Thursday, April 28, 2016

Clinical Research Oriented Workshop (CROW) Meeting: April 28, 2016



Present:  Marianne Burke, Nancy Gell, Juvena Hitt, Kairn Kelley, Ben Littenberg, Charlie MacLean, Gail Rose, Adam Sprouse-Blum, Connie van Eeghen

Start Up: Health care access for the deaf and blind; why does UVM not have a PA program?

1.                  Discussion: Marianne Burke’s Does Computerized Clinical Evidence Improve Patient Skin Problem Outcomes?
a.       Marianne just completed a poster presentation of her research methods.
b.      This presentation is a follow on, in which the final results are not yet known. 10 – 15 minute presentation period with as many follow up questions.
c.       The “hook” needs to focus on the “Evidence,” not the clinical condition
d.      Objectives:
                                                  i.      Engage interest in the study process and outcomes
                                                ii.      How to do technology assessment IT evidenced based systems
                                              iii.      How to do patient-oriented outcomes assessment of technology resources
e.       Problem:
                                                  i.      We need good evidence
                                                ii.      It’s hard to find
                                              iii.      The system is expensive
                                              iv.      We don’t know if it’s worth it
                                                v.      How to assess in the past:
1.      Ask doctors
2.      Ask users
                                              vi.      We know what value in health care is; how does this kind of technology affect it
                                            vii.      We came up with a method
                                          viii.      So far, we’ve figured out this much
f.       Not the details of the methods; this is the overview, telling a story
                                                  i.      Overview diagram
                                                ii.      Outcomes
g.      How does this work potentially affect how people see the purpose, value, and design of the medical library?
                                                  i.      UVM may make it the basis of The Teaching Academy
                                                ii.      May include all non-lab medical school functions
h.      Presentation looks good!

2.                  Next Workshop Meeting(s): Thursdays, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., at Given Courtyard South Level 4.   
a.       May 5, 2016: Marianne’s platform presentation and any other updates (No Connie)
b.      May 12, 2016: Ben on free text based data base to find missed clinical opportunities
c.       May 19, 2016:
d.      June 2, 2016: Amanda and Connie on Rheumatology QI Project on Opioid Prescription Management

Recorder: Connie van Eeghen

Marianne Burke at UVM Student Research Conference




Marianne Burke, PhD student in Clinical Translational Science and Kaitlyn Peper, undergraduate research assistant deliver poster presentation at UVM Student Research Conference on  April 28, 2016. The ongoing study "Does Computerized Clinical Evidence Improve Patient Skin Problem Outcomes:  A Randomized Cluster Controlled Trial" is supervised by Dr. Benjamin Littenberg, research advisor.

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Associate Professor Justine Dee, PT, MS, OCS

Many congratulations to Justine Dee, PT, MS, OCS, PhD candidate in Clinical and Translational Science. Justine has just been promoted to Associate Professor of Rehabilitation and Movement Science in the College of Nursing and Health Science.




Good work, Justine!

Quote of the day

As scarce as truth is, the supply has always been in excess of the demand. -Josh Billings, columnist and humorist (21 Apr 1818-1885) 

HT: Anu Garg,  Wordsmith.org

Monday, April 18, 2016

UVM Student Research Conference

This year's UVM Student Research Conference is Thursday April 28 at the Dudley Davis Student Center, 4th floor. There are events all day (schedule here), but the highpoint may be the midday poster session (12:00-1:30) which will feature:
Measuring the Level of Integrated Behavioral Health Care in Primary Care by Brennen Caveney (advised by Rodger Kessler) , 


DIssertation and Thesis Jump Start Camp


 


 

What Is The Dissertation And Thesis Jump Start Camp?  This camp helps graduate writers make significant progress on their theses and dissertations. Though focused writing time, short workshops, and individual coaching, the camp gives dissertation and thesis writers structure, motivation, and strategies for a summer of productive, effective writing.

 

Who Is The Camp For?  This camp is especially designed for UVM graduate writers who have completed the proposal and initial research for a thesis or dissertation and now seek structured time, motivational support, and professional advising as they progress with drafting. Camp enrollment is limited to 18 UVM graduate students who can commit to attending all four days.

 

What Does Each Camp Day Look Like?  At the 9 am start of each day, a Graduate Writing Center consultant will lead a writing-strategy workshop to help launch that day’s writing. Participants will then spend the next three to four hours writing with the option of scheduling an individual consultation with a Graduate Writing Center consultant. Consultation topics might include

  • brainstorming and overcoming writer’s block
  • effective approaches to writing a literature review
  • how to draw lessons from model chapters and articles
  • feedback and strategies for revision
  • approaches to signaling your stance and providing reader-friendly signposts

 

Following a healthy lunch (provided by the camp), participants will have the option of an another hour’s writing time or meeting in small groups for feedback and next-step ideas. Although the camp will end each day at 2 pm, coffee, tea, and Graduate Writing Center support will be available for those participants who would like to continue working until 4 pm.

 

Is There a Fee? How Does Registration Work?  All participants register by completing a short application available from gradwriting@uvm.edu. Camp is free, but participants should return their applications with a refundable $50 deposit check payable to UVM. All participants who complete the camp—attending 9 to 2 each day—will receive their checks back on the last day. Checks for registrants who do not complete the camp will be deposited, contributing to future camps.

 

Who Sponsors the Camp? The camp is sponsored by the UVM Graduate Writing Center and UVM Graduate College. The Graduate Writing Center supports UVM’s graduate writers through free individual and small-group appointments with trained graduate writing consultants. The Graduate Writing Center’s consultants also facilitate periodic Sunday Graduate Writing Retreats and are available to lead class- and program-specific workshops. Learn more by visiting go.uvm.edu/gradtutor or contacting the Graduate Writing Center’s coordinator, Professor Nancy Welch at gradwriting@uvm.edu.

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Learning is painful...

Every act of conscious learning requires the willingness to suffer an injury to one's self-esteem. That is why young children, before they are aware of their own self-importance, learn so easily; and why older persons, especially if vain or important, cannot learn at all. -Thomas Szasz, author, professor of psychiatry (15 Apr 1920-2012) 

Hat tip to Anu Garg at Wordsmith.org

Friday, April 15, 2016

Patient Contributions to Research


Here is an interesting 5-minute video on how involving patients in research works at a PCORI project in Seattle.
http://www.becertain.org/partner/patient_advisory_network/blog/archives/2016/03/08/patient_advisory_network_partners_release_video_highlighting_patient_contributions_to_research

Thanks to Jen Lavoie, patient co-investigator on our own PCORI project on Integrating Behavioral Health into Primary Care for this link.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Clinical Research Oriented Workshop (CROW) Meeting: April 14, 2016



Present:  Marianne Burke, Nancy Gell, Juvena Hitt, Kairn Kelley, Ben Littenberg, Adam Sprouse-Blum, Connie van Eeghen

Start Up: Campfire stories… but then we talked about Disney and the ability to create a system to manage the behaviors of thousands of adolescents on vacations with their families

1.                  Discussion: Nancy Gell rescued the group from lack of agenda by bringing an analysis conducted by some DPT students looking at “Home Hazards and Safety Modifications Associated with Fall Risk in Older Adults.”
a.       Baseline, cross-sectional data of home and bathroom risk hazards/modifications
                                                  i.      Assessed by in-home observation-based evaluations and self-evaluations, 1/3 of adults has a hazard
                                                ii.      Analyzed by age category (decade), safety modifications rise with age, whereas tripping hazards and clutter are flat across age groups
1.      Who are the agents that make modification decisions
2.      What instructions are given to the evaluators
3.      What are the factors not provided by the survey that may influence the results, e.g. size of house
b.      Goals:
                                                  i.      Describe environmental context of homes in older U.S. citizens
                                                ii.      Examine factors associated with clutter/tripping hazards and with safety modifications in the home
                                              iii.      After falling, does the environment change; i.e. do people act in advice?
1.      Could be a survival analysis
a.       Predictor: fall
b.      Outcome: shower bar
                                              iv.      Consider:
1.      Who lives in unsafe homes?
2.      What is the model of a safe home?  Create an index to rate safety of homes.
3.      What is the correlation between safe homes rating and fall data; case control study
4.      Survival analysis:
a.       Predictor: clutter
b.      Outcome: falls
c.       Next steps
                                                  i.      Create a standard Table 1: describe the population
                                                ii.      Adjust Table 2 for age

2.                  Next Workshop Meeting(s): Thursdays, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., at Given Courtyard South Level 4.   
a.       April 21, 2016: no Connie, Kairn, Gail
b.      April 28, 2016: Marianne?
c.       May 5, 2016:
d.      May 12, 2016:
e.       May 19, 2016: Amanda and Connie on Rheumatology QI Project on Opioid Prescription Management

Recorder: Connie van Eeghen