Grant funds nursing research into improving patient care

The National Institute of Nursing Research has awarded two grants totaling $2.8 million to the School of Nursing to develop interventions designed to improve patient health.

Primary investigator Sandra Ward, professor of nursing, will lead a team of researchers at the newly created Center for Patient-Centered Interventions on the UW–Madison campus. Ward’s current research focuses on developing interventions designed to reduce barriers to pain management through patient education.

The new funding will augment existing School of Nursing resources by developing a base to support ongoing and new research in patient-centered interventions. One grant supports pre- and post-graduate studies. The other provides pilot funding for faculty projects. The center will also support professor Karin T. Kirchhoff’s research on interventions to improve care at the end of life.

As a result of the award, several research studies are already under way. One focuses on finding nondrug strategies that help curb pain symptoms in patients with cancer. Another focuses on preventive behaviors aimed at decreasing the risks for chronic illnesses.