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290 Are you trust-worthy: Trust-building activities in Translational Sciences
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- Emma Tumilty, Cara Pennel, Krista Bohn, Claire Cynthia Hallmark, Sharon Croisant
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- Journal:
- Journal of Clinical and Translational Science / Volume 8 / Issue s1 / April 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 03 April 2024, p. 89
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OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Many researchers aim to build trust with communities and participants. Trust building is meant to achieve greater representation across aspects of research whether in participation, or more comprehensively as partners from design to dissemination. We provide practical guidance for trust building activities and the ethical issues that can arise. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: While trust itself is inherently seen as an ethical good, often little attention is paid to the ethical aspects of trust building exercises themselves and the fact that trust can vary in type. Using a bioethical analysis of trustworthiness, we discuss how to approach trust in different relationships and settings. Explicit communication about the supports/constraints and potential outcomes of new trusted relationships is required for ethical practice. Where relationships are built without appropriate transparency and follow through, or with misunderstandings about potential shared values, priorities, or desired outcomes, significant harms can occur in the short- and long term. Using a bioethical framework and practical examples we provide guidance on how to engage in ethical trust building activities. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: While many people are good at the trust building work they do, this work is often not shared as best practices and is ascribed to individual skill. This is slowly changing and an evidence-base is being developed that can support those new to these activities. Ethical guidance to support trust building practices, especially for those new to these activities, is currently lacking. By providing both a conceptual and normative bioethical analysis grounded in practice, we provide the foundations for new activities and the necessary support for work that explores and determines best practices. This analysis provides an understanding of trust including a taxonomy and a discussion of how different types of trust can be built and can support research activities, as well as problems that can arise. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Trust building activities with communities and participants are crucial to much of translational science and research, but ethical guidance on how to engage in these activities well is lacking. We provide bioethical guidance and offer practical recommendations.
285 “Stages” of Hope: Theater as a Research and Outreach Modality for Generating Knowledge, Understanding, and Healing
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- Sharon Croisant, Krista Bohn, Leslie Gauna, Lance Hallberg, C. Claire Hallmark, Adrian Juarez, Monique Pappadis, Emma Tumilty, Ramiro Salas, Randall M. Urban
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- Journal:
- Journal of Clinical and Translational Science / Volume 8 / Issue s1 / April 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 03 April 2024, p. 87
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OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Theater has always served as a means of reflecting and understanding the human condition. Participatory theater further offers the option for viewers to participate in and thus additionally benefit from the performance itself. We use Playback Theater for outreach and research, eliciting information to guide research, education, and engagement. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Playback Theater is a type of improvisation that involves audience members recounting personal experiences which are then enacted by a theater troupe. Playback has evolved to include storytelling as a means of expressing and understanding difficult life experiences such as violence, bullying, incarceration, disaster, illness, etc. While not intended as therapy, it has been found to provoke insight and catharsis when used by trained practitioners. We are conducting Playback theater with LGBTQ+ and African American women to elucidate health disparities related to HIV/AIDS. Black/African Americans accounted for 42.1% of cases in 2019, and African American females are 15 times more likely to develop AIDS than white females. We hope to elucidate barriers to screening and treatment to inform early intervention. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: In community engagement, we employ a variety of strategies involving storytelling, since this simple act fosters multiple positive outcomes. For example, by talking about their experiences participants might find clarity about a difficult experience, facilitating coping or healing, or even letting go. By sharing their stories, others (clinicians, researchers, other patients, or the public) can learn what it is like to go through a particular illness or event. This knowledge can be used to allay patient fears or help researchers or clinicians to develop programming that better responds to needs. This novel approach to knowledge sharing also allows communication that may not otherwise be possible. Discussions about sensitive topics are enabled, often leading to shared understanding and potential solutions. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Through Playback Theater, we hope to identify and thus be able to address barriers to early screening and treatment for African American women and the LGBTQ+ population. We are also planning an event with children with cancer and their families to better understand their experiences and needs in both the clinical and familial settings.
154 Addressing Institutional and Community barriers to Development and Implementation of Community-engaged Research through Competency-based Academic and Community Training
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- Sharon A. Croisant, C. Claire Hallmark, Krista Bohn, Lance Hallberg, Lori Wiseman, Eleanor Hanley, Lesley Sommer
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- Journal:
- Journal of Clinical and Translational Science / Volume 7 / Issue s1 / April 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 24 April 2023, p. 47
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OBJECTIVES/GOALS: CEnR plays a crucial role in rapidly translating science to improve health by bridging gaps between research and practice although skills development is critical to enable successful community/academic partnerships. We have developed a curriculum mapped to CEnR domains and competencies that meets the needs of community partners and investigators. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We located three comprehensive efforts to identify CEnR domains and competencies that we aligned to develop our curriculum, which we then mapped to these competencies. The first was undertaken by a NCATS Joint Workgroup which identified curricula, resources, tools, strategies, and models for innovative training programs. Using Competency Mapping, they developed a framework for curriculum mapping that included eight domains, each with two to five competencies of knowledge, attitudes, and skills. The second aligned CEnR competencies with online training resources across the CTSA consortium, while the third focused on Dissemination and Implementation training. Informed by a conceptual model to advance health equity, we adapted and integrated these frameworks into a set of six educational modules. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Although many CEnR training programs have been developed, few curricula are mapped to identified domains and competencies, and fewer still address institutional and community barriers to effective CEnR training. However, many outstanding curricula effectively address these competencies, and our curriculum draws from and builds upon these programs of excellence, including those from our sister CTSA hubs. Our modules serve our local community by educating and empowering faculty, students, and community partners. To date, no CEnR curriculum has been implemented at our institution that meets the needs of all parties who play a significant role in community-engaged research (e.g., IRB members, investigators, and community-based partners). This curriculum thus fills an important gap in our workforce training. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: This educational program is designed to educate and empower investigators, trainees, students, and community partners to engage in effective CEnR that promotes community projects and fosters relationships and trust. Following evaluation, we will offer the curriculum for use by others interested in using or adapting it for their own programming.
198 A Team-based Approach to an Integrated Model of Diabetes Care
- Sharon Croisant, Krista Bohn, John Prochaska, Hanaa Sallam, Hani Serag, Randall Urban
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- Journal:
- Journal of Clinical and Translational Science / Volume 6 / Issue s1 / April 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 April 2022, pp. 28-29
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OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Diabetes is related to risk for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and COVID-19. It is exacerbated by built/social environment issues, e.g., food insecurity, access to healthy foods and health care, and other poverty-related factors. Our goal is to assess the efficacy of an integrated care model for patients with poorly controlled diabetes. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We utilize an integrated, team-based approach to diabetes treatment. In a traditional care model, too little focus is on social determinants and their impacts on health and well-being. Our project involves enrollment of patients with diabetes in an intervention whereby their medical care is integrated with intensive diabetes education and provision of social and other health services, including diet and nutrition, exercise, provision of foods and nutritional supplements, and other support services as needed to achieve optimal health and to reduce morbidity and unnecessary hospitalization and emergency room visits. Subjects are underserved patients treated through our non-profit community clinic partners. We track metrics including individual outcomes, organizational outcomes, and collective impact. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: We anticipate that patients enrolled in this study will demonstrate significant improvements in diabetes control and management. Clinical improvements will include better glycemic control, improved hypertension and dyslipidemia management, reduced complications, and increased preventive measures including foot, eye and oral health exams and monitoring of microalbuminuria. Overall, we anticipate decreased frequency of hospitalizations and readmissions as well as decreased frequency of emergency care visits for treatment of diabetes-related issues. We expect patients to experience enhanced self-efficacy, increased physical activity, and improved quality of life. Their outcomes will be compared to controls receiving the standard medical regimen, matched on age, race, gender, and time of onset. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: These activities will improve understanding of factors influencing diabetes outcomes at individual and upstream levels. It will inform food distribution and models of care for improved patient outcomes, including social determinants of health and will establish new protocols for community-based provision of health care to our most vulnerable.
125 Galveston County Youth Risk Survey: A Glimpse into Our Children’s Health and Wellbeing
- Krista Bohn, Sharon Croisant, Chantele Singleton, John Prochaska, Lance Hallberg
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- Journal:
- Journal of Clinical and Translational Science / Volume 6 / Issue s1 / April 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 April 2022, pp. 6-7
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OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The 2020-2021 Galveston County Youth Risk Survey continues past efforts to characterize behavioral risks for local youth, identify disproportionate risks among groups, and provide the data needed for action and intervention to improve the health and safety of our youth in Galveston, Texas. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: While the survey is based on the CDC Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), there was community need for an expanded survey and thus a workgroup was formed to create the Galveston Youth Risk Survey, including members from UTMBs Institute for Translational Sciences, a number of other UTMB departments and Centers, the Research, Education, and Community Health (REACH) Coalition, several school districts, Teen Health Clinic, and a variety of other community health organizations with vested interest. The survey was administered in November 2020 via ScanTron and REDCap to two local high schools with populations greater than 2,000. CDC guidelines for administration of the YRBSS were followed. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: A total of 2,428 students completed the survey from GISD and DISD. The survey provided insight into the following categories, with mental health emerging as a pressing issue, specifically stress and depression, particularly among females. All results are reported in several contexts, including comparisons by gender, grade, and ethnicity, a comparison to state and national statistics when available, as well as risk trends from previous surveys. Demographics Safety, including driving, violence, and bullying Mental Health: stress, depression, suicidal ideation, and ACEs Human Trafficking Substance Use, including smoking, alcohol, marijuana, and other drug use Sexual Behaviors, including contraceptive use Body Weight and Body Image Health Conditions Home Life: Support and Security DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The report has been presented to the school districts, immediate stakeholders, REACH membership, and the general public. Several presentations have been given to groups to report the findings. Workgroups will now be formed to address the needs of our students, as well as a possible follow-up survey to look at data specific to COVID-19 and mental health.
82003 Network Evaluation of a Community-Campus Partnership: Applying a Systems Science Lens to Evaluating Collaboration and Translation
- John D. Prochaska, Sharon Croisant, Lesley C. Sommer, Neil Treble, Krista Bohn, Lori Wiseman, Chantele Singleton, Lance Hallberg
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- Journal:
- Journal of Clinical and Translational Science / Volume 5 / Issue s1 / March 2021
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 30 March 2021, pp. 81-82
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ABSTRACT IMPACT: Using network analysis and a systems science lens, UTMB’s Institute for Translational Sciences is able to quantify the evolution of REACH (its Community-Campus Partnership) as measured by the creation of new partnerships among member entities, promoting the translation and sharing of ideas and resources, and formalization of relationships among members. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: o Present how network analysis and systems science can inform evaluation of community-campus partnerships o Describe results from our experience with evaluating the REACH coalition o Summarize lessons-learned and likely improvements we are considering for our methodology METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: In 2016, we administered a network survey to core members of the Research, Education, and Community Health (REACH) coalition. The survey captured attributes about each organization, including size, populations served, etc. The survey also captured data on the relationships among these organizations, including joint meeting attendance, joint event planning, shared tangible resources, shared information, and formal legal agreements between organizations. These data were analyzed using network analysis methods. The survey was again repeated in 2018, and comparisons were made to evaluate how the network structure had evolved from 2016 to 2018. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Joint meeting attendance was high in both 2016 and 2018; however, there was evidence of increased sharing of information and tangible resources in 2018. We also observed an increase in joint event planning among partnering agencies. Most strikingly, we observed that the number of formalized agreements (in the form of Memoranda of Understanding or more formalized contracts) between agencies more than doubled between 2016 and 2018. By measuring the evolution of our network of partners, we are able to document the evolution of a community-campus partnership over time. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: Over the course of 2 years, the coalition signaled an increase in deeper collaborations beyond simply meeting together. The use of network analysis demonstrated utility and provided another dimension for evaluating the development of teams, partnerships, and coalitions.
95349 T1-T4 in 3 (Minutes)
- Sharon Croisant, Alisha Goldberg, John Prochaska, Chantele Singleton, Krista Bohn, Lance Hallberg
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- Journal:
- Journal of Clinical and Translational Science / Volume 5 / Issue s1 / March 2021
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 30 March 2021, pp. 42-43
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ABSTRACT IMPACT: The purpose of the T1-T4 in 3 Minutes program is to improve trainees’ capacity for communication of complex to a non-scientific audience as well as to ensure that our community stakeholders have access to, and understanding of, ongoing clinical and translation research OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The T1-T4 in 3 Program: ο Increases knowledge of research across institution; ο Increases capacity of trainees to convey complex science to lay audiences, funders, colleagues, and the media; ο Increases health and scientific literacy; ο Bridges gaps between trainees and potential entrepreneurial mentors METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: T1-T4 in 3 (Minutes) is an adaptation of the University of Queensland’s Three Minute Thesis competition in which PhD students present their thesis in 3 minutes or less to a lay audience. The competition enables them to cogently communicate their ideas and research findings to a non-specialist audience. Our adapted version, T1-T4 in 3, requires a presentation in three minutes or less to a lay audience, but rather than a thesis, the topics are on trainees’ research, and in this particular case, an idea for a commercial venture. The competition provides awards for the first- and second-best projects as determined by a panel of judges, and a ‘people’s choice’ award determined by a lay audience. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: This exercise is anticipated to improve trainees’ capacity for communications as well as ensure that community stakeholders and research and business community partners have access to, and understanding of, ongoing clinical and translation research with potential commercial applications. Further, the increased ability of our faculty and trainees to effectively communicate complex science to the public and other audiences’‘ including potential funders’‘ supports additional stakeholder dissemination mechanisms by increasing their confidence in their abilities to converse with non-specialists about their research, thus increasing the likelihood of participation in other community-based activities. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: To increase ITS commercialization efforts, we envision involving numerous external partners to educate, fund, and support new ventures. T1-T4 in 3 judges will include commercialization scholars from regional and national institutions as well as pharmaceutical entities and regional angel investors.
13124 COVID-19: The Urgency of Engaging during Crisis
- Krista Bohn, Sharon Croisant, Lance Hallberg, John Prochaska, Chantele Singleton
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- Journal:
- Journal of Clinical and Translational Science / Volume 5 / Issue s1 / March 2021
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 30 March 2021, p. 74
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ABSTRACT IMPACT: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the UTMB Institute for Translational Sciences has sought to answer our communities’ needs for research, for knowledge of research, and involvement in research, while recognizing that meaningful engagement involves understanding all emergent needs and responding to maximize the health and well-being of those we serve. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: ITS community programs responsive to COVID-19 include:
ο Ongoing communication with community and business stakeholders
ο Social media and public health campaigns promoting safe practices, research updates, and testing information
ο Community initiatives to increase testing among vulnerable populations METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Like sister hubs across the US, the UTMB ITS has brought available resources to bear on addressing COVID-19 through research, medical response, and public health outreach. Community engagement activities have included facilitating communication, particularly by rapidly translating information for multiple audiences and wherever possible and appropriate, providing opportunities for the patient’s voice to inform and guide development of research. We realized the community’s need for trustworthy and reliable information about COVID-19 early in the pandemic. Key partnerships with community members and organizations were critical in enabling us all to be most responsive in meeting these needs. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: ITS community outreach included developing infographics, media notices, and educational materials related to prevention and testing as well as appropriate use of PPE. These efforts resulted in an article in a regional newspaper, which was disseminated widely through social media networks. ITS faculty also engaged doctoral and MPH trainees to support the Health District’s contact tracing effort. We held several events on mental health impacts as well as discussions related to health disparities. Both activities shaped plans for community-based interventions and research. The ITS also hosted a virtual workshop to facilitate discussion around key research questions related to the pandemic. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: Throughout the pandemic, the ITS has maintained contact with stakeholders. Our roles have been to communicate, disseminate, translate, provide resources, and build bridges. We also listen, share, and provide opportunities for patients and communities to engage in all phases of the research spectrum.
32460 The Bench Tutorials Program: An Essential Educational Pivot in response to COVID-19
- Chantele Singleton, Sharon A. Croisant, Lance Hallberg, John Prochaska, Krista Bohn, Michelle Puig, Cornelis Elferink
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- Journal:
- Journal of Clinical and Translational Science / Volume 5 / Issue s1 / March 2021
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 30 March 2021, p. 7
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ABSTRACT IMPACT: The Bench Tutorials Program is an independent study course in biomedical research in which high school students are paired with graduate and post-doctoral students during the academic year. The purpose is to enhance the rigor of high school science education and build the pipeline of tomorrow’s researchers. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The Bench Tutorials Program: ο Proficiency in research design, implementation, and presentation; ο Acquisition of hands-on laboratory skills; ο Increase in scientific literacy; ο Increase in analytical skills and critical thinking; ο Career in science; ο Build the pipeline of tomorrow’s biomedical researchers METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: High School seniors are paired with graduate and postdoc mentors through a matching process. Students spend approximately four hours/week in supervised instruction and research from a participating laboratory in addition to classroom experience at their High School. Mentors design research projects relating to the larger research framework of their laboratories. In light of COVID-19, approaches have been adjusted to maintain the program safely through a hybrid method of using the high school lab for hands-on learning and through the use of Go-Pros ’s to enable our mentors to video and narrate as they conduct experiments in their own labs to teach their mentees scientific methods and processes. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Since inception, more than 400 students and mentors have participated in the Bench Tutorial’s program. This year we found a way to continue the program under COVID-19 restraints without putting anyone in harms way. Go-Pros have been essential for our program to maintain continuity for high school students who receive academic credit for this course. This program is also one of few in which our graduate students have the opportunity to serve as mentors in the scientific setting. Using Go-Pro’s will also enable us to provide teaching videos online for other academic institutions, so even in the absence of COVID-19 in the future, the continued use of these devices will still be of great value. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: High school students are afforded the ability to work on cutting edge research projects alongside graduate students and postdocs, who are afforded the chance to mentor and teach. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have successfully adjusted our methods for teaching through the use of Go-Pro technology.
14154 Facilitating Community/Campus Research Teams and Projects: Community Health Small Grants Program
- Sharon A. Croisant, John Prochaska, Chantele Singleton, Krista Bohn, Lance Hallberg, Lori Wiseman, Eleanor Hanley, Lesley Sommer
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- Journal:
- Journal of Clinical and Translational Science / Volume 5 / Issue s1 / March 2021
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 30 March 2021, pp. 133-134
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ABSTRACT IMPACT: The UTMB Institute for Translational Sciences (ITS) seeks to advance the field of community engagement and facilitate competency in community-engaged and community-based participatory research as a means of expanding team science to integrate community involvement and to assist investigators in building relationships that enable them to contribute to community initiatives. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The UTMB ITS recently implemented a new Community Health Small Grants program to promote and enhance community-campus partnerships. Our goal is to better translate science from discovery to clinical practice and public health through community-engaged research, education, and dissemination. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Applications were solicited from community and academic research partners. Community partners may include existing collaborative groups, community health centers, health departments, nonprofits, schools, social services agencies, practice-based research networks, or Community Advisory Boards. Academic partners may include faculty and/or students. The PI may be a community or academic partner. While this Grants Program will transition to the ITS Pilot Project Program, it will utilize a separate review process and scoring rubric focused on immediate and future community benefit, project feasibility, organizational fit, and other factors unique to community-based partnership projects. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: We received an enthusiastic response to our RFA, based upon a long-standing program of a sister CTSA hub. Proposals received include target populations representative of our most vulnerable’‘ children, the elderly, those lacking access to health care, and those for whom language is a barrier. One addresses the Institution’s and the CEC’s need to conduct community needs assessments to enable the implementation of evidence-based programs driven by data and metrics identified and developed by our communities. Each awarded proposal demonstrates a significant and sometimes critical need for the project. Partnerships are anticipated to have significant impacts on the community and its population. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: We generate, test, and disseminate team science, education and best practices through stakeholder involvement. Our Community Health Small Grants program aims to involve community in our scientific teams and to involve academics in community-derived projects as well as foster relationships and trust.
4309 Ascertaining the Medical Needs of Galveston County
- Sharon Croisant, Krista Bohn, John Prochaska
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- Journal:
- Journal of Clinical and Translational Science / Volume 4 / Issue s1 / June 2020
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 29 July 2020, p. 79
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OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Data were collected or abstracted from a wide variety of sources related to health and health care needs to determine the current health status of the Galveston community including:
Demographics
Social Determinants of Health
Health Care Access and Insurance Status
Poverty and Socio-Economic Indicators Impacting Health
Health Behaviors
Chronic Disease
Communicable Disease
Birth Outcomes
Mortality
Cancer
Data on Services Provided at UTMB
Data on Services Provided through the Galveston County Health District
Data on Services Provided through the St. Vincent’s House Clinics, student-led clinics operated at a local non-profit organization
Previous Galveston County Community Health Needs Assessment
Identifying Gaps in Services
Prevention Quality Indicator Data
METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: In addition to collection and analysis of secondary data, we also interviewed key stakeholders to solicit their input and recommendations. We met with leadership from St. Vincent’s House regarding current services provided, perceived issues and concerns, and needs for improvements. We met with leaders from UTMB’s academic enterprise to discuss the operation of our current student-led clinics as well as ways in which clinical practice experiences might be expanded and included more formally in the student curricula should the clinical capacity of St. Vincent’s House also be significantly expanded. This would increase the number of services that could be offered at St. Vincent’s and greatly increase the capacity for enrolling patients without relying on faculty volunteers to staff the clinics. We also met with UTMB leaders in a position to provide insight to issues that bridge the UTMB practice arena and public health and with Community Health leaders from the Galveston County Health District and Teen Health Clinics. Information Services leadership and Institute for Translational Science informatics faculty and staff were instrumental in determining what data could be abstracted from the Electronic Medical Record (without patient identifiers) to determine the specific need for services at St. Vincent’s. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The City of Galveston has a population just under 50,000. Since 2010, the proportion of elderly has increased, and the proportion of families with younger children has decreased. Poverty is high at 22.3% for all people, and especially high for children at 32.1%. Poverty disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities, with 36.5% of the Black population living below the poverty level, compared to 25.5% Hispanic, 30.5% Asian, and 14.7% White. Home ownership is decreasing, and median rent costs have sharply increased. The percentage without health insurance is considerable, driven by educational attainment, age, and race. In 2017, >40% of renters spent more than 35% of their income on housing. Upwards of 2,650 reported not having access to a vehicle for transportation. While residents of Galveston County as a whole are less impoverished, those that are impoverished share marked similarities. Lower educational attainment, in particular failure to complete high school or obtain a college degree, are correlated with race. Lower educational attainment then is highly predictive of poverty and low income. The income inequality ratio, i.e., the greater division between the top and bottom ends of the income spectrum in Galveston County is higher than in Texas or the nation and has increased every year but one since 2010. Issues of concern for Galveston County include obesity, Type II diabetes, and disability. These are exacerbated by built and social environment issues such as food insecurity, limited access to healthy foods, and food deserts in some neighborhoods. Pre-term birth rates are higher in Galveston than in the state or nation, and approximately 40% of women do not receive prenatal care until the 2nd or 3rd trimester or receive no prenatal care at all. 8.4% of births are low-birth weight. Marked disparities by race and ethnicity exist for each of these indicators. Age-adjusted death rates for all-cause mortality are higher in Galveston County than they are in Texas or the United States. Perhaps of most concern are the rates of death from septicemia, which are nearly triple that of the U.S. and nearly double that of the state, and cancer. Cancer incidence is not particularly remarkable, however, cancer age-adjusted mortality rates for many specific cancers well exceed state rates. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: With a clearer picture of the medical and other needs impacting health or health care access for our community, all stakeholders and experts can provide more detailed recommendations about prioritizing care and especially, preventive care—much of which could conceivably be provided in St. Vincent’s House clinics. Opportunities exist for enhanced practice and education opportunities for UTMB students from all schools. Preventive Care and Population Health practices can be brought to bear in novel practice settings that could serve as models for provision of integrated services. Social and other services provided by non-profit organizations can be coordinated and streamlined. It is our hope that the considerable data presented herein will enable stakeholders to begin to prioritize issues and to make some evidence-based decisions about the next steps in this process. Throughout the interview and data collection process, all stakeholders have expressed both enthusiasm and hope at the prospect of re-visioning how they can contribute to a process that will improve how we as a community care for our most vulnerable members. CONFLICT OF INTEREST DESCRIPTION: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
2316 The extra-territorial translational team: Advances in multi-faceted community engagement
- Sharon A. Croisant, Amber L. Anthony, John Prochaska, Chantele Singleton, Joseph A. Kotarba
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- Journal:
- Journal of Clinical and Translational Science / Volume 2 / Issue S1 / June 2018
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 November 2018, p. 63
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OBJECTIVES: We developed the concept of the extra-territorial translational team (ETTT) in 2014 as a more inclusive revision and extension of the team science concept. Translational thinking is largely marked by the perception of the team as a thing-like structure at the center of the scientific activity. Collaboration accordingly involves bringing external others (e.g., scientists, community members, and clinicians) into the team through limited or dependent participation. The ETTT is intended to frame the team as an idea: a schema for assembling and managing relationships among otherwise disparate individuals with vested interests in the problem at hand. Thus, the ETTT can be seen as a process as well as an object. Our initial focus was on the very successful SCI Café program (where Science and Communities Interact) conducted through the Institute for Translational Sciences and the Center for Translational Sciences Award at UTMB. We found that by looking beyond the taken-for-granted features of translational research teams, we are free to discover new ways of organizing research and community engagement that are innovative yet productive. The major area of growth, however, has been the Research, Education, And Community Health Coalition (REACH). The purpose of the current study is to outline strategies for inventorying and evaluating the emerging programs that are the major components of REACH and the SCI Café and to suggest implications for the extra-territorial translational team concept. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: The assessment of the extraterritorial team concept in REACH and SCI Café is primary a process of qualitative content analysis. We use semi-structured interviews with project leadership, observations of the actual performance of the REACH teams, and the review of REACH and SCI Café documents, for example, Quantitatively, we have conducted a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) to better understand community health and resource needs. RESULTS: Both the SCI Café program and the REACH initiative follow the principles of the ETTT concept for assembling and managing research and community outreach. The following are several key principles shared by both programs: (1) The importance of creative, applicable, and inclusive mission statements: (a) REACH seeks to facilitate communication, collaborative research, and service efforts between UTMB and Institute for Translational Sciences investigators and Galveston County community leaders; (b) The SCI Café hosts interactive dialogs that serve as a medium for priming, organizing, communicating and strategizing among the individuals involved in team science via community-based research projects. (2) Increasing scientific and health literacy: (a) REACH seeks to increase literacy through both short-term and long-term interactions; (b) The SCI Café focuses on short-term yet intensive interaction through conversations among researchers, clinicians, and the public. (3) Sharing timely scientific public health information with the community: (a) REACH seeks information from community leaders on relevant topics; (b) The SCI Café can mobilize quickly to respond to timely topics by direct communication with a wide range of stakeholders, academic as well as community based. (4) Sharing leadership with the community: (a) REACH establishes formal relationships with 23 UTMB units and 39 broad-based, high impact Galveston County organizations. (b) The SCI Café works primarily with “grass roots” community-level groups and organizations. (5) Creating resources and strategies for expansion: (a) REACH is working to expand its activities to other counties in the Gulf Coast area of Texas (e.g., Brazoria and Matagorda Counties); (b) The SCI Café is expanding its program to comfortable locations accessible to local residents (e.g., schools and libraries). (6) The value of regular and systematic scientific and evaluation: (a) REACH is conducting a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) that has already discovered major issues of relevance to community leaders including mental health, vaccination rates, food security, disaster preparedness, and caregiving. (b) The SCI Café conducts an evaluation survey at the conclusion of every event to stay current with participants interests and needs. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: (1) In order to maintain the ability to operate extra-territorially (i.e., beyond the safe organizational confines of the University), the 2 programs discussed here must maintain a fluid team structure. Different projects require different types of leadership, grass roots participation, university resources, communications/public relations, etc. (2) The strategy of accumulating and disseminating best practices appears to be one of the most valuable products of the extra-territorial team. (a) REACH’s “Offer and Ask” practice by which information of university and community resources (skills and expertise) are shared makes cooperation and shared leadership explicit. (b) The SCI Café’s interactional strategies for encouraging and enabling café participants to join the discussion/conversation are wonderful ways to convert an otherwise unidirectional lecture into a vibrant conversation. (3) Although the scope of these 2 programs is quite different, the message from both is that the principles of extra-territorial translational teams are application to all such endeavors to improve scientific and health literacy.
2533: Beyond “REACH”: The Research, Education, And Community Health (REACH) coalition as an exemplar for broad-based stakeholder engagement
- Sharon A. Croisant, Christine Arcari, John Prochaska, Amber Anthony, Brittany Wallace, Chantele Singleton, Lori Wiseman, Rob Ruffner, Tino Gonzalez, Dwayne Jones, Fredia Marie Brown, Julie Purser, Allan Brasier
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- Journal:
- Journal of Clinical and Translational Science / Volume 1 / Issue S1 / September 2017
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 10 May 2018, p. 54
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OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: The Institute for Transnational Sciences (ITS) has developed novel methods to ethically engage stakeholders across the transnational research spectrum, up to and including public health practice and policy. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: In 2014, the ITS co-founded The Research, Education, And Community Health (REACH), the mission of which was to facilitate communication, collaborative research, and service activities between faculty and scientists and area community leaders. The intent was to identify and meet the needs of our communities without gaps and/or redundancies, thus better leveraging time, funding, and efforts. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: REACH now boasts 23 Centers, Departments, and Institutes, as well as 39 community organizations, including public and mental health agencies, clinicians, policy makers, family service centers, cultural and faith-based organizations, business, and local schools/colleges. We offer 3 methods for consideration as best practices: (1) a comprehensive community health needs assessment, (2) an “Offer and Ask” community/campus partnership mechanism, and (3) Community Science Workshops, based on the European Union’s Science Shops. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Results of REACH’s work have been used to provide guidance for enhanced, data-driven programs and allocation of resources for local and statewide initiatives. The organization has evolved into an independent coalition seeking 501(c)3 status and is planning to expand its scope to 5 counties. REACH thus serves as model for successful replication across applicable CTSA hubs.