FAQs about Study Participation

The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of clinician, patient and caregiver knowledge, understanding and attitudes towards palliative care. During the study, the research team will create and test questions that will evaluate what home healthcare clinicians know about palliative care and how they feel about providing that type of care. We will also be collecting similar information from home health patients and their caregivers. The information that is collected from home healthcare clinicians, patients and caregivers will help the research team to use that information to improve palliative care programs.

The study is funded by the Intramural Pilot Grant Program from the Office of Scholarship and Research at the Columbia University School of Nursing.

This study is a collaboration between Columbia University School of Nursing (CUSON) and VNS Health researchers.

Clinicians are eligible to participate if they are a home healthcare clinician who provides services for patients with advanced, uncontrolled illnesses. About 40 clinicians are expected to be enrolled in this study.

Patients and caregivers are eligible to participate if they are an adult aged 65 or older with a health condition that is sometimes difficult to manage, or as a caregiver of an older adult with a difficult-to-manage health condition. About 40 patients or caregivers are expected to be enrolled in this study.

Participants will be asked to contribute in one of two ways to the study:

1. Review draft survey questions and then be interviewed about your thought processes when answering the survey questions and any suggestions you may have for changing or adding questions. We expect the interview to last about 45-60 minutes.
2. Participate in testing the survey, which will involve taking the survey twice. The second timepoint will take place 2 weeks after completing the survey the first time. We expect this to take about 30 minutes each time (or 60 minutes total).

There are no direct benefits for taking part in this study. However, by taking part in the study, participants will be giving the research team valuable information that may improve palliative care for future clinicians, patients and caregivers with similar needs who receive care from home healthcare agencies. Participants will receive a $50 gift card for taking part in the study.