Understanding how ready caregivers are to support patients after hospital discharge
Official title: Uncovering Caregiver Discharge Readiness for Patient Care Transitions from Hospital to Home: The UCare Study
Funded at University of Utah · NIH-10927310 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how ready caregivers are to help patients move from the hospital back home, so they can make sure their loved ones stay safe and healthy after discharge.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | September 29, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $399,907 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HS029158-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10927310 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include patients who are being discharged from the hospital and have unpaid caregivers involved in their care.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not accompanied by caregivers or those who are discharged to skilled nursing facilities may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the readiness of caregivers to support patients transitioning from hospital to home. It focuses on the critical role caregivers play in ensuring patient safety and health outcomes during discharge. By developing a unique measure to assess caregiver preparedness, the study aims to identify gaps in caregiver knowledge and skills that could lead to better patient care and reduced hospital readmissions. The approach includes engaging caregivers in the discharge planning process and evaluating their perceptions of preparedness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved support for caregivers, enhancing patient safety and reducing hospital readmissions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that engaging caregivers in discharge planning can improve patient outcomes, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wallace, Andrea Schneider — University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Wallace, Andrea Schneider
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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.