The National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2010-2011 Nursing and Social Work Excellence Fellowships. The nursing fellowship was awarded to Linda Grooms, RN, CPON, a nurse clinician at the Hematology, Oncology & Bone Marrow Transplant division at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH. The social work award was given to Marie Mitchell, MSW, LICSW, a clinical social worker at the Boston Hemophilia Center (BHC), Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Grooms will use the one-year $13,500 award to develop educational resources for adolescents and young women with bleeding disorders and menorrhagia (excessive menstrual bleeding). To fill gaps in psychosocial and other types of support for this group, Grooms and her colleagues will: create age-appropriate educational information for disorders that historically receive less attention, including platelet function defect and platelet storage pool deficiency; produce educational materials on supplemental iron therapy, particularly in context with a young woman’s environment and lifestyle, to improve compliance; and produce educational videos that feature young women with bleeding disorders to inspire those who are newly diagnosed and prevent possible feelings of isolation.
Mitchell will use the one-year $10,000 award to research the social integration of adult males (18 years and older) with hemophilia A and B. A prior European study has shown that this population exhibits inferior socialization, measured by work, work disability and health-related quality of life, compared to adult men in the general population. Additionally, Mitchell and her colleagues put forward a broader view of socialization, encompassing reciprocal adult relationships, plus support and interactions with community, as contributors to quality of life. The investigators will also seek to determine if the spouse/significant other relationship has greater significance when it comes to the social worker’s role in helping achieve quality comprehensive care for patients. Mitchell and her colleagues have developed surveys containing 10 social and medical areas. Study participants will include adult males with hemophilia A and B and spouses/significant others. They will be enrolled from BHC and the New England area.
All grant and fellowship applications are subjected to a rigorous peer review process. Applications are critiqued on scientific merit and relevance to NHF research priorities. They are reviewed and scored in terms of significance, approach, innovation, investigator and environment.
