Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion
Carolyn Thorpe, PhD, MPH
CHERP COIN Investigator
Associate Professor, Eshelman School of Pharmacy at the University of North Carolina
Profile
Carolyn T. Thorpe, PhD, MPH is Principal Investigator (PI) on a study of "Medication Oversupply and Outcomes in Patients with Diabetes," funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. She is Co-Investigator on "Guideline Adherence and Short/Long-term Health Outcomes in Patients with Diabetes" funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Here research interests include medication adherence and quality medication prescribing in older and chronically ill adults. Dr. Thorpe currently examines possible health risks of accumulating excess medication in older diabetes patients with co-morbidity, and outcomes of different medication regimens used to treat diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with different types of co-morbidity. She is interested in developing interventions to improve medication adherence by patients and/or family caregivers and provider prescribing in older, frail adults with diabetes and other chronic conditions.
Dr. Thorpe completed a VA HSR&D Post-doctoral Research fellowship at the Center for Health Services Research, Durham VA Medical Center after obtaining her PhD in Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of North Carolina, her MPH at George Washington University, and her BA at the University of Michigan.
Funded Research
Use and costs of low-value health services by Veterans in VA and non-VA settings (IIR 19-089) as Principal Investigator
De-Intensifying Unnecessary Medication in VA CLC Residents Nearing End of Life (IIR 14-306) as Principal Investigator
Published Research
Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Medical Treatment of Opioid Use Disorders Within the VA Healthcare System Following Non-Fatal Opioid Overdose. J Gen Intern Med (2020)Incidence and Predictors of Aspirin Discontinuation in Older Adult Veteran Nursing Home Residents at End of Life. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (2020)
Central nervous system medication burden and serious falls in older nursing home residents. J Am Geriatr Soc. (2017)
Facilitating healthy coping in patients with diabetes: A systematic review. The Diabetes Educ (2013)
Brand-name prescription drug use among diabetes patients in the VA and Medicare Part D. Ann Intern Med (2013)
The impact of family caregivers on potentially inappropriate medication use in non-institutionalized older adults with dementia. Am J Geriatr Pharmacother (2012)
Research Areas
- Accumulation of Excess Medications
