Category: Summer 2017 Newsletter
Webinar Save the Date! Results of Two Clinical Trials to Help People with Arthritis Continue to Work and Exercise
WHEN: September 21st 11:30 am – 1:00 pm EST
Save the date for this free webinar, in which ENACT investigators and an expert panel will discuss results of two ENACT clinical trials: the “Work It” employment study and the BOOST exercise study.
The “Work It” study examined the impact of a novel arthritis work retention intervention. Results demonstrated that the intervention was effective for preventing job loss over time. Presenters will review the trial results, pose discussion points, and discuss challenges for moving the intervention into implementation.
The BOOST exercise study tested the effect of a telephone-based intervention to promote adherence to exercise in a sample of adults with osteoarthritis. Results will be presented and discussion will focus on challenges and opportunities for developing technologies to affect behavioral change.
Presenters
Julie Keysor, PhD, PT, ENACT Center Director and Associate Professor at College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College, Boston University
Rawan AlHeresh, PhD, OTR/L, Assistant Professor, Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions
Expert Panel
Saralynn Allaire, ScD, ENACT Center Associate Director, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College, Boston University
Kelley Fitzgerald, PT, PhD, Director of the Physical Therapy Clinical and Translational Research Center, University of Pittsburgh
Belinda Borrelli, PhD, Director of Behavioral Science Research, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University
We invite Boston area colleagues to join us for the live presentation followed by a reception on Boston University’s Medical campus Talbot building. Space is limited, so please register below if you plan to attend in-person
The webinar and in-person presentation are free!
Please register here
Work It Study Clinical Trial Findings Accepted to Arthritis Care & Research Journal
We are pleased to announce that a manuscript describing results from ENACT’s work retention study, Efficacy of a Modified Vocational Rehabilitation Intervention for Work Disability (the “Work It” study), was recently accepted for publication in the journal Arthritis Care & Research.
The Work It Study evaluated whether a job barrier identification and solution generation process delivered by trained occupational and physical therapists minimized work disability among at-risk people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions. Epidemiological research suggests that approximately 33% of people with chronic rheumatological and musculoskeletal conditions are unemployed within 10 years of diagnosis, thus this question is of extreme importance for people with these conditions.
The “Work It” study found a significantly lower rate of job loss for the group that received the therapist-delivered intervention, compared to the group that received the control condition (printed materials on job retention). Given the high rate of job loss among persons with arthritis, the practical impact of such an intervention on job retention could be substantial.
Aileen Ledingham, PT, MS, PhD Completes the Doctoral Program
Congratulations to Aileen Ledingham, PT, MS, PhD who became the third doctoral fellow to complete ENACT’s training program curriculum and be awarded her doctorate in Rehabilitation Sciences.
Dr. Ledingham began her doctoral studies after years of clinical experience in physical therapy working with patients across the age spectrum. Her experience as a practitioner and practice manager both domestically and internationally gives her a unique perspective within the field of rheumatological rehabilitation.
Her dissertation, titled “Promoting Exercise Adherence among Adults with Knee Osteoarthritis: A New Look”, consisted of two studies nested in the BOOST clinical trial on exercise adherence among people with knee osteoarthritis. One study looked at fear of movement and the second explored subjects’ perspectives on performance of strength training exercises, use of telephone technology, and adherence to exercise. She hopes that her findings will lead to new information for practicing clinicians to support their patients with knee osteoarthritis to adhere to exercise habits.
We look forward to Dr. Ledingham’s contributions to the field in years to come. Congratulations Aileen!
Julie Keysor Co-Directs New Mobile Health Affinity Research Collaboration at Boston University
ENACT Director Julie Keysor, PhD, PT, will serve as co-director for the recently funded Mobile and Electronic Health Affinity Research Collaborative. This inter-disciplinary collaboration seeks to conduct state-of-the art research and training in mobile health (mHealth) and electronic health (eHealth) to improve the health of underserved populations across the lifespan.
Funded by the Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research, this Affinity Research Collaborative (ARC) project brings together researchers from colleges across Boston University – including ARC co-directors Assistant Professor Lisa Quintiliani, PhD at the School of Medicine, Professor Belinda Borrelli, PhD at the School of Dental Medicine, and colleagues with the Software and Application Innovation Lab (SAIL) at the Hariri Institute for Computing at the College of Engineering—to advance mHealth and eHealth initiatives.
Dr. Keysor is also Principal Investigator for one of three pilot projects collecting data to build effective mHealth and eHealth applications. Dr. Keysor’s project, “Development of a Novel e-Health App for Knee OA Exercise Adherence”, will explore user preferences regarding features of a mobile application to support adherence to physical activity programs among people with OA. Based on what is learned from this pilot project, investigators will develop a prototype and intervention program followed by user testing.
