Training & Dissemination

Overview

Why is this activity needed?

Knowledge gained from this RRTC program of research will be delivered to meet targeted training needs of providers and researchers, as well as consumers, payers and policy makers.

How will this study help patients and rehabilitation stakeholders?

Disseminating information about the knowledge gained through the RRTC's research will provide key rehabilitation stakeholders with the latest information about rehabilitation outcomes and effectiveness.

What are the project objectives?

Collectively, these projects seek to:

  • Improve capacity to conduct rigorous medical rehabilitation outcomes research by providing a coordinated and advanced program of training in medical rehabilitation research that is aimed at increasing the number of qualified researchers working in the area of medical rehabilitation outcomes research
  • Develop and disseminate high quality curricular materials on rehabilitation outcomes research
  • Mentor, guide and supervise researchers from across the nation in developing rehabilitation research-related skills
  • Provide consultative services and on-line materials to help medical rehabilitation clinicians, researchers, and policymakers access the knowledge generated by investigators affiliated with this Center, as well as other rehabilitation researchers worldwide.

How will the project objectives be achieved?

The RRTC's training activities will be coordinated by the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Northwestern University, Washington University, and the University of Illinois-Chicago. In addition, we will work with the National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research at the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory to enhance the usability of information provided through the training and dissemination projects.

Training Projects

  • T1: Summer Institute on Measuring Rehabilitation Outcomes- The Institute will provide an introduction to medical rehabilitation researchers who desire to develop skills in measurement. This course will cover IRT, CAT methods, application to PROMIS including the Assessment Center (a free, online, dynamic application that allows researchers to centralize research activities), Rasch theory, instrument development, and related measurement and analysis tools.    
  • T2: Professional Association Pre-conference Workshops- These workshops will summarize the information presented at the Summer Institute series in half-day or day-long courses for presentation at professional meetings. 
  • T3: Clinical Outcomes Measurement Courses- Courses on Patient-reported Outcomes, Minimally Important Differences, Item Response Theory, Computerized Adaptive Testing, Survey Design and Methodology, and Clinical Outcomes Research   
  • T4: Quarterly Measurement Workshops- These workshops will consist of a live discussion of measurement theory and analysis during the regularly scheduled post-doctoral fellows’ meeting at the Northwestern University ’s Institute for Healthcare Studies. Topics for these workshops will include: Rasch measurement, PROMIS Assessment Center , NeuroQOL project, NIH Toolbox, and related topics. 
  • T5: NIDRR Invited Lectureship in Outcomes Research- The NIDRR Invited Lectureships will occur twice a year. A lecturer will be invited to provide in-depth consultation on a particular measurement topic.
  • T6: Fellowship in rehabilitation health services research- This RRTC will provide a comprehensive, 2-year program to 2 fellows.

    The objectives of the fellowship are to provide high-quality training in rehabilitation-relevant health services research including state-of-the art experience in planning and conducting research on rehabilitation outcomes, develop a cadre of researchers who are capable of competing for research grants, make special efforts to reach students with disabilities and from minority backgrounds, provide a structured opportunity to participate in the full range of research-related activities including instrument development, data collection, data entry, data analysis, and publication, facilitate the production of written manuscripts for publication in the professional literature, and develop grant writing skills.

  • T7: State of the Science Conference on Building Rehabilitation Research Capacity- This conference aims to build on the 2005 capacity building summit in rehabilitation research. The 7-year interval provides an opportunity to review the goals proposed at the 2005 summit, the extent to which they have been achieved, barriers and facilitators to goal attainment, and new goals for the coming decade.  

Dissemination Projects

Dissemination of information developed by this RRTC will use the following approaches:

  • D1: State of the Science Monograph, “Building Rehabilitation Research Capacity”
  • D2: Outcome Instrument Database
  • D3: Website on rehabilitation measurement
  • D4: Web Seminars
  • D5: Quarterly Newsletter

What agency funded the project?

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)

What is the duration of the project?

October 1, 2009 - September 30, 2014

Project Staff

Director of Training and Dissemination:

Linda Ehrlich-Jones, Ph.D., Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

Co-Investigators:

Allen Heinemann, Ph.D., Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

Richard Gershon, Ph.D., Northwestern University

Carolyn Baum, Ph.D., Washington University

Joy Hammel, Ph.D., University of Illinois-Chicago

Trudy Mallinson, Ph.D., Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

Jennifer Moore, MS PT, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

Project Manager:
Holly Demark

312-238-2826 

Related Project Research Web Site

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)

Contact Information

For researchers and students
Linda Ehrlich-Jones, Ph.D.
312-238-0743

For members of the media
312-238-6044