November 2021

GERIATRICS

DIRECT-TO-CAREGIVERS RESEARCH DISSEMINATION: A NOVEL APPROACH TO TARGETING END-USERS

Featuring: ​Lee Ann Lindquist, MD, MPH, MBA, Alaine Murawski, MSW, LCSW, Vanessa Ramirez-Zohfeld, MPH​

INTRODUCTION
Clinical geriatrics-focused research is primarily disseminated through conference presentations or journal publications viewed by colleagues in the same field. Family caregivers frequently accompany older adults to physician appointments and advocate for their care. While older adults may not question their physicians, family caregivers may be pro-active in inquiring about newer options. Family caregivers of older adults have limited direct access to research findings that may benefit the care of their loved ones. 

OBJECTIVE
Lee Ann Lindquist, MD, MPH, MBA, section chief of Geriatric Medicine in the Department of Medicine, George M. Eisenberg Research Professor of Geriatric Medicine and associate professor of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Alaine Murawski, MSW, LCSW and Vanessa Ramirez-Zohfeld, MPH, research associates under ​Dr. Lindquist , and their research colleagues sought to pilot a direct-to-caregiver research workshop with the intent to disseminate geriatrics research directly to caregivers of older adults. 

METHODS
As part of an annual meeting of internal medicine physicians, a workshop entitled "Updates in Geriatrics" is presented as a compilation of the most innovative or practice changing research published in the past year pertaining to geriatrics experts. At the meeting, these research results are presented to a highly educated audience of academic medicine providers who are highly competent in understanding scientific research.

Following presentation at the academic annual meeting, we distilled the content of Updates in Geriatrics into a lay format, which would be understandable to healthcare consumers. We then presented the lay language "Updates in Geriatrics" at two symposiums for family caregivers. Mixed method surveys were conducted with family caregivers following attendance at the workshop. Open ended responses were analyzed using content and constant comparative techniques.

RESULTS
Of the 29 survey respondents, all were female, mean age 58.9 years (rang 52-72), providing care to older adults, mean age 87.2 years (range 66-97). Respondents unanimously identified learning information pertinent to their care recipient. When asked "Do you feel that direct-to-caregiver research dissemination is useful?", all respondents selected "yes". Open-ended responses for reasons why revealed two main themes: 
  1. Creating informed caregivers
    1. "Caregivers need this information in their toolbox."
  2. ​Empowering caregiver-advocates
    1. "The more we know, the better we can advocate for our loved ones and challenge their healthcare."
    2. "Caregivers are the ones who care and who need to know what to do, why, and how to advocate."
    3. "Too many physicians over medicate and seniors are afraid to question them."

Respondents all planned on sharing information with others, specifically family, friends, and physicians. Respondents identified opportunities for additional dissemination including more live presentations, YouTube videos or podcasts, newsletters to caregiver groups, and social media.

DISCUSSION 
Translation of geriatrics research presentations with dissemination directly to caregivers is feasible. We translated the Updates in Geriatrics session into lay language and directly disseminated it to family caregivers of older adults. Caregivers found the material helpful and many had plans to share it with their care receiver's physician to advocate for their healthcare. Since they frequently advocate for the healthcare of older adults, family caregivers are a potential audience for direct-to-caregiver research dissemination.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Dr. Lindquist receives funding through the NIA R01AG05877, NIA R01 AG06842, and the Claude D. Pepper Older American Independence Center (OAIC) at Northwestern University [NIA P30AG059988].
Lee Ann Lindquist, MD, MPH, MBA is a Geriatrician and Chief of Geriatrics in the Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Her patient-centered research focuses on helping older adults age-in-place, when they develop Alzheimer’s disease, through home and community-based resources and supporting caregivers. She has extensive experience partnering in research with community organizations and community members for recruitment, study implementation, data collection, and dissemination. ​

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