Addressing Health Disparities in Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) in Maryland

Summary

The study aims to estimate Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) prevalence and evaluate health equity gaps in Baltimore and Maryland based on zip codes and race, with a focus on the Black community. Interventions will include educational elements about NPH and three layers targeting patients, Primary Care Providers, and community health workers to enhance care access. Short-term outcomes will measure referrals to specialists, while long-term outcomes will assess healthcare utilization. The study aims to identify and reduce racial disparities in NPH care access, informing intervention strategies for NPH and other surgical areas.

Conditions

• Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
• Hakim Syndrome

Interventions

OTHER

patients will receive NPH education

Patients will benefit from the Hydrocephalus Association's (HA) educational strategy for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) emphasizes patient collaboration in the development of educational materials specifically for this condition. HA has a library of assets that include PowerPoint presentations, videos, and online and print educational materials. There will be also in-person outreach resulting recruitment, website (the study website and HA website), webform (with a symptom of gait, dementia, and bladder symptoms), YouTube videos. The investigators will also go to the communities like senior centers, health fair, and churches, then we will give a talk about iNPH. These resources will be carefully adjusted to suit low-income demographics, guided by feedback from Baltimore audiences and HA's iNPH volunteers.

OTHER

primary care physicians (PCPs) will receive professional NPH education

A comprehensive professional development program for PCPs and CHWs, featuring presentations, educational videos, webinars, and tools on iNPH diagnosis, treatment, and care management. Provider Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits will be offered for in-person lectures, aiming to equip PCPs with the skills needed to address iNPH in low-income settings effectively

OTHER

A community health worker will assist PCP

A community health worker will assist PCP to identify barriers and help overcome these barriers in order for patient to access iNPH care.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Hossein Zare, PhD · Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2027-08-01

Primary Completion

2027-09-30

Completion

2032-03-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations