# SMYLS: A Self-Management Program for Youth Living with Sickle Cell Disease

> **NIH NIH K23** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 2020 · $141,959

## Abstract

The long-term objectives of this K23: Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award are
to develop the candidate, Dr. Shannon Phillips, into an independent investigator and prepare her to lead large,
rigorously designed, randomized clinical trials with the goal of improving symptoms self-management in
children, adolescents, and young adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) and their families. Individuals with SCD
often live with burdensome symptoms, such as acute and chronic pain and fatigue. Further, as children with
SCD transition into adolescence and adulthood, comorbidities and rates of healthcare utilization increase.
Scalable self-management interventions that promote preventive care and reduce comorbidities are critical to
improving symptom and self-management, quality of life, and healthcare utilization, consistent with the
mission of the National Institutes for Nursing Research. The proposed career development plan was
developed with Dr. Teresa Kelechi, primary mentor, and the candidate's mentorship team of experts in
communication, technology, statistics and chronic conditions in special populations. The plan builds on the
candidate's previous clinical nursing, educational, and research experience to accomplish the following
training-specific aims: 1. Develop expertise in designing interventions to facilitate symptom and self-
management; 2. Attain skills and knowledge to conduct rigorous, randomized clinical trials; 3. Enhance
knowledge of applying mHealth strategies to reach special populations; 4. Further develop skills as a scholar,
including developing and sustaining collaborative, interdisciplinary relationships; and 5. Develop a sustainable
program of research with funding as an independent nurse scientist. Goals will be accomplished through the
following training methods: one-on-one, hands-on experience with mentors; participation in local and
national conferences, workshops, and institutes; and formal coursework. Outcomes of training will include
published manuscripts relevant to the application topic, presentations at local and national conferences, and an
NIH R01 submission. The candidate will apply skills obtained during training to the conduct of a pilot study to
assess the feasibility of an mHealth intervention for facilitating self-management behaviors in adolescents with
SCD. Estimates of variability for measures of transition readiness, physical and psychological symptoms,
healthcare utilization, and quality of life will also be obtained. A key focus of the intervention will be on
patient-provider communication effectiveness pertaining to self-management development. Training activities
and research will take place at a research-intensive institution with extensive resources devoted to early career
investigators, including those offered via the CTSA, such as the Technology Applications Center for Healthful
Lifestyles and the Special Populations Program. At the conclusion of this award, the candidate will hav...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9918475
- **Project number:** 5K23NR017899-02
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **Principal Investigator:** Shannon M. Phillips
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $141,959
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-04-18 → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9918475

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9918475, SMYLS: A Self-Management Program for Youth Living with Sickle Cell Disease (5K23NR017899-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9918475. Licensed CC0.

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