Recent Media Highlights of Our Work
As more of our funded projects start producing results, we will regularly share highlights from print and online news coverage. We’ll also showcase recent coverage of our newest awards or activities generated by some of our previously funded studies.
‘Talk Therapy' Aided Low-Income Patients with Chronic Pain
MedPage Today, Feb. 26, 2018
This article details results from a PCORI-funded study as reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The study compared two nondrug approaches to helping socioeconomically disadvantaged people living with chronic pain manage their pain and related symptoms.
A MedPage Today article highlighted a PCORI-funded study on managing chronic pain and related symptoms.
As the article notes: “Pain intensity scores decreased substantially for low-income, chronic pain patients who received either group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or pain education (EDU) compared with those who received usual care.” The research team simplified the reading level of both the CBT and pain education materials to better address the needs of individuals with less education, and demonstrated that these low-literacy versions are effective.
Hmm, Maybe I Don't Want an LVAD
MedPage Today, Feb. 28, 2018
This article details results from a PCORI-funded project as reported in JAMA Internal Medicine. The study compared outcomes among people with end-stage heart failure who either used a decision aid to decide whether to have a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) surgically implanted to help pump their blood or received the usual informational materials about the device.
As the article noted, “Individuals with end-stage heart failure were less likely to opt for left ventricular assist device (LVAD) as destination therapy when they and their physicians were part of a shared decision-making intervention, the DECIDE-LVAD trial suggested.”
Fall Prevention Hits Stumbling Blocks
Managed Care Magazine, March 4, 2018
and
Action, Advocacy, Partnering for Falls
ACP Internist, March 2018
Both of these articles spotlight the STRIDE Study, a large multistate trial focused on preventing falls in older adults that is supported through a joint initiative of PCORI and the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health.
Articles in Managed Care Magazine and ACP Internist highlighted a a large multistate trial focused on preventing falls in older adults.
Both articles describe how the study is comparing outcomes of older adults who are provided either fall prevention strategies tailored to their individual risks and circumstances or the general educational materials on fall prevention typically given out.
The articles note that STRIDE, depending on what it finds, could help make a case for increased coverage for prevention efforts that fall outside of the usual clinical care that health plans cover.
Pitt Research Targets Depression's Ties to Drug Treatment and Dementia
Pittsburgh-Post Gazette, March 8, 2018
This article profiles a Pittsburgh site that is testing ways to treat older adults who have treatment-resistant depression as part of the PCORI-funded OPTIMUM Study. This multisite study is comparing how well different types and combinations of medicines work for adults 60 years and older who have a severe form of depression that doesn’t respond to first-line therapies.
The article quotes the researcher leading Pittsburgh’s OPTIMUM site as saying, “We’re trying to find the safest approach in terms of reliability in treatment without serious side effects, in particular avoiding falls.”
MS Treatments the Subject of PCORI-Funded Research
Everyday Health, March 13, 2018
We have invested $64 million in comparative effectiveness research into multiple sclerosis (MS). This article focuses on PCORI’s MS research portfolio. It profiles several projects, including a Cleveland Clinic Foundation study comparing treatment strategies, a University of Colorado Denver project testing whether older adults can safely stop their treatment without relapsing, and a Case Western Reserve study that will match gym or rehab exercise programs with a telerehabilitation program for patients at home.
The article also describes the iConquerMS Patient Powered Research Network, a PCORI-funded project in which registered participants can securely and privately submit their health data. Researchers can use these data to better understand patient needs and plan future research.
Study Shows Half of Patients Forget Doctors’ Instructions
The Brown Daily Herald, March 21, 2018
This article details the results of a PCORI-funded project that found that lack of participation and ineffective post-visit written communications contribute to 49 percent of patients not remembering their doctors’ recommendations and treatments.
The article notes, “The researchers suggested the use of an agenda and a checklist of important topics for the visit to ensure that all items are discussed. Additionally, encouraging open questions throughout the consultation and finishing with a wrap-up between physician and patient could promote a more organized and thorough dialogue.”
Stay tuned for more highlights of our work.