Abstract accepted for Alan Rubin and Rich Pinckney

Congratulations to Alan S. Rubin, Associate Professor of Medicine and Richard G. Pinckney, Associate Professor of Medicine for having their abstract 'Using Motivational Interviewing Skills for Learner Centered Feedback' accepted for presentation at The American Academy on Communication in Healthcare Research and Teaching Forum June 16-19 in New Haven, CT.

Debating Role of EHR Use in Behavioral Health Integration

Rodger Kessler, PhD and Juvena Hitt were featured in this article in EHR Intelligence on the status of electronic medical records in ongoing efforts to improve integration of behavioral and medical services.

Clinical Research Oriented Workshop (CROW) Meeting: March 3, 2016

Clinical Research Oriented Workshop (CROW) Meeting: March 3, 2016  

Present:  Kairn Kelley, Ben Littenberg, Connie van Eeghen

Start Up:  Post-Valentine Day chocolate stories abound

1.                  Discussion: Kairn’s third manuscript: Association between Competing Words and Dichotic Digits Tests

a.       There are three points made in the literature that Kairn could address

                                                  i.      Is right ear dominant

                                                ii.      Comparison of children with/without special needs

                                              iii.      How often do “conflicting test findings” occur – how normal is that

b.      How do the scores compare across children

                                                  i.      Test output: percent correct in each ear, a total, right minus left (4 measures) (Competing Words)

1.      Criteria exist to evaluate scores as normal or abnormal (dichotomous) based on total score

2.      2 children were “abnormal”

                                                ii.      For Digits: total score but focused on R and L ear scores, no published criteria to evaluate (although directions are given that one should evaluate)

1.      Criteria exist to evaluate, separate ears, if one abnormal, then abnormal result

2.      Either 45% were abnormal; ~22% were abnormal by a different evaluation method

                                              iii.      Therefore, Word test more specific than Digit more specific than Modern Digit, based on parental report

1.      Digits tests are more sensitive: puts more kids in “abnormal” outcome

2.      Tests are NOT interchangeable and not equivalent

3.      If the test results disagree, and digits is positive, then…

4.      It never happens that results disagree and digits is negative

a.       But if the Words test was moved to be more sensitive/less specific, then there would be children positive for Words and negative for Digits

5.      Why:

a.       Thresholds are different

b.      The tests are not very precise and include an amount of randomness

c.       Consider a critique of the Digits test

                                                  i.      False positives, overly sensitive, compared to Words test

                                                ii.      No normative data

                                              iii.      Confusion about “means” vs. “cut offs”

                                              iv.      Recommend using Words until Digits is validated and standardized (and alphabetized?)

                                                v.      Concerns:

1.      Words test is insufficiently sensitive (overly specific?)

2.      What are the comparators: Parental concerns, school placement

3.      Critique of the guidelines takes on a larger scope

a.       Statement is found to be false per Kairn’s data

                                                                                                                          i.      Reliability

                                                                                                                        ii.      Use of two SD (see Willan Gaylen, clinical path at Cleveland Clinic critiqued two SD for a clinical test, rather than finding outliers)

                                                                                                                      iii.      Right ear advantage

                                                                                                                      iv.      Effect of age

                                                                                                                        v.      Distributed randomly

d.      Next steps

                                                  i.      Talk with expert (Musyak): “I was trying to demonstrate x but the data are saying y…”

                                                ii.      Write up a critique of the Digits Test

                                              iii.      Send draft to expert

                                              iv.      Acknowledge in paper

                                                v.      Inform the editor

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

a.       March 10, 2016: (TBD – Kairn to follow up)

b.      March 17, 2016:

Recorder: Connie van Eeghen

New article by Lubetkin and Littenberg

Derek Lubetkin (former UVM Post-Bacc Emergency Medicine Research Assistant now a Tufts medical student) and Ben Littenberg (Professor of Medicine) just published this article.

Original Article Availability, Strengths and Limitations of US State Driver’s License Data for Obesity Research Benjamin Littenberg, Derek Lubetkin Categories: Public Health, Environmental Health, Epidemiology/Public Health Abstract Objectives: Driver’s license records in the United States typically contain age, sex, height, weight, and home address. By combining the body mass index (calculated from the reported height and weight) and address information, researchers can explore and quantify the relationships between obesity and specific environmental features surrounding the place of residence. We report here our experience obtaining those data and the current state of driver’s license data as an epidemiological resource. Methods: The specific state agency responsible for maintaining driver’s license databases was contacted by email, phone, or both methods for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Results: Fourteen states with a combined population of 89.8 million people indicated they could provide a total of 73.3 million unique driver’s license (and non-driver identification) data records with address, height, weight, gender, and age, representing 82% of the population in these states. Four additional states will provide data with a zip code but not the street address. A total of 52.6 million unique analyzable records from seven states has been acquired and analyzed. Obesity is more prevalent among males and those living in less urbanized areas. Conclusion: Driver’s licenses represent an underused resource for studying the geographic correlates of obesity and other public health issues. View article

HRSA Summer Pathways Summer Student Administrative Intern Program

Sarah Bryce, MS (CTS Alumna) sends this opportunity: 

The HRSA Summer Pathways Summer Student Administrative Intern Program was announced on USAJobs today.  Applications will be accepted through Monday, March 7, 2016.

The Pathways Internship program provides opportunities for current students to gain work experience while pursuing their education. Current students enrolled in an accredited high school, community college, vocational or technical program, undergraduate, graduate, or professional program that culminates in a diploma, certificate or degree are eligible to apply.

Other information including qualification requirements and application instructions are included in the job link provided below.

Job Title:  HRSA Pathways Summer Student Administrative Intern
Department:  Department Of Health And Human Services
Agency:  Health Resources and Services Administration

Job Announcement Number:  HHS-HRSA-PW-16-1636494

Job link: https://hhs-hrsa.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/430810100/

Sarah Bryce

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy

Health Resources & Services Administration

301-443-5982 | sbryce@hrsa.gov

RWJF Change Leadership Programs: Accepting Applications As you know the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is launching four new programs as part of their Advancing Change Leaders national initiative to achieve a Culture of Health. Each program will have a different focus (post docs, junior faculty, mid-career clinicians, and leaders outside of clinical practice). Selected candidates remain in their current communities and apply as teams. Please click on the links below to view the call for applications for each program. Their hope is to have as diverse an applicant pool as possible and that all potentially eligible candidates know about the new focus of the programs. The Foundation welcomes your support in spreading the word and encouraging individuals to apply. Health Policy Research Leaders http://healthpolicyresearch-scholars.org  Interdisciplinary Research Leaders http://interdisciplinaryresearch-leaders.org Culture of Health Leaders http://cultureofhealth-leaders.org Clinical Scholars http://clinical-scholars.org

Des Runyan

RWJFCSP National Program Office Director

Registration Now Open for 2016 Student Research Conference

This is a great opportunity to polish your message, practice your presentation skills and just plain show off!

Registration Now Open for 2016 Student Research Conference