Research Interviews – Cognitive Impairment Resourse/Information Tool
Immediate opportunities available – Research begins soon, on or about June 7,
2017
My name is Kimberly Pflieger, and I am a Master’s student in Health
Communication. I am conducting these interviews as part of the research for my
Capstone Project. My Capstone Project is the final requirement to fulfill the
Master of Science degree in Health Communication.
This research is being conducted under the supervision of Professor John
Lammers, PhD, and Professor Marian Huhman, PhD, both of the University of
Illinois, Urbana-Champagne. In addition, Joanna Harrison, MscM, BSc, Director of
Access and Flow, Hospitals and Communities Integrated Services (Interior Health)
will oversee the clinical aspects of my research.
PURPOSE
This project attempts to create awareness; open the dialogue, and act as a
resource and information tool for caregivers of individuals diagnosed with
cognitive impairment when beginning or continuing to connect with home health
or community-based care within Interior Health. The following questions will be
explored:
a. When and why should caregivers of individuals diagnosed with cognitive
impairment begin or continue to connect with home health? Who is eligible
to receive home health care?
b. What services are available to patients diagnosed with cognitive
impairment, and what services are available to their family or caregivers?
Are there costs involved?
c. How can caregivers of patients diagnosed with cognitive impairment access
home health care services? Where do they go, and whom do they contact?
What Is Involved
As a member of the public, your participation would involve participating in an
approximately 15-30 minute face-to-face or telephone interview with the
researcher/student. The objectives of the interview are:
• To determine the ease of access a caregiver experiences when beginning or
continuing to access home health or community-based care by:
o Acquiring both a patient’s and a caregiver’s perspective on home health
care for those diagnosed with cognitive impairment
o Obtaining suggestions on how to improve access to, and utilization of home
health care for those diagnosed with cognitive impairment (from both a
patient’s and a caregiver’s perspective)
Participation Requirements
Participation is open to individuals within Interior Health. To participate, you must
have been in the caregiver role to someone diagnosed with cognitive impairment
for at least one year. In addition, you must be able to independently provide
consent (i.e. be legally capable of providing consent).
I am seeking six volunteers to participate in this research. If you are interested in
participating, the researcher will require your informed consent. The informed
consent process requires that the researcher provide you with additional
information, such as confidentiality considerations, research risks and benefits,
how your information will be used, and your rights to withdraw. The researcher
must also provide you with an opportunity to ask any questions that you may
have.
Contact
To express interest in participating in this opportunity, please contact the
researcher, Kimberly Pflieger at http://[email protected]
Kimberly Pflieger will follow up with you directly to discuss next steps, answer
your questions, and complete the informed consent process, as appropriate.
Thank you for considering to participate in this research.
Sincerely,
Kimberly Pflieger, RCT
BA Professional Communication
MSc Health Communication (July 2017)