Project Description
Engaging Patients, Caregivers, and Clinicians to Identify a Patient-Centered Model of Palliative Care for Patients with Heart Failure
Heart failure (HF) is a progressive, incurable disease that
affects over 5.8 million Americans. Characterized by high symptom and
psychological burden, HF profoundly decreases quality-of-life among both
patients and caregivers. Palliative care has been shown to improve a variety of
patient and caregiver outcomes, including survival, symptom control, and
quality-of-life; however, HF patients rarely access such services. Although
prior research suggests provider-related barriers to palliative care in HF, no
research exists examining HF patient and caregiver factors. In order to design
patient-centered healthcare systems that are truly responsive to patient and
caregiver needs and preferences, we must engage patients, caregivers, and
clinicians to understand barriers and facilitators of specialist palliative
care in HF.
Dr. Kavalieratos and his team will conduct semi-structured
interviews with participants who have advanced HF regarding four overarching
domains: (1) attitudes, perceptions, and baseline knowledge of palliative care;
(2) burdens of advanced HF; (3) preferred healthcare services to address
identified burdens; and, (4) preferences for the delivery of such services.
Data from this project will be used to further assess preferences, barriers,
and facilitators of patient-centered palliative care in HF.
Bio
Dio Kavalieratos, Ph.D. is a Post-Doctoral
Fellow at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. In July 2014, he
will join the University of Pittsburgh’s Division of General Internal Medicine
as an Assistant Professor of Medicine, within the Section on Palliative Care
and Medical Ethics. He received a Ph.D. in Health Policy & Management from
the University of North Carolina in 2012. His work seeks to engage the patient
voice to identify sources of distress and improve palliative care access and
quality. Areas of focus include: mixed-methods research, patient-reported
outcomes, decision support, and non-malignant palliative care. Dr. Kavalieratos
received the 2013 Young Investigator Award from the American Academy of Hospice
and Palliative Medicine. He also serves on the Editorial Board of the American
Journal of Public Health, and is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Health
Policy at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.
Email: diok@pitt.edu