EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR GERIATRIC PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY

DESCRIPTION (adapted from applicant's abstract): Recent rapid advances in psychopharmacologic knowledge have created a pressing need to improve dissemination of knowledge to physicians and caregivers outside the specialized mental health field who actually treat the majority of patients with mental disorders. This project will address this need by developing and evaluating educational modules for nonspecialist providers of care to the elderly with mental illness. Educational materials about the elderly are especially needed given the growing numbers of patients over 65 and the increased vulnerability of the elderly to the side effects of psychotropic medications. Phase I of the project will develop and evaluate a videotape-based educational module for physicians concerning neuromotor side effects of antipsychotic medications, a group of often irreversible side effects to which elderly patients have a much higher susceptibility than younger adults. In Phase II, they will expand the focus to develop educational modules about additional aspects of antipsychotic drug treatment in the elderly, including indication and contraindications to antipsychotic use and also materials covering non- neuromotor side effects. In addition, they will develop materials about antipsychotic drug use in geriatric populations for nonphysician caregivers. $ = TOTAL AWARD AMTS & NOT LIMITED TO PORTION OF PROJECT RELATED TO SUBJECT OF SEARCH SUBPROJECT $ = TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT DIVIDED BY NUMBER OF SUBPROJECTS SOURCE: CRISP FORMAT F FY 97 LAST UPDATE 04-07-98 1QUERY 1536 ID SEARCH 06/01/98 PAGE 17 --PROJECT NUMBER......1 R43 AG13803-01A1 INVESTIGATOR NAME/ADDRESS FY 97 NEWMAN, MARK J IRG/INTRAMURAL UNIT..ZRG2 VAXCEL, INC AWARD AMOUNT......... $99,802 154 TECHNOLOGY PARKWAY NORCROSS, GA 30092 PERFORMING ORGANIZATION: VAXCEL, INC. TITLE USE OF OPTIVAX ADJUVANT TO IMPROVE INFLUENZA VIRUS VACCINE ABSTRACT: DESCRIPTION: (Adapted from the applicant's abstract). The influenza virus vaccines that are commonly used induce both systemic and short-lived cell-mediated immunity in young adults that are assumed to have been infected previously with influenza viruses and are thus 'immunologically primed.' These vaccines are not, however, as effective in elderly adults (> 65 years). The use of a vaccine adjuvant to correct these limitations would be highly beneficial to this population and could increase the commercial value of influenza virus vaccines. Our technology is based on the use of high molecular weight synthetic nonionic block copolymers as vaccine adjuvants. These copolymers comprise the 'Optivax' line, and they appear to be compatible for use with commercial subunit and/or inactivated viral vaccines. Our immediate research goals are to evaluate a single, rationally selected, adjuvant-active copolymer, CRL1005, in experimental influenza A virus vaccine formulations using young adult and aged mice. Experimental variables will include the evaluation of the vaccines in immunologically naive and primed mice and the end-points will be the augmentation of both antibody responses and cellular immune responses. The protective capabilities of vaccine-induced immune responses will also be measured using experimental influenza A virus infections. The long-term goal is to develop one or more copolymer adjuvant-supplemented influenza virus vaccines that can be tested using other animal models, such as ferrets, and ultimately in human clinical trials. $ = TOTAL AWARD AMTS & NOT LIMITED TO PORTION OF PROJECT RELATED TO SUBJECT OF SEARCH SUBPROJECT $ = TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT DIVIDED BY NUMBER OF SUBPROJECTS SOURCE: CRISP FORMAT F FY 97 LAST UPDATE 04-07-98 1QUERY 1536 ID SEARCH 06/01/98 PAGE 18 --PROJECT NUMBER......1 R43 AG13959-01 INVESTIGATOR NAME/ADDRESS FY 97 GIPSON, GENEVIEVE IRG/INTRAMURAL UNIT..ZRG4 LTC EDUCATION, INC. AWARD AMOUNT......... $93,080 3577 EASTON RD NORTON, OH 44203-5661 PERFORMING ORGANIZATION: LONG TERM CARE EDUCATION (LTC EDUCATION) TITLE TRAINING EXPERIENCED NURSE ASSISTANTS IN LONG TERM CARE ABSTRACT: DESCRIPTION: (Adapted from investigator's abstract) The need for trained nurse assistants is increasing in long term/elder care. Although training is now required for new nurse assistants, few resources exist for training experienced nurse assistants (ENAs) who have provided direct care for 5, 10, or even 42 years. This project builds on previous research, includes research and training components, relates to training needs not presently being addressed and has potential for becoming self sufficient. Long term objectives: (a) Develop and maintain a data base on demographic characteristics of ENAs in nursing homes in Ohio and other states, (b) develop system for identifying tasks most commonly, actually performed by ENAs, (c) develop a series of teaching modules to focus on tasks empirical research has shown to be performed by ENAs on regular basis and for which training is perceived to be inadequate or unavailable to ENAs and nurses. Phase I will develop, field test, and evaluate measurement instruments, procedures and teaching module in NE Ohio. Phase II will develop student/instructor guides and self-directed learning materials for teaching module to be determined and will extend data collection and training to instructors/ENAs in at least four different geographic regions. $ = TOTAL AWARD AMTS & NOT LIMITED TO PORTION OF PROJECT RELATED TO SUBJECT OF SEARCH SUBPROJECT $ = TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT DIVIDED BY NUMBER OF SUBPROJECTS SOURCE: CRISP FORMAT F FY 97 LAST UPDATE 04-07-98 1QUERY 1536 ID SEARCH 06/01/98 PAGE 19 --PROJECT NUMBER......1 R43 AG14008-01A1 INVESTIGATOR NAME/ADDRESS FY 97 GERTMAN, PAUL M IRG/INTRAMURAL UNIT..ZRG2 LAZO GERTMAN & ASSOCIATES INC AWARD AMOUNT......... $63,775 1344 MAIN STREET WALTHAM, MA 02154 PERFORMING ORGANIZATION: LAZO, GERTMAN AND ASSOCIATES, INC. TITLE ELECTRONIC COMMUNITY FOR ALZHEIMERS CAREGIVERS ABSTRACT: The overall objective of this Phase 1 SBIR is to design an interactive multimedia advanced telecommunications system targeted at meeting the medical, social and psychological needs of primary and secondary caregivers of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD) patients. This system will network ADRD caregivers, patients, volunteer advisors/counselors, home health agencies, social service agencies, physicians and hospitals into an "Electronic Community for Alzheimer's Caregivers" (ECAC). Our aims re 1) to develop the ECAC model and system design through evaluation of the biopsychosocial needs of patients, families, respite caregivers and front-line health providers through focus groups; 2) to enhance the "Continuously Available Medical Care" CAMC) home station for chronically ill adults which has been in development by LG&A over past two years to address the needs of ADRD caregivers and 3) to develop an experimental research design for the Phase II effort to evaluate the results of the ECAC approach to ADRD. The ECAC system will include a videoconferencing link to providers, peer support groups, a sophisticated diary module, an automated medical encounter system, an extensive multimedia educational module, and a psychological diagnostic module permitting providers to detect issues which require professional intervention.