Researchers are expanding a successful program that teaches spouses and other caregivers how to support a patient living with a blood cancer, such as leukemia. Newly filmed videos will feature the expertise of caregiving expert, Allison J. Applebaum, PhD, a professor and director of the Center for Caregiving at the Mount Sinai Health System.
The new videos build on a free, self-paced online educational program, Healthy Communication Practice, developed with funding from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by two professors in the College of Medicine’s Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics: Carla Fisher, PhD, and Carma Bylund, PhD.
Applebaum visited the University of Florida to film the educational guides on National Family Caregivers Day, February 21. The studio creating the program’s videos is based at the UF College of Education’s Department of E-Learning, Technology and Communications, with leadership from Jason Arnold, Ed.D.
In one series of videos, we see how an adult cares for a parent with blood cancer. He learns how to reduce distress and how to navigate online, clinical, and family communication care contexts.
The program uses a narrative-driven approach with authentic caregiver stories drawn from research combined with expert videos and a variety of instructional techniques to promote social learning and engagement.
A new sub-section of the intervention targets the distinct needs of spousal caregivers.