DoD Spinal Cord Injury Qualitative Research Award
The SCIRP Qualitative Research Award mechanism was first offered in FY10. Since then, 21 Qualitative Research Award applications have been received, and 6 have been recommended for funding. The intent of the Qualitative Research Award is to support qualitative research studies that will help researchers and clinicians better understand the experiences of individuals with SCI and thereby identify the most effective paths for adjusting to disability and/or improving overall quality of life, health, and functional status after SCI. This mechanism is specifically focused on military and Veteran populations in the years after SCI, examining the issues, barriers, and promoters of success for Service members during the transition from initial injury and acute care through rehabilitation and community reintegration; therefore, collaboration with military researchers and clinicians is encouraged. Factors that may affect the rehabilitation and reintegration of spinal cord injured soldiers include, but are not limited to, age, gender, ethnicity, family members/caregivers, psychological health, severity of injury, type of medical care (e.g., civilian versus military facility), and co-morbid conditions. Qualitative research is a form of social inquiry that uses open-ended variables and focuses on understanding how people interpret and make sense of their experiences and the world in which they live (i.e., seek to understand the human experience). Observations that drive a research idea may be derived from basic discovery, population-based studies, a clinician’s first-hand knowledge of patients, or anecdotal data. Appropriate qualitative research topics include, but are not limited to, the explorative, descriptive, predictive, or explanatory study of: • Barriers preventing soldiers with spinal cord injuries from returning to active duty, returning home, or reintegrating into the community. • Impact of personal factors and co-morbid medical conditions that influence or mediate a patient’s health or quality of life during hospitalization following SCI. • Impact of cultural values and beliefs on the success of rehabilitation and community reintegration. • Impact of medical care decisions (e.g., choice of civilian versus military facility, treatment type, etc.) on the success of rehabilitation and community reintegration. • 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. • Factors and strategies for improving psychosocial adjustment and adjustment to disability for patients and their family and friends; the influence of family and friends’ involvement in the SCI patient’s life experiences on quality of life and health outcomes. • Impact of perceived access to care and care coordination on effectiveness of care delivery and success of rehabilitation. • Impact of aging and age-related changes in social support that may limit one’s ability to become more fully integrated into society. Preliminary or published data relevant to SCI and the proposed research project are encouraged, but not required. Research involving human subjects and human anatomical substances is permitted; however, clinical trials are not allowed under this funding opportunity. A clinical trial is defined as a prospective accrual of human subjects where an intervention (e.g., device, drug, biologic, surgical procedure, rehabilitative modality, behavioral intervention, or other) is tested with a human subject for a measurable outcome with respect to exploratory information, safety, effectiveness, and/or efficacy. This outcome represents a direct effect on the human subject of that intervention or interaction. For more information on clinical trials and clinical research, a Human Subject Resource Document is provided on the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) eReceipt System at https://cdmrp.org/Program_Announcements_and_Forms/. Principal Investigators (PIs) wishing to apply for funding for a clinical trial should utilize the FY13 SCIRP Clinical Trial Award mechanism (Funding Opportunity Number: W81XWH-13-SCIRP-CTA).
Office: U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity
301-682-5507
