Barriers to Care and Intimate Partner Violence Screening in Orthopedic Trauma Patients of Western New-York

UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine.

New Part-Time Job Opportunity!
We are hiring a UB undergraduate student (health, behavioral or social sciences majors preferred)
for a clinical research assistant position at the UB Department of Orthopedics to learn, grow and
gain valuable skills for your future career.

Project description

The orthopedic trauma population is especially at risk for experiencing social determinant of health-related barriers to care such as lack of health insurance or transportation access, financial limitations, and language and cultural barriers, which are related to an increased risk of complications and poorer outcomes following orthopedic trauma care. Notably, similar risk factors were identified for intimate partner violence (IPV) injuries.

The aims of this study are to screen orthopedic trauma clinic patients for barriers to care and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) to more adequately describe the barriers to care our patients face.

To do so we will distribute a survey screening tool to patients in our orthopedic trauma clinics at ECMC to quantify barriers to care such as financial limitations, lack of transportation, unsafe living conditions, physical and mental health conditions, drug use, education level, and IPV.

We will use this data to develop a protocol and apply for grant funding to address the needs we identify, which will hopefully allow a social worker/counselor to be embedded in our orthopedic trauma clinic to more holistically serve the patients identified by our screening.

Throughout the assigned clinical research project, the undergraduate student will be trained by the research team in clinical research practices to assist with data collection and coding for analysis. This includes patient screening, consenting, and administering surveys to patients in our orthopaedic trauma clinic at Erie County Medical Center (ECMC). 

Project outcome

The undergraduate student will be invited to participate in the UBMD Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine’s Medical Student Summer Research Program. The summer research program is a seven-week curriculum designed for medical students who are between their first year and second year of medical school.

Additionally, the student will have the opportunity to participate under faculty mentorship in scientific writing and submitting to national conferences and peer-review journals. 

Project details

Timing, eligibility and other details
Length of commitment Longer than a semester; 6-9 months
Start time Spring (January/February 2025)
In-person, remote, or hybrid? In-Person Project (Can only function with in-person engagement)
Level of collaboration Small group project (2-3 students)
Benefits Stipend
Who is eligible Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors that have experience with basic health-sciences courses; skills in health care and research experience preferred

Core partners

  • The UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Clinical Research Center (CRC) is a multidisciplinary research team of physicians, residents, medical students, epidemiologists, biostatisticians, public-health scientists, neuroscientists, and research staff, who are dedicated to conducting award-winning musculoskeletal research.
  • Our nationally recognized research is focused in the areas of sports medicine, concussion, spine, upper extremity, total joint arthroplasty, trauma, pediatrics, and more, with the mission to advance knowledge and develop innovative treatments for individuals with musculoskeletal conditions.

    https://ubortho.com/clinical-research-team/

Project mentor

Sonja Pavlesen

Research Assistant Professor

Epidemiology and Environmental Health

Phone: (716) 829-2976

Email: pavlesen@buffalo.edu

Contact for Student Applications

Jenna Betterson

Research Administrative Assistant

Orthopedics, Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

Phone: (716) 829-3852

Email: jferrent@buffalo.edu

Start the project

  1. Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
  2. After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.) 

Preparation activities

Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase. 

  1. UB IRB and Managing Compliance - Register for CLICK UB Students.
    https://www.buffalo.edu/research/research-services/compliance/irb/click-irb.html#title_0
  2. UB JSMBS - Required CITI Training Courses: 1) Biomedical Research Investigator; 2) CITI Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and 3) Conflict of Interest (COI).
    https://medicine.buffalo.edu/orientation/checklist/citi-training.html
  3. UB Introduction to REDCap.
    https://www.buffalo.edu/ctsi/cores/clinical-research-office/educational-modules/an-introduction-to-redcap.html
  4. Additionally, the student will:
  • Meet with the study’s clinical and research team
  • Familiarize themselves with the study protocol, informed consent and survey
  • Undergo training in: Electronic Medical Record (EMR) System data extraction, consenting, survey administration, REDCap 

Keywords

orthopedics, fracture, injury, trauma, public-health