Projects

"Increasing the clinical applicability of SmartCare, a neuro-oncology caregiver intervention”
Funded by: UVA’s Cancer Prevention and Population Health Research Program

This study is recruiting caregivers and primary care providers to solicit their feedback and guidance to develop a new physical and emotional health care guide that will become part of a previously tested intervention to improve caregiver health. The project is focused on figuring out how healthcare professionals can best help caregivers maintain their own health in the midst of a really tough time in their lives.

“Enhancing compassionate care delivered by caregivers”
Funded by: Compassionate Care Research Fund, UVA School of Nursing

While caregivers say they want interventions to reduce stress and improve health, they don’t consistently engage with them. In this study, we are seeking feedback from neuro-oncology caregivers, primary care providers, and a six-member advisory board about what physical, emotional, and clinical outcomes are most critical to each group and what evidence-based interventions might most effectively and practically be deployed to maximize their positive impact.

“Building the tools to make real change in BMET caregiver support”
Funded by: Brain Metastases Research Collaborative Pilot Project award

Between 150,000 and 200,000 cancer patients are newly diagnosed with brain metastases each year yet the literature on how to support them is scarce. Across three interview “rounds”, caregivers, primary care providers, and patients will indicate which supportive care outcomes are the most important to them. Findings will be used to trial and implement supportive care within brain metastases. Sherwood will also zero in on factors that influence caregivers’ ability to monitor their emotional and physical health while they’re providing care, and what the best communication methods are between themselves and their primary care providers.

“Understanding the impact of stress on cortisol”
Funded by: University of Virginia School of Nursing

We are working to improve the way we understand how emotional distress affects physical health. Family caregivers and students are being recruited to evaluate levels of cortisol, a byproduct of mental stress, in hair samples. This work aims to figure out how mental stress affects biological markers of stress like cortisol and ultimately leads to poor physical health.