OpportunityTitle: DoD Spinal Cord Injury Qualitative Research Award
Description: The SCIRP Qualitative Research Award mechanism is being offered for the first time in FY10. The Qualitative Research Award is intended to support qualitative research studies that make an important contribution to SCI research and/or patient care and quality of life. Qualitative research is a form of social inquiry that focuses on understanding the way that people interpret and make sense of their experiences and the world in which they live (i.e. seek to understand the human experience). Qualitative research projects using open-ended outcome variables must be directly applicable to the health care needs of the Armed Forces and combat veterans with spinal cord injuries, including family members and caregivers; therefore, collaboration with military researchers and clinicians is encouraged. Observations that drive a research idea may be derived from laboratory discovery, population-based studies, a clinician&#146;s first-hand knowledge of patients, or anecdotal data. The intent of the Qualitative Research Award is to improve the overall quality of life, health, and functional status after SCI, to inform the development of new outcome measures, and to advance knowledge about SCI patient populations, including issues concerning specific age groups, gender, ethnicity, and co-morbid health conditions. Insight gained from these studies should help researchers and clinicians better understand the experiences of individuals with SCI, and identify the most effective paths for adjusting to and/or improving life with disability. Appropriate qualitative research topics include, but are not limited to the explorative, descriptive, predictive, or explanatory study of: &#149; Barriers preventing soldiers with spinal cord injuries from returning to active duty, returning home, or re-integrating into society. &#149; Impact of personal factors and other medical conditions that influence or mediate patient&#146;s health or quality of life during hospitalization and/or rehabilitation following SCI. &#149; Impact of care provision on the spouse and/or families of the spinal cord injured to include career issues, physical strain and injury, intimacy, etc. &#149; Factors and strategies for improving psychosocial adjustment and adaptation to disability for patients and their family and friends; the influence of family and friends&apos; involvement in the SCI patient&#146;s life experiences on quality of life and health outcomes. Preliminary and/or published data are allowed, but not required. Clinical trials are not allowed under this mechanism. The SCIRP encourages clinical trials with a focus on rehabilitation though the Clinical Trial Award &#150; Rehabilitation mechanism (for information about this mechanism, see http://cdmrp.army.mil). Principal Investigators (PIs) wishing to apply for funding for a clinical trial focused on rehabilitative medicine should utilize this mechanism. A clinical trial is defined as a prospective accrual of patients where an intervention is tested on a human subject for a measurable outcome for safety and/or efficacy. Clinical trials require informed consent on the subject, and may include identifiable information.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: CDMRP Help Desk
GrantorContactText: PA HELP:  301-619-7079; cdmrp.pa@amedd.army.mil &lt;br/&gt;eReceipt HELP:  301-619-5507; help@cdmrp.org &lt;br/&gt;