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Web-Based Interactive Multimedia CBT Bereavement Support Program
- Small Business Information
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Woman-Owned: NoMinority-Owned: NoHUBZone-Owned: No
- Phase 2
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Fiscal Year: 2009Title: Web-Based Interactive Multimedia CBT Bereavement Support ProgramAgency: HHSContract: 2R44MH077427-02Award Amount: $1,185,294.00
Abstract:
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Reactions to bereavement can be personally painful and typically interfere with social and occupational functioning. While most individuals eventually adapt to their loss, 10-20% of the bereaved experience significant r eactions including major depressive symptoms similar to post traumatic stress disorder. Moreover, bereavement can precipitate other health problems. With 4 million employees experiencing the loss of a loved one each year, the cost of bereavement to America n business is over 44.5 billion in increased health utilization, absenteeism, reduced productivity (presenteeism), and errors/accidents due to poor concentration. The teaching of cognitive-behavioral coping skills shows promise as a method to decrease dis tress and promote social/occupational functioning. The proposed Web-based CBT intervention will integrate and operationalize prevailing grief theories in a cost-effective, multimedia bereavement support program. It will incorporate proven adult education a nd e-Learning instructional design principles with behavioral change theory to support employees following the death of a loved one. Access will be delivered over the Internet as an adjunct service of Employee Assistance Providers (EAP) and EAP Call Center s. It will tailor the presented materials according to the user's grief context: expectedness of the death, the nature of the death (traumatic vs. natural), and whether the relationship to the deceased was that of parent or older relative, spouse, adult ch ild, sibling, friend, or coworker. Learning and personal support will be enhanced with tailored video testimonials/stories, as well as multimedia presentation of content and self-assessment tracking tools. The finished program will offer interactive exerci ses and activities to teach cognitive-behavioral coping skills that focus on: (a) personal grieving styles; (b) normal reactions to grief; (c) physical self-care; (d) cognitive-behavior coping strategies; (e) rumination; (f) reconstruction of meaning; and (g) reconstruction of identity without the deceased. In addition, the program will include modules to address specific needs and support of: (a) Human Resources Managers; (b) supervisors of bereaved employees; and (c) EAP and Call Center Counselors. The Ph ase I prototype program showed significant effects in a randomized trial on the Internet. The Phase II product will be developed for Internet or Intranet application accessible via standard web browsers and will be evaluated with a large randomized trial. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Reactions to bereavement can be personally painful and typically interfere with social and occupational functioning. While most individuals eventually adapt to their loss, 10-20% of the bereaved experience significant reactions inc luding major depressive symptoms similar to post traumatic stress disorder. Moreover, bereavement can precipitate other health problems. With 4 million employees experiencing the loss of a loved one each year, the cost of bereavement to American business i s over 44.5 billion in increased health utilization, absenteeism, reduced productivity (presenteeism) and errors/accidents due to poor concentration.Small Business Information at Submission:OREGON CENTER FOR APPLIED SCIENCE, INC.
OREGON CENTER FOR APPLIED SCIENCE, INC. 260 E. 11th Avenue EUGENE, OR 97401EIN/Tax ID: 931093461DUNS: N/ANumber of Employees: N/AWoman-Owned: NoMinority-Owned: NoHUBZone-Owned: No
Award Information
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Agency: Department of Health and Human Services |
Branch: N/A |
Award ID: 79850 |
Program Year/Program: 2009 / SBIR |
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Agency Tracking Number: MH077427 |
Solicitation Year: N/A |
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A |
Solicitation Number: N/A |