On-line text book of Social Science Research for Health

NIH Releases New Web Tool for Researchers

A new Web-based interactive anthology will provide psychologists, economists, anthropologists, sociologists, and other scientists with the latest research methods and tools to address emerging challenges in public health, such as the obesity epidemic and the rise of chronic diseases. With contributions from international experts, the anthology provides authoritative answers to methodological questions and sets quality standards for the research community.

The goal of the program is to demonstrate the potential of behavioral and social science research, focusing on applying research findings to public health activities and the potential to enhance biomedical research. It is also a useful training resource for biological scientists, providing them with a basic foundation for collaborations with behavioral and social scientists.

see: http://www.esourceresearch.org/tabid/226/Default.aspx

Replacement activity for March 30 seminar

 “Health Information Equity”, a Conference sponsored by the National Network of Libraries of Medicine –New England Region (NNLM-NER), April 4, at UMass. Worcester, Shrewsbury campus.

Report  by Marianne Burke (replacement for March 30 CTS seminar) .

 The purpose of the conference was to bridge themes of health equity, cultural issues in access to care, and technology. The Conference was attended by medical and public librarians, public health workers, AHEC representatives and Regional Medical Library staff . Many attendees, like myself, have conducted health information outreach projects and have had NLM - sponsored contracts.

The first speaker was Janine Anzalota Program Director at the Boston Health Commission. She spoke on “Health Equity and Health Disparities”  She presented data and analysis from the Boston Health Commission demonstrating that health disparities that show up by race are actually inequities i.e.the result of structural and institutional racism and therefore a social justice issue. 

 The second speaker was Jessamyn West, a Vermont librarian who consults with rural public libraries on technology and information acess. She spoke on the continued Digital Divide.  She provided data  (Pew studies)showing that digital access disparity parallels health disparity in populations by race, socio-economic class, and region.  We discussed how the lack of computing and network resources can translate into health literacy disparities in communities.   Since so much health information is communicated at the family and community level, the lack of technology access may make the dispersion of information throughout communities slower.  Public libraries have been a great leveler providing high speed internet access across rural and didadvantaged urban regions; they are also good sources of health information.  Studies have shown that library –based internet need exceeds capacity, and that many inquiries at libraries are health-related.  

Gary Kreps’ PhD Dir, Center for Health and Risk Communication at George Mason U. spoke on “Digital Divide, Health Information, and Technology Adoption“.  He argued that access to relevant health information helps both health care providers and consumers achieve their goals.  He did not present  evidence so much as lists of pilot projects or promising information strategies, such as mobile technology health apps, and online peer support/advocacy communities, that may bridge health and IT related divides.

This was a good conference for me relative to my work and research.

Friday Seminar Replacement Activity - Apr 27th

Stress and the Synapse

Dr. Jaideep Bains

University of Calgary

April 23^rd NIH Neuroscience Seminar

http://videocast.nih.gov/launch.asp?17228

Dr. Bains presented the work of two of his graduate students, looking at neurons that coordinate an organism's response to stress.  What I found most interesting about this talk was their research showing that the synapses being studied store information differently when stresses are repeatedly applied. 

Clinical Research Oriented Workshop (CROW) Meeting: April 12, 2012

Present: Abby Crocker, Kairn Kelley, Amanda Kennedy, Ben Littenberg

1. Presentation: Kairn: draft article on Inter-Rater Reliability

a. Kairn brought a draft of her article on Interrater Reliability. Helpful feedback was provided and revisions will be made.

b. Thanks to everyone for a really great session. Kairn was able to ask for and receive feedback that will move her forward nicely.

2. Workshop Goals for 2012:

a. Journal club: identify UVM guests and articles; invite to CROW ahead of time

b. Research updates: share work-in-process

3. Next Workshop Meeting(s): Thursday, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., at Given Courtyard Level 4.

a. Apr 19: ask Amanda for a Journal Article: Brooke et al, 2009, MTA at 8 Years (no Connie)

b. Apr 26: Rodger? (no Connie)

c. May 3: ?

d. Future agenda to consider:

i. Ben: budgeting exercise for grant applications

ii. Ben: Writer’s workshop on the effect of the built environment on BMI (Littenberg & Austin Troy)

iii. Journal Club: “Methods and metrics challenges of delivery-system research,” Alexander and Hearld, March 2012 (for later in the year?)

iv. Rodger: Mixed methods article; article on Behavior’s Influence on Medical Conditions (unpublished); drug company funding. Also: discuss design for PCBH clinical and cost research.

v. Amanda: presentation and interpretation of data in articles

vi. Sharon Henry: article by Cleland, Thoracic Spine Manipulation, Physical Therapy 2007

Recorder: Kairn Stetler Kelley, MS/CCC-A

Burack lectures week of April 9th

Presidential Lecture:
"Genetics of Headache, Epilepsy and Related Disorders"
Louis J. Ptacek, MD


Scientific Lecture: “Molecular
Characterization of Human Sleep Variants”
Ying-Hui Fu, PhD

Two interesting lectures describing the identification of genes associated with particular phenotypes. Both researchers used various techniques in cluding model organisms, expression and RNA silencing to further develop the stories.

Friday Sem Replacement Activity - Week of April 13th

NIH Ethics Grand Rounds

“Should Patients have Access to Experimental Treatments?”

Speaker: Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD

April 4^th 2012

http://videocast.nih.gov/launch.asp?17198

The ethics grand rounds began with presenting the case: an anonymous phone call that was received by NIH from a woman with a progressive neurological disorder who was a subject in an NIH double blind placebo control trial. At the end of the study all participants would be eligible to receive the experimental treatment being studied. The study had been going on for several years and the subject’s condition was deteriorating. Because of this, she believed that had been randomized to the placebo arm of the trial. Specifically she was concerned that her condition was deteriorating so rapidly that by the time the study ended (at least one year in the future) and she was eligible for the experimental treatment it would be too late to help her. She was frightened and believed that the experimental treatment would be her last chance to the stop the progression of her disease – a belief that she said had been confirmed by her MD (not related to the study). The anonymous caller had contacted NIH prior to contacting the PI of the study. The questions raised by this case study were:

1. Under what conditions, if any, should patients have access to experimental treatments?
2. Who should pay for such treatments?
3. Does someone who participates in research have a greater claim to access to experimental treatments?

One of the conclusions reached by Dr. Emanuel was that participating in a research study does not cause said subject to become entitled to experimental therapies of unproven effectiveness.

Friday Seminar Replacement activity for 2/17/12

American Society of Hematology Live Webinar 2/22/12 8-9pm

Thrombotic complications in pregnancy: one patient, 2 perspectives (Hematology and Maternal Fetal Medicine joint webinar)

http://www.hematology.org/Meetings/Webinars/7725.aspx  

Moderator: Dr. Mary Cushman (Hematology)

Panel: Dr. Marjorie Meyer, Dr. Eleanor Capeless, Dr. Kelley McClean, (MFM)

            Dr. Neil Zakai , Dr. Chris Holmes (Hematology)

This webinar is a case presentation based discussion of different situations warranting or not warranting thromboprophylaxis in pregnancy. This included the perspectives of both the hematologist and the MFM specialist.

Pregnancy is a thrombogenic state and having other concurrent risk factors for clotting significantly increases the risk. Venous thromboembolism (VTE)  affects 1/1000 to 1/1600 pregnancies. Every pregnant patient needs to be screened for these risk factors and a detailed personal and family history helps us with the risk stratification. The cases were (1) Patient with a hereditary thrombophilia (Factor V Leiden mutation) with past personal history of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). (2) Management of VTE late in pregnancy (3) Patient with recurrent pregnancy loss (3 losses) with an uncomplicated term delivery in between, currently pregnant (early).

This webinar took me through evidence based indications of thromboprohylaxis and anticoagulation in pregnancy and management of these patients by a multidisciplinary approach involving hematologist, MFM specialist and a generalist ob/gyn. This was informative and well applied to my scope of practice. 

Renju Raj

Clinical Research Oriented Workshop (CROW) Meeting: March 29, 2012

Present: Kairn Kelley, Ben Littenberg, Michael MacCaskey, Charlie MacLean, Connie van Eeghen

1. Presentation: Charlie: Writers’ workshop on “Use of a decision support system to identify and resolve errors in testing for diabetic proteinuria in primary care.” To be submitted to The American Journal of Clinical Pathology (AJCP). Articles are sought for prompt publication of original studies and observations in clinical and anatomic pathology. Original papers relating to laboratory use, management, and information science will be considered. Case reports must be based on novel observations that introduce timely and relevant diagnostic or clinical concepts.

a. Instructions to the attendees: Please review this in detail like an editorial board. The authors will be in the cone of silence and try to remain there. Charlie took detailed notes but general observations included:

b. The readers are clinical pathologists, rather than primary care providers. Keep the key points focused on these interests and move them forward in the presentation of the material.

c. In a case study, the punch line can be highlighted in the introduction, to reach the reader better.

d. The data that highlighted the issue is different than the data that produced interesting measures. These can get confused for each other.

2. Workshop Goals for 2012:

a. Journal club: identify UVM guests and articles; invite to CROW ahead of time

b. Research updates: share work-in-process

3. Next Workshop Meeting(s): Thursday, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., at Given Courtyard Level 4.

a. Apr 5: cancelled for Steven Schroeder, MD: Improving Health in America – Why Change Comes So Hard from 12:00 – 1:30 in Davis Auditorium; reception to follow in HSRF 100, Hoehl Gallery

b. Apr 12: Kairn: draft article on Inter-Rater Reliability (no Connie)

c. Apr 19: ask Amanda for a Journal Article (no Kairn

d. Apr 26: Rodger?

e. Future agenda to consider:

i. Ben: budgeting exercise for grant applications

ii. Ben: Writer’s workshop on the effect of the built environment on BMI (Littenberg & Austin Troy)

iii. Journal Club: “Methods and metrics challenges of delivery-system research,” Alexander and Hearld, March 2012 (for later in the year?)

iv. Rodger: Mixed methods article; article on Behavior’s Influence on Medical Conditions (unpublished); drug company funding. Also: discuss design for PCBH clinical and cost research.

v. Amanda: presentation and interpretation of data in articles

vi. Sharon Henry: article by Cleland, Thoracic Spine Manipulation, Physical Therapy 2007

Recorder: C. van Eeghen