Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN) Families' Mobile Distance Connections to Care Research

Mobile Technologies Assisting Patients & Family Caregivers in Healthy Living

The purpose of this study is to test Mobile Technologies in Assisting Patients & Family Caregivers in Healthy Living and complex home care by connecting to information and professionals from a distance.

HPN (Home Parenteral Nutrition) families with TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition) users are typically geographically distant from one another (peers) as well as professional providers. Real-time mobile access to health related information, peer and professional support will be tested in this study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 13 years or older total parenteral nutrition (TPN) patients/users and family members/caregivers (defined as those individuals involved in daily home HPN care)
• TPN users (also called HPN users) must be receiving intravenous nutrition for a non-malignant short bowel disorder
• Read, write, speak English and provide informed consent
• Be able to participate in group clinic visits

Exclusion Criteria:

• enteral nutrition dependency only
• less than 13 years of age
• 13 through 17 years of age without parental consent
• currently enrolled in an intervention study or HPN management program
• severe cognitive impairment
• disability disorders (e.g. blindness which cannot be accommodated for active participation in the group clinics