Committee

Project Title: Head and Neck Cancer Survivor Project: From Individuals to Communities and Back

Co-Leaders

Giselle Mann, PhD, MPH, B.App Sci, PGrad Dip (Hlth Sci)
Associate Professor
Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health

Gwenda Creel, MHS., PT
Lecturer and Coordinator of Clinical Education
Department of Physical Therapy

RA

Leanne Kaye, RD, MPH
PhD candidate at UNC

Outcome

Comprehensive - Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)focuses analysis of current services and needs for the UF/Shands head neck cancer clinic, and the development of a preemptive model of rehabilitative allied health services for trialing.

The team analyzed current services and needs for patients of the UF/Shands head neck cancer clinic using a comprehensive CBPR approach that included interviewing patients and conducting focus groups with caregivers, community stakeholders and health providers. The researchers used the information to develop a rehabilitation services care model that begins at the patient's diagnosis and continues to at least two years after treatment. The team is now testing that model as the next phase of their research.

[play audio file][download slides]

Project Title: Quality of Life Among Individuals Impacted by Gynecologic Malignancies with Poor Prognoses

Principal Investigator

Deidre Pereira, PhD, PI
Assistant Professor
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology

Co-Investigators

Michelle Bishop, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
Departments of Clinical and Health Pyschology, Behavioral Science and Community Health, and Medicine

Ellen D.S. Lopez, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor
Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health

Outcome

The research team investigated quality of life issues for women with gynecological cancer, and their caregivers. The study employed a research method called Photovoice that provides cameras to participants so that they can record, discuss and relate the reality of their lives. The researchers found that Photovoice was feasible and enjoyable for participants and it helped them give voice to quality of life issues that haven't previously been reported in the literature. Future research will include modifying the Photovoice technique to meet the unique needs of patients and caregivers in a tertiary setting, and examining whether this technique can improve quality of life for patients and caregivers and improve the public health context in which patients with gynecological cancers are treated.

[play audio file][download slides]

Project Title: Identifying Critical Driving Errors from the Florida Traffic Crash Records Database to Inform Occupational Therapy Driving Practice

Co-PI

Sherrilene Classen, PhD, MPH, OTR/L
Director: Institute for Mobility, Activity and Participation (I-MAP)
Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Affiliate Assistant Professor, Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health

PI

Orit Shechtman, PhD, OTR/L
Associate Professor
Department of Occupational Therapy

Collaborators

Yongsung Joo, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Kezia Awadzi

Desiree N. Lanford

Outcome

Manuscript: Classen, S., Shechtman, O., Awadzi, K., Lanford, D., & Joo, Y. Traffic Violationsv vs. Driving Errors: Informing Clinical Practice.
American Journal of Occupational Therapy. In press (April/May 2010).

Certain driving errors are predictive of crashes but it is unknown if the type of errors evaluated during on-road assessment is similar to traffic violations that are associated with crashes. Using the crash data of 5,345 older drivers and expert reviewers we contructed a violation-to-error classification based on rater agreement. We examined the effects of predictor variables on crash related injuries by risk probability using logistic regression.

[play audio file][download slides][download abstract]

Project Title: Family Lifestyle Intervention Program (FLIP for Kids)

Co-Leaders

David Janicke, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology

Tracey Barnett, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health

Ellen Lopez, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor
Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health

Outcome

This collaboration was designed as a service project for local rural communities. In collaboration with the Health Department in Levy County, we implemented a healthy lifestyle program for children, ages 6 to 12 years, and their parents. The program emphasized increasing health dietary habits and physical activity, as well as reducing sedentary activities. The program involved eight group-based sessions for children and their parents. Graduate students from the Department of Clinical and Health Pyschology and the Behavioral Science and Community Health Department served as group leaders. Parents and children expressed significant satisfaction with, and appreciation for, the program. At the end of the program many families expressed the wish that the program was longer than eight sessions. There were many lessons learned about enhancing group-based treatment sessions which will be implemented in future programs. We believe the academic and community relationships forged during the program will set the stage for on-going and new collaborations. Such partnerships will focus on developing community-based interventions and research endeavors in areas that are deemed prirorities on a local, state and national level.

[play audio file]