Opportunities to bring your voice to research at the University of Utah

Collaboration and Engagement Team at the Center for Clinical & Translational Science at the University of Utah School of Medicine, is currently recruiting community members to bring their voice to the following projects. Community member input will strengthen and reshape the way clinical research is implemented in our community.


A Community/Patient Engagement Studio is a structured process for researchers to obtain a consultation with community “experts” - individuals who can speak for their broader community. It is designed for researchers who have specific questions and want to obtain advice on how best to proceed with an aspect(s) of their research project. A consultation on ways to increase enrollment in clinical trials and ways to address barriers/challenges would be an excellent and appropriate use for a Studio. 

Communication in Caregiver Systems for Cancer Patients

What is involved?
You will participate in a 1 ½  hours focus group
You will provide your input by answering questions related to the topic
You will receive a $50 Target gift card and a full meal 

You may qualify if you:
Are the main caregiver of a current cancer patient, OR
Were the main caregiver of a diseased cancer patient within the last 3 years

Date: 8/16/2017
Time: 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Place: University of Utah’s Genetic Science Learning Center 515 E 100 S, Hollywood Room.  Salt Lake City, UT 84102 (free parking)

Childhood Immunizations After Oncology Treatment CIAO STUDY

What is involved?
You will participate in a 1 ½ hours session
You will provide your input on the study design by answering questions related to the survey they will use
You will receive a $50 Target gift card and a full meal 

You may qualify if you:
Patient must be off therapy for at least 6 months
Patients must have been diagnosed at age 20 or younger
Are the parent or main care giver of a pediatric cancer survivor

Date: 8/02/2017
Time: 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Place: University of Utah’s Genetic Science Learning Center 515 E 100 S, Hollywood Room.  Salt Lake City, UT 84102 (free parking)

Uterine, Endometrial, Cervical, Ovarian, Breast, Cancer Survivors in Rural Utah

What is involved?

You will participate in a 1 ½  hours focus group

You will provide your input by answering questions related to the topic

You will receive a $50 Target gift card and a full meal

You may qualify if you:

Are 18 years or older

No longer under treatment

Must be available during the second half of August 2017 for a one-time session 

For more information contact Tatiana Allen-Webb at (801)-585-5287 or Tatiana.allen@hsc.utah.ed

Cancer Incidence and Deaths in Nonmetropolitan and Metropolitan Counties

In the latest edition of its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Rural Health Series, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) examined reported data in the United States to compare rates of incidence and death from cancer in rural and metropolitan areas.  The findings show that nonmetropolitan rural areas had lower incidence of cancer but higher rates of death than metropolitan areas.

But not all cancers are the same and geography can play a role in their incidence.  Overall, nonmetropolitan counties had higher incidence and death rates for cancers related to smoking, e.g., lung and laryngeal cancers, and those that can be prevented by screening, such as colorectal and cervical cancers.

The CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System collects data about health-related risk behaviors across the United States and the data there indicates that some risk factors such as tobacco use, excessive body weight, and exposure to cancer-causing agents more commonly reported by rural residents could account for some of the disparities between rural and metropolitan cancer death rates.

Evidence-based interventions – that is, addressing the problem in ways that have been proven effective – can be used to reduce risk factors at both the individual level and the population level. The report points to some of these interventions in The Guide to Community Preventive Services.  For rural-specific guidance, our office recommends resources available at the Rural Health Information Hub.

Researchers indicate that some disparities may be attributed to lack of cancer screening in rural areas, whether testing and follow-up care are unavailable in medically underserved areas or only accessible through health insurance.  The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends cancer screening as an important aspect of cancer prevention and control because it can detect cancer at treatable stages.

Read the CDC’s Press Release on this report.

Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications

Who's Leading the Leading Health Indicators? Social Determinants

Who’s Leading the Leading Health Indicators?
Webinar: Social Determinants New!

Register Now | July 20, 2017 | 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. ET

Join us on Thursday, July 20, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. ET to learn about progress made toward achieving the Healthy People 2020 Social Determinants Leading Health Indicator. You’ll also hear how Diplomas Now is working to increase high school graduation rates by focusing on chronic absenteeism, behavior, and course performance in school.

About Social Determinants

Social determinants of health are conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. Our health is determined, in part, by access to social and economic opportunities; the resources and supports available in our homes, neighborhoods, and communities; the quality of our schooling; the safety of our workplaces; the cleanliness of our water, food, and air; and the nature of our social interactions and relationships. Social determinants are often a strong predictor of health disparities—so it’s important to recognize the impact that social determinants have on health outcomes of specific populations.

About Healthy People 2020 Leading Health Indicators 

The Leading Health Indicators (LHIs) represent a smaller set of Healthy People 2020 objectives selected to communicate high-priority health issues and actions to help address them. LHIs are used to assess the health of the Nation, facilitate collaboration across sectors, and motivate action to improve the health of the U.S. population.

Webinar: Leveraging Service-Enriched Housing to Improve the Health of Vulnerable Populations

Leveraging Service-Enriched Housing to 

Improve the Health of Vulnerable Populations 

Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2017 @ 2pm CST

Affordable and adequate housing plays a critical role in creating economic opportunity and mobility, as well as improving health outcomes. Service-enriched housing for vulnerable populations, including low-income families and individuals as well as seniors, have added value, providing supports and programming that can improve access to healthcare resources. This webinar will explore the intersection of health and housing, discussing housing as a social determinant of health and the innovation and synergies around cross-sector engagement.
 

Presenter: Dr. Kamillah Wood, MD, MPH, FAAP, Senior Vice President of Health and Housing at Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF)

Learning Objectives: 

1. Understand the role of service-enriched housing as a social determinant of health
2. Discuss the use of data in the evaluation of health outcomes from a housing perspective
3. Provide examples of cross-sector engagement between health and housing
4. Validate the importance of cross-sector engagement to address opportunity, equity and health

Continuing Education Credit: 1

*In order to receive these credits you must complete the evaluation for the specific webinar within six months of its live air date. Continuing Education credits provided by Marshall Unviersity, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine

Help Me Grow July 2017 Utah County Networking Breakfast

Don't forget to RSVP!

Intermountain Health Care: Utah Valley Regional Hospital will be hosting our upcoming Utah County Networking Breakfast. When: Thursday, July 13th Time: 8:30 am - 10:00 am Location: Utah Valley Regional Hospital                  Clark Auditorium, Northwest Plaza    1134 North 500 West    Provo, UT 84604 Help Me Grow Utah presents:  Pam Raleigh Director of the Trauma Resilience Initiative (TRI) at the Family Support & Treatment Center in Orem since 2015. She will be speaking on Trauma Informed - Resilience Focused Communities.

Pam Raleigh, Director of the Trauma Resilience Initiative (TRI) at the Family Support & Treatment Center in Orem since 2015. She will be speaking on Trauma Informed - Resilience Focused Communities. 

   

A light breakfast will be served. 

Complex Connections: Intimate Partner Violence and Women's Substance Abuse and Recovery

Complex Connections: Intimate Partner Violence and Women's Substance Abuse and Recovery

Tuesday, August 1, 2017, 2:00-3:30 P.M. EST

REGISTER HERE:  http://tinyurl.com/relationshipsmatter5

Intimate partner violence (IPV) and women's substance abuse are often intertwined.  Some women turn to substances to cope with the trauma of IPV, and others are coerced into using substances by an abusive partner.  High rates of substance abuse among women seeking domestic violence (DV) services, along with high rates of IPV among women seeking substance abuse treatment, underscore the need for an integrated approach.  However, DV programs are often unprepared to support women around substance abuse, just as behavioral health providers are often unprepared to identify and respond to IPV.  This webinar focuses on ways behavioral health and DV service providers can work together to address the complex range of issues women face in trying to find safety, access recovery services, and heal from the trauma of IPV. 

Topics will include:
Coercion and women's alcohol and drug use and abuse 
Screening and engagement regarding personal safety, IPV, and substance abuse
Considerations in treatment planning
Effective strategies and evidence-based practices for supporting women experiencing both IPV and substance abuse

This event will take place Tuesday, August 1, 2:00-3:30 p.m. EST. Please confirm your local time.

This webinar is the final installment of the five-part Relationships Matter! series from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  This session is being provided in collaboration with the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma & Mental Health. Learn More about the Series.