# A web-based program to improve chronic illness self-management by engaging patients and informal caregivers

> **NIH VA I01** · VETERANS ADMIN PALO ALTO HEALTH CARE SYS · 2023 · —

## Abstract

Background: For the 80% of older Americans who have at least one chronic condition, sharing self-
management responsibilities with caregivers (relatives or friends) predicts longevity, better health, better
quality of life, and fewer hospitalizations. Caregivers often support patients in their self-management efforts.
This can bring patients and caregivers closer but can also generate stress for both that can interfere with self-
management. Yet, self-management programs rarely support the coping needs of patient-caregiver dyads.
Significance: There are more than 5 million caregivers of Veterans; 75% of older Veterans receive some
caregiver support. Caregivers incur individual financial and emotional costs even as they provide unpaid care.
Having an effective self-management strategy that addresses the needs of both can improve outcomes and
quality of life for millions of Veterans who suffer from chronic illnesses and their caregivers. This project
addresses the priorities “Long-term care and Caregiving,” “Virtual Care/Telehealth,” and “Access to Care” and
is consistent with the legislative goals of the MISSION Act.
Innovation and Impact: This highly innovative proposal uses the novel concept that strengthening the
interpersonal relationships between Veterans and caregivers can improve the self-management of chronic
conditions. It challenges current clinical paradigms by addressing the collective stress coping needs of dyads.
It is methodologically innovative because unlike many behavioral intervention trials, it assesses barriers and
facilitators to plan for future implementation. Our focus on technology-enabled tools is timely given how
COVID19 has transformed care delivery. This project takes advantage of the unique capabilities of the VA
health system to explore questions including robust caregiver support and virtual care programs.
Specific Aims: With investments from VA HSR&D, we have developed and successfully pilot tested a new
theoretically-derived technology called Web-based Self-care Using Collaborative Coping EnhancEment in
Diseases (web-SUCCEED). We propose to conduct a randomized clinical trial comparing web-SUCCEED to
an enhanced usual care (EUC) control. We will conduct a formative evaluation guided by the Consolidated
Framework of Implementation Research (CFIR) to accelerate future implementation.
1. Assess whether web-SUCCEED improves Veteran outcomes of self-management compared to EUC, 4
weeks and 6 months following randomization.
2a. Assess whether web-SUCCEED improves patient stress and quality of life.
2b. Assess whether web-SUCCEED improves caregiver stress, quality of life and caregiver burden.
2c. Examine communication, dyadic coping, mutuality, and relationship quality as mediators of primary and
secondary outcomes (Aims 1, 2a, 2b).
3. Guided by CFIR, conduct a formative evaluation involving key stakeholder interviews to understand barriers
and facilitators of future implementation.
Methodology: We will recruit 280 cogni...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10316433
- **Project number:** 1I01HX002941-01A2
- **Recipient organization:** VETERANS ADMIN PALO ALTO HEALTH CARE SYS
- **Principal Investigator:** Ranak Trivedi
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-10-01 → 2027-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10316433

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10316433, A web-based program to improve chronic illness self-management by engaging patients and informal caregivers (1I01HX002941-01A2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10316433. Licensed CC0.

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