Problem-solving support for family caregivers of people with cancer
Official title: Problem-Solving Therapy for Cancer Caregivers: A Randomized Clinical Trial in Outpatient Palliative Care
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11140327 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers problem-solving therapy to family caregivers of people receiving outpatient palliative cancer care to help reduce stress and improve coping.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $627,710 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA258311-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11140327 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adult family or unpaid caregivers of people with cancer who are receiving outpatient palliative care are the ideal participants for this study.
✕Less likely to help
Caregivers who are not connected to outpatient palliative care clinics, cannot attend therapy sessions, or have severe cognitive or language barriers may not receive benefit from this intervention.
What this research studies
If I am caring for a loved one with cancer seen in an outpatient palliative clinic, I may be offered problem-solving therapy as part of this study. Caregivers are randomly assigned to receive the therapy or usual care at several outpatient clinics in both urban and rural areas. The team will track caregiver psychological distress and well-being and will study what helps or hinders delivering this therapy in real clinic settings. The work is run by Washington University and partner sites across multiple locations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lower caregiver stress and improve coping, which may also help caregivers better support patients.
How similar studies have gone: Problem-solving therapy has shown benefits for caregivers in other medical settings, but there is limited evidence specifically for outpatient palliative cancer care.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Washington, Karla — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Washington, Karla
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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.