and reduce hospital and emergency visits for older adults, especially in underserved racial and ethnic groups.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research on team-based care and social networks has shown promise for improving outcomes, but national studies focused specifically on NP teams in dementia care are limited, so this approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Poghosyan, Lusine — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Poghosyan, Lusine
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.