Patients Undergoing Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Clinical Trial
Official title:
A Pilot Study of Patient and Caregiver Participation Through an Educational Health Information Technology System ("BMT Roadmap") in the Context of Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (Adult Protocol)
Hematopoietic cell transplantation (BMT), or commonly referred to as blood and marrow
transplantation (BMT), is a potentially life-saving therapy for many malignant and
non-malignant conditions. Despite advances over the past decade, which have led to improved
outcomes, BMT remains an intense treatment modality often requiring prolonged
inpatient--based care. While many patients endure the acute complications of the procedure,
it is common for BMT patients and their caregivers to experience increased risk of financial
and emotional burden, hospital readmission, and health service utilization. This highlights
the importance of active involvement of BMT patients in their own health care
(self--efficacy).
Given the intense nature of BMT, however, caregivers also play a critical role in the process
and are a necessary component of proceeding with transplant. As such, caregiver activation on
behalf of the patient plays a critical role in effective patient--caregiver-provider
partnerships, which is increasingly recognized as the optimal model for health care delivery,
particularly for those facing life--altering medical treatments. It is essential to develop
effective strategies to enhance this partnership. Health information technology (IT)-mediated
tools offer the potential to overcome constraints in health care delivery limited by provider
time, complicated health information, and financial pressures. Significant gaps in knowledge
exist on the use of health IT tools using low- cost and well- accepted delivery platforms in
routine inpatient care, especially for high- risk or critically ill populations. We
hypothesize that a tablet--based tool displaying personal health information could provide a
platform to promote caregiver activation and enhance health communication.
n/a