Understanding end-of-life care quality for cancer patients in Puerto Rico
Official title: Examining the multilevel factors on quality of end-of-life care among cancer patients in Puerto Rico
Funded at University of Puerto Rico Med Sciences · NIH-11379556 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores what shapes the quality of end-of-life care for people with cancer in the US and Puerto Rico to help ensure care aligns with patients’ needs and values.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Puerto Rico Med Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Juan, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $298,000 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM148324-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11379556 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with cancer in the Puerto Rico region who could be affected by end-of-life care quality and related decision-making processes.
✕Less likely to help
Some individuals may not see direct benefits if their care needs are not primarily end-of-life or if they receive care outside the studied settings.
What this research studies
The project looks at how different levels of factors influence the care received at the end of life for cancer patients in Puerto Rico, a population with unique economic and healthcare challenges. Researchers plan to examine patient experiences, caregiver perspectives, and healthcare system factors to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement. The goal is to inform interventions that reduce unnecessary hospital use and better align care with patient preferences.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better-aligned end-of-life care for cancer patients and reduced unnecessary healthcare use.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that improving end-of-life care can reduce hospital visits, with some multilevel approaches demonstrating promise; this study aims to extend that work to Puerto Rico.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Puerto Rico Med Sciences
San Juan, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ortiz, Karen J — University of Puerto Rico Med Sciences
- Study coordinator: Ortiz, Karen J
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.