WSU nursing receives $2 million in research grants

A pair of grants awarded to Washington State University’s College of Nursing brings more than $2 million in research funds.

Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington and the Community Health Association of Spokane will work with the college under a $1.3 million federal grant.

A three-person team, including a nurse and social worker, will recruit 300 CHAS patients with at least two chronic conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Over a year’s time, a three-person care team will visit half the participants regularly to offer tips to reach health-related goals. The other half of patients will receive minimal visits.

“The purpose of the study is to determine whether the care team’s interventions will lead to better health for the people who receive the help,” said Cindy Corbett, a College of Nursing associate dean for research.

The study will take about 3 1/2 years because the care team won’t have the capacity to monitor all 300 patients at once.

In another project, WSU College of Nursing and the Spokane Tribe of Indians are working with the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities to focus on substance abuse and mental health problems among its youth.

The three-year, $825,000 grant will be used to conduct a community-based participatory research project to help prevent suicides and substance abuse among youth and help them deal with unresolved grief, according to nursing associate professor Janet Katz.

Many of the details of the project have yet to be worked out.