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The National Institute of Nursing Research
Strategic Plan on Reducing Health Disparities
The National Institute of Nursing Research supports clinical and basic research to establish a scientific basis for the care of individuals across the life span-from management of patients during illness and recovery to the reduction of risks for disease and disability, the promotion of healthy lifestyles, promoting quality of life in those with chronic illness, and care for individuals at the end of life. This research may also include families within a community context. According to its broad mandate, the Institute seeks to understand and ease the symptoms of acute and chronic illness, to prevent or delay the onset of disease or disability or slow its progression, to find effective approaches to achieving and sustaining good health, and to improve the clinical settings in which care is provided. Nursing research involves clinical care in a variety of settings including the community and home in addition to more traditional health care sites. The NINR's research extends to problems encountered by patients, families, and caregivers. It also emphasizes the special needs of at-risk and underserved populations.
The overall focus of NINR's Strategic Plan on reducing Health Disparities is to provide leadership in emphasizing the inclusion of cultural and ethnic considerations throughout the areas of scientific inquiry within NINR's domain. NINR continues a variety of interdisciplinary and collaborative efforts with the other NIH institutes, centers, and offices as well as with other federal and non-federal agencies and organizations. Many of the goals and activities outlined in the strategic plan on reducing health disparities include a focus on the social and behavioral aspects of health.
The three components of the NINR plan include: 1) research; 2) infrastructure; and 3) outreach. A detailed discussion of this plan is located on NINR's web site at http://www.nih.gov/ninr
Research Goals
NINR research will include support for culturally sensitive interventions to decrease health disparities among groups focusing on health promotion activities and chronic illness management strategies.
Research Goal I: To solicit research applications in targeted areas that will address significant questions related to health disparities
Current program announcements related to health disparities include:
á Low Birth in Minority Populations (PA-99-045)
á Centers for Research to reduce Oral Health Disparities (RFA DE-99-003)
á Diabetes Self Management in Minority Populations (PA 00-113)
Annually at least one area of opportunity will specifically target the Institutes strategic goals of health promotion and chronic illness management strategies in at risk populations.
Research Goal II: To support investigator- initiated research proposals that address significant questions related to health disparities and offer the best prospects for new knowledge and better health.
Currently funded research encompasses a wide range of topics related to behavioral and social science, including:
- Health promotion in children living in urban and rural settings
- Chronic disease management in Spanish-speaking individuals and those of American Indian descent
- Cultural variations in end-of-life care and the use of telehealth interventions for caregivers of the terminally ill
- Strengthening HIV prevention programs for Hispanics, African Americans, and Pacific Islanders across the lifespan
NINR will continue to encourage and fund meritorious investigator-initiated research that address health disparities
Infrastructure Goals
NINRÕs infrastructure goals focus on developing and expanding the research infrastructure in schools of nursing and enhancing the development of nurse researchers through training and career development opportunities.
Infrastructure Goal 1: To enhance research infrastructure allowing for an increased emphasis on projects relating to health disparities
NINR currently supports 10 Core Centers (P30), all of which have some component that emphasizes health disparities. The majority of the research infrastructure development conducted by these Core centers relates to behavioral and/or social aspects of health. The Core Centers represent diverse themes and patient populations, resulting in an extensive inclusion of health disparity topics. Centers focus on such broad topics as minority aging, women's health, chronic illness, health promotion, quality of life, and outcomes research. Examples of the target populations for the Centers include various minority ethnic groups as well as incarcerated youth, refugees, women with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations. A FY2001 NINR initiative on Exploratory Centers (P20) specifically sought applications focusing on health disparity topics.
Infrastructure Goal 2: To enhance mentorship, training, and research opportunities for minority students and researchers.
NINR continues to provide funding to minority students and faculty to work on projects with NINR-funded investigators through the Research Supplements for Underrepresented Minorities mechanism. In addition, NINR has supported a Mentored Research Scientist Award (K01) for Minority Investigators annually since 1997.
In FY2000 and FY2001 applicants for Institutional Research Training Grants (T32) were encouraged to submit applications with a training focus on health disparities in underserved populations.
In future years, NINR will continue to issue announcements specifically targeting minority investigators and infrastructure development to support research on health disparities.
Outreach Goals
The outreach goals focus on activities such as research training programs and enhanced communication and dissemination activities with an emphasis on targeting minority investigators. The specific goals include:
Outreach Goal 1: Maintain involvement with minority organizations
Outreach Goal 2: Enhance communication and dissemination activities, particularly NINR's extramural research findings.
Outreach Goal 3: Continue sponsorship of special programs and initiatives
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