Palliative Care Education in Assisted Living (PCEAL) Lab
Research Projects
Research
Since 2010, the PCEAL lab research team (Dobbs, PI) has led a series of pilot studies to develop a palliative care education intervention for staff in assisted living communities in collaboration with area hospice organizations in Florida, with the goal of expanding it to other states.
Current Funded
Palliative Care Education in Assisted Living for Care Providers of Residents with
Dementia Florida Department of Health Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Disease Research
Program
(Grant No 9AZ26) Dobbs, Debra (PI). 02/01/19 – 07/31/21
Award Amount: $250,000
We propose to conduct a two-year cluster randomized trial (CRT) among 12 AL facilities
(k=12) and PWD (N=225) with a baseline, 3, and 6 months post-intervention to examine
the quality of care outcomes for PWD: 1) appropriate hospice referral and use; 2)
increased assessment of pain; and 3) increased documentation of advance care planning.
Previous Funded
Feasibility of Implementing the Palliative Care Education in Assisted Living (PCEAL)
Program.
College of Behavioral and Community Sciences 2016 Faculty Internal Awards Program.
Principal Investigator -- Debra Dobbs 02/01/2016 - 01/31/2017.
This study tested an intervention using the Palliative Care Education in Assisted
Living program at baseline, 3 and 6 months and examined quality of care outcomes (pain,
hospice use, documentation of advance directives) in a sample of residents (N=30)
from 3 ALs in Florida.
Adoptability and Implementation of the Quality Improvement Palliative Care Training
Program for Staff in Assisted Living Settings.
Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships, University of South Florida
Dobbs, D. (PI) 07/01/13 to 06/30/14
Award Amount: $7,500.
In collaboration with community partner Brookdale Senior Living, this project examined
the barriers and facilitators of implementing an evidence-based palliative care training
program in assisted living (AL) for administrative, nursing and paraprofessional staff
in a sample of 30 administrators, nurses, certified nursing assistants and hospice
nurses from ten ALs and two hospice organizations in the Tampa, FL area. Methods include
focus groups and survey data. An advisory board committee made recommendations for
implementation.
Hospice Use and End of Life Care Practices in Florida Assisted Living Facilities.
University of South Florida Internal Award - New Researcher Grant
Principal Investigator: Debra Dobbs, PhD Dates: 06/01/09 to 05/31/10
Award Amount: $10,000
The overall aims of the project were: 1) to describe hospice use patterns of residents
in assisted living; 2) describe end of life practices in assisted living facilities;
and 3) examine the relationship between facility characteristics and practices specific
to end of life quality of care outcomes.