Candidate: Gulshan Sharma, MD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Allergy, Pulmonary, Immunology, Critical Care and Sleep (APICS) Medicine who will serve as principal investigator on this project. His passion is to provide high quality end of life care to terminally ill older adults. Dr Sharma's long-term goal is to develop a career an an independent investigator in patient-oriented research. His immediate goals are 1) to study the impact of continuity of care on end of life ICU use in older adults with terminal illnesses, 2) to obtain additional training in conducting health services research with formal coursework, and 3) to particate in the care of critically ill patients. Environment: The mentorship and institutional resources available to Dr Sharma create an ideal environment for fostering his career in this underexamined but highly relevant field. Drs. Goodwin and Freeman brings considerable experience in both mentoring and health services research in older adults. Drs. Bruera and Brody complement the team with their expertise in end of life care and ethical issues when dealing with terminally ill hospitalized patients, respectively. The overarching aim of this study to examine the role of continuity of care on end of life ICU use. Research plan:
The specific aims of the research are:
Aim 1. To describe continuity of care in patients one year prior to the diagnosis of lung cancer.
Aim 2. To describe patient and physician level characteristics associated with continuity of care in transition from outpatient to inpatient setting.
Aim 3. To determine the relationship between continuity of care and end of life ICU use.
Aim 4. To examine the effect of hospitalists on continuity of care and end of life ICU use. Methods: First, we will assess both the continuity score and usual care provider in the 12 months prior to diagnosis for advanced lung cancer patients. Second, we will assess transition care continuity by determining whether the outpatient physician provided care during hospitalization in the last 6 months of life. Third, we will examine the associations between continuity score/ usual care provider/ transition care continuity and end-of-life ICU use. Lastly, we will use the operational definition of hospitalist to examine the relationship between inpatient care by a hospitalist and end of life ICU use. Importance: Findings from the proposed study will provide important insight into how changing practices of medicine in last two decades have impacted ICU use in terminally ill patients. Interventions to improve continuity in terminally ill hospitalized patients can help reduce end of life ICU use.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08AG031583-04
Application #
8113350
Study Section
National Institute on Aging Initial Review Group (NIA)
Program Officer
Zieman, Susan
Project Start
2008-08-01
Project End
2013-07-31
Budget Start
2011-08-01
Budget End
2012-07-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$119,610
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Medical Br Galveston
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800771149
City
Galveston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77555
Sharma, Gulshan; Nishi, Shawn P E; Lin, Yu-Li et al. (2016) Pattern of Imaging after Lung Cancer Resection. 1992-2005. Ann Am Thorac Soc 13:1559-67
Sonstein, Lindsay; Clark, Carlos; Seidensticker, Susan et al. (2014) Improving adherence for management of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Med 127:1097-104
Sharif, Roozbeh; Parekh, Trisha M; Pierson, Karen S et al. (2014) Predictors of early readmission among patients 40 to 64 years of age hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ann Am Thorac Soc 11:685-94
Baillargeon, Jacques; Wang, Yue; Kuo, Yong-Fang et al. (2013) Temporal trends in hospitalization rates for older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Med 126:607-14
Nishi, Shawn P E; Wang, Yue; Kuo, Yong-Fang et al. (2013) Spirometry use among older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: 1999-2008. Ann Am Thorac Soc 10:565-73
Sharma, Gulshan; Wang, Yue; Graham, James E et al. (2013) Provider continuity prior to the diagnosis of advanced lung cancer and end-of-life care. PLoS One 8:e74690
Sharif, Roozbeh; Cuevas, Christel R; Wang, Yue et al. (2013) Guideline adherence in management of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respir Med 107:1046-52
Fletcher, Kathlyn E; Sharma, Gulshan; Zhang, Dong et al. (2011) Trends in inpatient continuity of care for a cohort of Medicare patients 1996-2006. J Hosp Med 6:438-44
Sharma, Gulshan; Kuo, Yong-Fang; Freeman, Jean L et al. (2010) Outpatient follow-up visit and 30-day emergency department visit and readmission in patients hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Arch Intern Med 170:1664-70
Sharma, Gulshan; Kuo, Yong-Fang; Freeman, Jean et al. (2010) Comanagement of hospitalized surgical patients by medicine physicians in the United States. Arch Intern Med 170:363-8

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