Overview
Research in the Hommel lab is focused on assessment of adherence behavior and development and testing of treatment protocols aimed at improving adherence in children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorder (EGID), cystic fibrosis, and headache. This research has been supported by:
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK)
- Procter and Gamble Pharmaceuticals
- Prometheus Laboratories
The following are descriptions of several current studies in the Hommel lab.
Promoting Adherence to Crohn's and Colitis Treatment (PACCT):
The PACCT study is a randomized controlled clinical trial examining the efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability of a family-based group behavioral treatment to improve medication adherence in a sample of adolescents (age 13-17) with IBD. Other important outcomes that are assessed include disease severity, quality of life (QOL), and patient and family behavioral functioning.
Treatment Adherence and Stress in Crohn's and Colitis (TASCC):
The TASCC study is a longitudinal assessment study examining treatment adherence and concomitant patient and family behavioral functioning and QOL in adolescents (age 13-17) with IBD. The primary aim of this study is to identify important behavioral factors related to nonadherence in this population as well as to examine patterns of adherence and related factors over time, all of which will inform continued intervention research.
EGID QOL Study:
The EGID QOL study is a cross-sectional examination of dietary adherence and patient and family behavioral functioning in children and adolescents (age 2-18) with eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorder. The primary aim of this study is to document adherence and behavioral challenges these families face in order to provide targets for future intervention research aimed at improving adherence and quality of life.
Headache Adherence to Treatment (HAT):
The HAT study is a cross-sectional study examining treatment adherence in children and adolescents with headache. The primary aim of this study is to examine adherence rates and nonadherence frequency to inform the development of future intervention research aimed at improving adherence and decreasing headache severity.
Bone Health in Pediatric Crohn Disease: A Low Magnitude Mechanical Stimuli Trial (Healthy Vibrations):
We are collaborating with our colleagues at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (PI: Mary Leonard, M.D.) on this project. The primary aim of this study is to determine if treatment with low magnitude mechanical stimuli results in increased bone mineral density in children and adolescents with Crohn's disease, compared with controls. Adherence data is being collected and a tailored problem solving intervention is provided to patients who fall below 80% of prescribed treatments in a given month.
Organized Lipid Matrix, Essential Fatty Acids and Choline in CF (CF-Avanti):
We are collaborating with our colleagues at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (PI: Virginia Stallings, M.D.) and Avanti Polar Lipids, Inc. (PI: Walter Shaw, Ph.D.) on this project. The goal of the study is to determine if LYM-X-SORBTM, a novel lipid matrix, can be used as an acceptable, effective supplement to correct the metabolic and physiological abnormalities associated with fat malabsorption, essential fatty acid deficiency and choline deficiency in subjects with cystic fibrosis. Adherence data is being collected and a tailored problem solving and behavioral intervention is provided to patients who fall below 80% of prescribed treatments in a given month.
