# The SHARP Study: Developing Acceptability, Feasibility, and Fidelity of a Reminiscence-based Cognitive Health Intervention Across Three Black American Communities

> **NIH NIH K01** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $132,570

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The proposed training plan prepares Dr. Croff to develop expertise in Reminiscence Therapy, measures of
cognition and social engagement, and dissemination and implementation science. These training objectives
are supported by a team of expert mentors (Drs. Jeffrey Kaye, David Johnson, Kevin Duff, and Basia Belza)
and a consultant (Dr. Cynthia Morris) with an established history of collaboration with Dr. Croff and with the
SHARP study, the focus of the research portion of this proposal. The Sharing History through Active
Reminiscence and Photo-imagery (SHARP) study engages older Black adults in reminiscence-based walking
and social engagement to maintain or improve brain health and wellbeing. In groups of threes and using the
SHARP walking application to access routes, GPS-linked historical images of local Black life and culture
prompt conversational reminiscence as they walk within gentrifying Black neighborhoods. Dr. Croff builds upon
prior SHARP testing in Portland and Seattle and upon preparatory work in Oakland to build a Learning
Collaborative (aim 1) composed of research institutions and community organizations in Seattle, Portland,
and Oakland. The SHARP Learning Collaborative seeks to understand needed environmental adaptations,
cultural preferences, and recruitment and retention strategies to better suit the SHARP approach to each
community. This will be accomplished by each site hosting a Community Engagement Studio with 12
community members. These consultative group sessions also provide information about salient points of
interest to guide the development of 24 new routes and reminiscence content for Portland and Seattle, and 14
new routes for Oakland. To assess feasibility and acceptability of the SHARP approach in each city (aim
2), 12 healthy and mildly cognitively impaired older Black adults will test the SHARP approach, including
adaptations, routes, and reminiscence content and their mode of delivery - the SHARP walking application.
Testing will occur over a continuous period of 12 weeks in Portland and Seattle, and 8 weeks in Oakland.
Through surveys and focus groups, participants will provide feedback on components of the SHARP approach
and on the overall walking experience, as well as on the pre/post health measures administered (related to
cognition, depression, and anxiety). Finally, we will assess fidelity to the intervention across the three
cities (aims 3) via video and audio recording of intervention components and using a participant fidelity
survey. Training in reminiscence therapy, cognitive and social measures, and dissemination and
implementation science, and coupled with on-the-ground lessons learned from the SHARP Learning
Collaborative as they test SHARP in three cities will culminate in the development of a comprehensive SHARP
protocol and fidelity checklist. These two K01 products will facilitate the scalability of SHARP to these cities
and beyond, and will contribute significantly to the conce...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10949791
- **Project number:** 1K01AG088473-01
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Raina L Croff
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $132,570
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-11 → 2029-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10949791

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10949791, The SHARP Study: Developing Acceptability, Feasibility, and Fidelity of a Reminiscence-based Cognitive Health Intervention Across Three Black American Communities (1K01AG088473-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10949791. Licensed CC0.

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