Gabriela Oates, PhD, Associate Professor, and a member of the MHERC, has received a $1.2 million grant from the CF Foundation to develop and validate the “Screener for Unmet Needs in Cystic Fibrosis” (SUN-CF). This project addresses the critical need for a standardized, disease-specific social screening tool tailored for both adults and children with cystic fibrosis (CF). The SUN-CF aims to identify adverse social determinants of health (SDoH) that impact CF patients, such as financial instability, food insecurity, and substandard living conditions.
Summary of the Grant:
- Objective: Develop and validate the SUN-CF, a CF-specific, multi-domain social screening instrument.
- Significance: The tool will address unique social risks faced by CF patients, which are not captured by existing general-population screening tools.
- Methodology: The project will use a community-engaged process to ensure the tool is reliable, valid, and sensitive to the needs of diverse CF patients.
- Sites Involved: UAB (lead site), University of Pittsburgh, UNC Chapel Hill, Baylor College of Medicine, University of Utah, Johns Hopkins University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and National Jewish Health.
Additional Information:
- Social Determinants of Health (SDoH): These include factors like financial instability, food insecurity, and substandard living conditions, which are fundamental causes of health disparities.
- Current Gaps: Existing social screening tools do not capture the unique needs of CF patients, are not tailored for different age groups, and lack input from the CF community.
- Preliminary Findings: Less than 20% of CF patients who report social needs accept resources, often due to stigma, guilt, or fear.
- Project Goals: Develop a standardized, CF-specific screening tool that is easy to use, minimizes stigma, and facilitates disclosure of needs. The tool will be tested for reliability and validity across diverse patient groups.
- Impact: The SUN-CF will help care providers identify social risks, link patients with resources, and ultimately improve health outcomes for CF patients.