# Decision Support for Older and Frail Patients Considering Advanced Cardiovascular Therapies: Improving Models of Personal Values Clarification

> **NIH NIH K23** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2021 · $160,726

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
This is a first submission for an NHLBI K23 Mentored Patient-Centered Career Development Award (PA-19-
119) by Christopher Knoepke, PhD, MSW, LCSW. Dr. Knoepke’s goal is to be a leading social work scientist
improving the methods by which patients’ values are included as they consider advanced therapies. This
proposal uses Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) as a model for studying decision support for
cardiovascular disease patients generally. Candidate: Dr. Knoepke is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who is
currently an Assistant Research Professor in the Division of Cardiology at the University of Colorado School of
Medicine. He has a Masters (Washington U. in St. Louis) and PhD in social work (U. of Denver). He works
closely with his primary mentors (Drs. Daniel Matlock, MD, MPH & Larry Allen, MD, MHS), receiving
mentorship from mentors/collaborators (including Drs. Russ Glasgow, Megan Morris, Eric Campbell, John
Carroll, and Laura Scherer) through the Colorado Cardiovascular Outcomes Research Group (CCOR) & the
University of Colorado’s Dissemination & Implementation Workgroup, and ACCORDS. Training/Mentors: This
award augments Dr. Knoepke’s earlier training by focusing on three areas relevant to patient values in decision
support:1) Advanced qualitative research; 2) clinician survey methodology; and 3) Dissemination &
Implementation science. Dr. Knoepke proposes intensive mentorship; coursework & workshops, and
contextual learning through the proposed research. Drs. Knoepke and Matlock have assembled a strong team
of local mentors and collaborators to guide Dr. Knoepke through the training and research activities. These
activities will enable Dr. Knoepke to innovatively develop decision support tools for real world care. Research:
There is a pressing need to improve the science of clarifying implementing the assessment of patient values as
they decide whether to accept advanced therapies. Advanced CVD patients are disproportionately offered
such therapies. As advanced age & comorbidity can reduce expected benefits, the need to include patients’
values in decisions is paramount. This study will produce information relevant to clinical practice. Aim 1 will
characterize the current state of practice in values clarification as it actually occurs between patients and care
providers when they discuss TAVR. Aim 2 will include the development and deployment of a de novo survey of
cardiology specialists, assessing design and contextual factors necessary to support dissemination of shared
decision making in TAVR. Aim 3 will pragmatically pilot adapt a decision aid for older and/or high risk TAVR
candidates (separately developed by Dr. Knoepke) to include findings from Aims 1 & 2. Summary: This
award’s innovative collaboration between social work and cardiology will maximize implementation of findings
and facilitate Dr. Knoepke’s development into a leader in improving how patient values are honored as they
make compl...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10222782
- **Project number:** 5K23HL153892-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** Christopher Knoepke
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $160,726
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-08-01 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10222782

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10222782, Decision Support for Older and Frail Patients Considering Advanced Cardiovascular Therapies: Improving Models of Personal Values Clarification (5K23HL153892-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10222782. Licensed CC0.

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