Dates: 09/20/2007 - 12/19/2008
Status: Phase I
Funding Agency: NIH / NICHD
Reference: 1R43HD056631-01
ABSTRACT
In the proposed SBIR project, Vida Health Communications, Inc. (Vida) will produce, evaluate and distribute Youth Violence Prevention Training for Health Professionals. Drawing on the proven advantages of the Internet and DVD technologies, this comprehensive training including a web-based multimedia program for health care professionals will feature a problem-based instructional design. The proposed curriculum will build on and draw from Youth Violence: A Guide for Physicians & Other Health Care Professionals, edited by the project’s Principal Expert Consultants Robert Sege, MD, PhD and Vincent Licenziato for the Massachusetts Medical Society. It will address core competencies developed by Academic Centers of Excellence on Youth Violence Prevention, funded by CDC. Video elements will serve as focal points for training, and will include case stories about various forms of youth violence (such as fighting, school conflicts, suicide, bullying, intentional injury by an intimate partner, witnessing violence) and demonstration of interview techniques for assessing risk and resilience in youth. It will include strategies for building partnerships with community resources. There will be an optional “trainers’ toolkit” which will expand the possibilities for training across collaborative specialties. The toolkit will include DVDs containing video content from the web-based program, a workshop leader’s guide, and learning assessment tools in .pdf format.
The overall goal of Phase I is to prove the technical merit and feasibility of the youth violence prevention training program. Phase I will yield a prototype that has been tested for usability and effectiveness with residents in pediatrics, emergency medicine, surgery and family practice, and with hospital nurses working in those departments. Specific aims are (1) establish the program content, using key informant interviews and expert panel review (2) produce a prototype of the program, including one module with a video case study and demonstration of interviewing methods, and (3) evaluate the content and feasibility of the program, via expert review and focus groups. A Phase II award will fund the development of the full program and an evaluation with a rigorous experimental design. The final product of this SBIR will be a state-of-the-science multi-media training program for health professionals with demonstrated usefulness across professional disciplines, practice specialties, and levels of education.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Childhood After Preterm Birth: The Preschool Years
Dates: 06/01/2007 - 12/31/2008
Status: Phase I
Funding Agency: NIH / NICHD
Reference: 1R43HD055045-01
ABSTRACT
In the past decade, there has been dramatic improvement in the survival rate of infants born preterm i.e., after a pregnancy of less than 37 weeks. As more of these infants leave the neonatal intensive care unit for home, we are just beginning to recognize the special needs of these young children as infants and toddlers. Parents and early childhood providers (early intervention specialists, daycare providers and early childhood educators, nurses, pediatricians, social workers) can all do a better job if they know what to expect and how to help.
In this SBIR project, Vida Health Communications, Inc. will produce, evaluate and distribute a multi-media package, Childhood After Preterm Birth: The First Three Years. The multi-media package will draw on the proven and specific advantages of DVD and web technologies, and will use videotaped encounters with real families. It will consist of three components: (1) A provider training program on DVD will convey information about the likely needs of infants and toddlers who were born preterm in areas such as cognition, visual and motor skills, speech and language, and executive function. It will provide and illustrate effective strategies for providers to use to guide and support the parents. A web-based component will include a test unit offering continuing education credits. (2) A companion DVD program, in Spanish and English, for parents of young children born preterm will explain in lay terms the developmental course of infants and toddlers, and types of special needs that potentially challenge children born preterm. It will also provide and illustrate effective strategies for parents to monitor and enhance their child’s development, and to garner appropriate resources for the child’s preschool years. (3) An electronic library of materials on CD-ROM and Vida’s web site for providers to print and distribute to parents will be suitable for widely varying literacy levels.
In Phase I, the producers will develop the content for both the provider and parent programs, and produce prototypes of the media and print materials, which will then be evaluated using focus groups representative of the target audiences. Evaluators will use well-documented qualitative techniques to analyze focus group data.
This project will advance the training of early childhood providers serving children with special needs and their families. It will also provide much needed education, at appropriate literacy levels, for parents about ways to prepare for the child’s school years.
Status: Phase I
Funding Agency: NIH / NICHD
Reference: 1R43HD055045-01
ABSTRACT
In the past decade, there has been dramatic improvement in the survival rate of infants born preterm i.e., after a pregnancy of less than 37 weeks. As more of these infants leave the neonatal intensive care unit for home, we are just beginning to recognize the special needs of these young children as infants and toddlers. Parents and early childhood providers (early intervention specialists, daycare providers and early childhood educators, nurses, pediatricians, social workers) can all do a better job if they know what to expect and how to help.
In this SBIR project, Vida Health Communications, Inc. will produce, evaluate and distribute a multi-media package, Childhood After Preterm Birth: The First Three Years. The multi-media package will draw on the proven and specific advantages of DVD and web technologies, and will use videotaped encounters with real families. It will consist of three components: (1) A provider training program on DVD will convey information about the likely needs of infants and toddlers who were born preterm in areas such as cognition, visual and motor skills, speech and language, and executive function. It will provide and illustrate effective strategies for providers to use to guide and support the parents. A web-based component will include a test unit offering continuing education credits. (2) A companion DVD program, in Spanish and English, for parents of young children born preterm will explain in lay terms the developmental course of infants and toddlers, and types of special needs that potentially challenge children born preterm. It will also provide and illustrate effective strategies for parents to monitor and enhance their child’s development, and to garner appropriate resources for the child’s preschool years. (3) An electronic library of materials on CD-ROM and Vida’s web site for providers to print and distribute to parents will be suitable for widely varying literacy levels.
In Phase I, the producers will develop the content for both the provider and parent programs, and produce prototypes of the media and print materials, which will then be evaluated using focus groups representative of the target audiences. Evaluators will use well-documented qualitative techniques to analyze focus group data.
This project will advance the training of early childhood providers serving children with special needs and their families. It will also provide much needed education, at appropriate literacy levels, for parents about ways to prepare for the child’s school years.
Workplace Violence Training for Nurses
Dates: 09/01/2007 - 03/31/2008
Status: Phase I
Funding Agency: CDC / NIOSH
Reference: 1R43OH009180-01
ABSTRACT
Research has shown that nurses are at very high risk of being victims of workplace violence. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing issued a Position Paper in 1999 emphasizing the inclusion of violence-related content as essential content in nursing curricula, yet training remains incidental. The American Nurses Association, the International Council of Nurses and the American Academy of Nursing, as well as health care labor unions, have called for increased research to identify effective interventions.
Workplace Violence Training for Nurses is a two-part multi-media training package for professional (registered) nurses working in a hospital setting. It includes a web-based training program to help nurses understand, assess, prevent, and respond to violence in the workplace. The self-paced curriculum will make extensive use of video to share expert opinions and victims’ experiences. It will also utilize video to provide case studies, and to demonstrate effective strategies for assessment, prevention and response, thus allowing for behavior modeling. Self-administered tests for each training module will help to track acquisition of essential knowledge, attitudes, and skills. Continuing education credits will be awarded to program graduates. An optional train-the-trainers module will be available for nurses who aspire to train others. A trainer toolkit will help nurse trainers conduct workshops (e.g., in-service training) on workplace violence. Drawing from video elements of the web-based training program, the toolkit will include an introductory DVD containing the overview and interviews with experts and victims. A second DVD will contain a selection of video case studies and examples from the web-based training program for viewing and discussion. Also included will be a workshop leader’s guide and learning assessment tools. Workshop graduates will be invited to take the full web-based training program for continuing education credits.
In Phase I, the producers will develop the curriculum and produce home page and a functional prototype of one module of the web training, which will then be evaluated using focus groups representative of the target audiences. Evaluators will use well-documented qualitative techniques to analyze focus group data.
This project will advance the knowledge and training of hospital-based nurses by (a) helping them to understand, assess, prevent, and respond to violence in the workplace and (b) providing tools to help nurse trainers conduct workshops on workplace violence. Additionally, it will present an opportunity to gather longitudinal data from nurses who have taken the training, in order to assess knowledge retention and training effectiveness over time.
Status: Phase I
Funding Agency: CDC / NIOSH
Reference: 1R43OH009180-01
ABSTRACT
Research has shown that nurses are at very high risk of being victims of workplace violence. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing issued a Position Paper in 1999 emphasizing the inclusion of violence-related content as essential content in nursing curricula, yet training remains incidental. The American Nurses Association, the International Council of Nurses and the American Academy of Nursing, as well as health care labor unions, have called for increased research to identify effective interventions.
Workplace Violence Training for Nurses is a two-part multi-media training package for professional (registered) nurses working in a hospital setting. It includes a web-based training program to help nurses understand, assess, prevent, and respond to violence in the workplace. The self-paced curriculum will make extensive use of video to share expert opinions and victims’ experiences. It will also utilize video to provide case studies, and to demonstrate effective strategies for assessment, prevention and response, thus allowing for behavior modeling. Self-administered tests for each training module will help to track acquisition of essential knowledge, attitudes, and skills. Continuing education credits will be awarded to program graduates. An optional train-the-trainers module will be available for nurses who aspire to train others. A trainer toolkit will help nurse trainers conduct workshops (e.g., in-service training) on workplace violence. Drawing from video elements of the web-based training program, the toolkit will include an introductory DVD containing the overview and interviews with experts and victims. A second DVD will contain a selection of video case studies and examples from the web-based training program for viewing and discussion. Also included will be a workshop leader’s guide and learning assessment tools. Workshop graduates will be invited to take the full web-based training program for continuing education credits.
In Phase I, the producers will develop the curriculum and produce home page and a functional prototype of one module of the web training, which will then be evaluated using focus groups representative of the target audiences. Evaluators will use well-documented qualitative techniques to analyze focus group data.
This project will advance the knowledge and training of hospital-based nurses by (a) helping them to understand, assess, prevent, and respond to violence in the workplace and (b) providing tools to help nurse trainers conduct workshops on workplace violence. Additionally, it will present an opportunity to gather longitudinal data from nurses who have taken the training, in order to assess knowledge retention and training effectiveness over time.
Managing Environmental Risks in Pregnancy
Dates: 09/15/2006 - 09/30/2009
Status: Phase II Funding Awarded - In Progress
Funding Agency: NIH / NIEHS
Reference: 1R43ES014495-01A1
ABSTRACT
Environmental toxicants are increasingly linked to adverse birth outcomes such as low birth weight, preterm birth, birth defects and developmental delays. Inner-city populations are at higher risk for adverse birth outcomes and also are more likely to be exposed to environmental toxicants. Obstetric providers are seeking clarification about the true risks of many environmental exposures and what message they should deliver to their patients. Patients in this population are confused by the conflicting messages they receive from providers and peers about behaviors and exposures that could put their fetus at risk. The Institute of Medicine and the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation recommend the integration of environmental health concepts into all levels of medical and nursing education.
In the proposed SBIR Phase II project called “Managing Environmental Risks in Pregnancy”, Vida Health Communications, Inc. will complete the development and evaluation of the web-based provider training and patient education multi-media prototyped in Phase I. The final products of this research will be (1) a cross disciplinary web-based training offering continuing education for obstetric providers serving urban populations, (2) an educational DVD in English and Spanish and group discussion guide for showing to patients in clinic and office waiting areas or in facilitated group discussions, (3) a library of colorful support materials in English and Spanish at appropriate levels of literacy for providers to print and distribute to patients made available both as electronic documents (pdf) and in preprinted form. The interventions will be evaluated using focus groups representative of the target audiences. Evaluators will use well-documented qualitative techniques to analyze focus group data.
This project will advance the environmental health training of obstetric providers serving urban populations that may be at risk for exposure to substances that can harm their developing fetus. It will also provide much needed education, at appropriate literacy levels, for at-risk women about ways that they can moderate fetal exposure to environmental risks in pregnancy.
Status: Phase II Funding Awarded - In Progress
Funding Agency: NIH / NIEHS
Reference: 1R43ES014495-01A1
ABSTRACT
Environmental toxicants are increasingly linked to adverse birth outcomes such as low birth weight, preterm birth, birth defects and developmental delays. Inner-city populations are at higher risk for adverse birth outcomes and also are more likely to be exposed to environmental toxicants. Obstetric providers are seeking clarification about the true risks of many environmental exposures and what message they should deliver to their patients. Patients in this population are confused by the conflicting messages they receive from providers and peers about behaviors and exposures that could put their fetus at risk. The Institute of Medicine and the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation recommend the integration of environmental health concepts into all levels of medical and nursing education.
In the proposed SBIR Phase II project called “Managing Environmental Risks in Pregnancy”, Vida Health Communications, Inc. will complete the development and evaluation of the web-based provider training and patient education multi-media prototyped in Phase I. The final products of this research will be (1) a cross disciplinary web-based training offering continuing education for obstetric providers serving urban populations, (2) an educational DVD in English and Spanish and group discussion guide for showing to patients in clinic and office waiting areas or in facilitated group discussions, (3) a library of colorful support materials in English and Spanish at appropriate levels of literacy for providers to print and distribute to patients made available both as electronic documents (pdf) and in preprinted form. The interventions will be evaluated using focus groups representative of the target audiences. Evaluators will use well-documented qualitative techniques to analyze focus group data.
This project will advance the environmental health training of obstetric providers serving urban populations that may be at risk for exposure to substances that can harm their developing fetus. It will also provide much needed education, at appropriate literacy levels, for at-risk women about ways that they can moderate fetal exposure to environmental risks in pregnancy.
After School Gets Moving
Dates: 05/01/2006 - 01/30/2008
Status: Phase II application
Funding Agency: NIH / NICHD
Reference: 1R43HD049919-01A1
ABSTRACT
The number of American school children who are not active enough to ensure healthy physical, mental and emotional development is growing. Low-income children from urban, communities are at greatest risk. “After-school” has become a social institution in little more than a generation. Urban after-school programs enroll children who encounter higher rates of overweight and obesity. Staff in under-resourced, space-limited after-school programs are mostly paraprofessionals. Most come from the communities they serve. Phase II of Vida Health Communications’ “After-School Gets Moving: A Multimedia Staff Development Program” will build on the positive results of the Phase I feasibility study and produce a comprehensive, tested and evaluated media-based training, rich with live action video demonstrations, to give urban after-school providers resources they need to effectively promote physical activity among children ages 6-10. Research and development efforts in Phase II will include: 1) continued development and production of enhanced DVD (e-DVD) media in three parts and ancillary print materials 2) beta testing of the media in partnership with the BEST (Building Exemplary Systems for Training Youth Workers) team at The Medical Foundation; and 3) a rigorous quasi-experimental evaluation of the media training by consultant researchers from the National Institute for Out of School Time (NIOST).
Status: Phase II application
Funding Agency: NIH / NICHD
Reference: 1R43HD049919-01A1
ABSTRACT
The number of American school children who are not active enough to ensure healthy physical, mental and emotional development is growing. Low-income children from urban, communities are at greatest risk. “After-school” has become a social institution in little more than a generation. Urban after-school programs enroll children who encounter higher rates of overweight and obesity. Staff in under-resourced, space-limited after-school programs are mostly paraprofessionals. Most come from the communities they serve. Phase II of Vida Health Communications’ “After-School Gets Moving: A Multimedia Staff Development Program” will build on the positive results of the Phase I feasibility study and produce a comprehensive, tested and evaluated media-based training, rich with live action video demonstrations, to give urban after-school providers resources they need to effectively promote physical activity among children ages 6-10. Research and development efforts in Phase II will include: 1) continued development and production of enhanced DVD (e-DVD) media in three parts and ancillary print materials 2) beta testing of the media in partnership with the BEST (Building Exemplary Systems for Training Youth Workers) team at The Medical Foundation; and 3) a rigorous quasi-experimental evaluation of the media training by consultant researchers from the National Institute for Out of School Time (NIOST).
Supporting the Development of Preterm Newborns
Dates: 08/01/02 - 02/28/2008
Status: Phase III
Funding Agency: NIH / NICHD
Reference: 2R44HD042313-02
ABSTRACT
In Supporting the Development of Preterm Newborns Vida Health Communications, Inc. will produce and evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated set of modular DVD programs for parents of premature infants and professionals working in neonatal intensive care settings. Program developers will use state-of-the-art, miniature camera equipment and emerging brain imaging technologies to teach about: the fetal and neonatal brain; the neurobehavioral competencies of preterm infants; and specific care strategies to support the development of premature infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Over 400,000 infants are born prematurely in the U.S. each year. Over 50% are diagnosed with emotional, behavioral or learning disorders by the time they reach school age. There is no media training currently available to teach families and neonatal staff about individualized, developmental care in the NICU and the ways it is known to improve neurological outcomes of preterm infants. This information is expected to shape care delivery in the NICU and to help parents understand their infants’ competencies and vulnerabilities.
Status: Phase III
Funding Agency: NIH / NICHD
Reference: 2R44HD042313-02
ABSTRACT
In Supporting the Development of Preterm Newborns Vida Health Communications, Inc. will produce and evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated set of modular DVD programs for parents of premature infants and professionals working in neonatal intensive care settings. Program developers will use state-of-the-art, miniature camera equipment and emerging brain imaging technologies to teach about: the fetal and neonatal brain; the neurobehavioral competencies of preterm infants; and specific care strategies to support the development of premature infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Over 400,000 infants are born prematurely in the U.S. each year. Over 50% are diagnosed with emotional, behavioral or learning disorders by the time they reach school age. There is no media training currently available to teach families and neonatal staff about individualized, developmental care in the NICU and the ways it is known to improve neurological outcomes of preterm infants. This information is expected to shape care delivery in the NICU and to help parents understand their infants’ competencies and vulnerabilities.
Postpartum Mood Disorders: a Multimedia Toolkit
Dates: 11/01/03 - 04/30/04
Status: Phase I complete
Funding Agency: NIH / NIMH
Reference: 1R43MH070242-01
ABSTRACT
Approximately 23% of women will experience a mood disorder at some point in their lives. Between 10 and 27% of women experience depressive symptoms during pregnancy, including 2 to 11% who experience major depressive disorder (MDD). Pregnant women are more likely to experience some form of mood disorder than gestational diabetes, preeclemsia, or preterm delivery. Still, in spite of such high rates of incidence, perinatal depression, especially depression during pregnancy, receives relatively little attention in the medical literature. Healthcare providers across all specialties receive scant training about perinatal mood disorders and little clinical time is devoted to its detection. Detection rates for depressive disorders in obstetrical settings are lower than reported in other primary care venues. Nevertheless, it is clear that obstetrical practitioners frequently encounter women with depression. This is especially likely for low-income women since they often access health care only when they are pregnant and are covered by health insurance that is not available at other times in their lives. More than 60% of low-income women receive healthcare exclusively from their obstetrical clinician.
Status: Phase I complete
Funding Agency: NIH / NIMH
Reference: 1R43MH070242-01
ABSTRACT
Approximately 23% of women will experience a mood disorder at some point in their lives. Between 10 and 27% of women experience depressive symptoms during pregnancy, including 2 to 11% who experience major depressive disorder (MDD). Pregnant women are more likely to experience some form of mood disorder than gestational diabetes, preeclemsia, or preterm delivery. Still, in spite of such high rates of incidence, perinatal depression, especially depression during pregnancy, receives relatively little attention in the medical literature. Healthcare providers across all specialties receive scant training about perinatal mood disorders and little clinical time is devoted to its detection. Detection rates for depressive disorders in obstetrical settings are lower than reported in other primary care venues. Nevertheless, it is clear that obstetrical practitioners frequently encounter women with depression. This is especially likely for low-income women since they often access health care only when they are pregnant and are covered by health insurance that is not available at other times in their lives. More than 60% of low-income women receive healthcare exclusively from their obstetrical clinician.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Multimedia Library -- Tools for Parents and Caregivers
Dates: 09/01/1995 - 08/31/2001
Status: Phase III
Funding Agency: NIH / NICHD
Reference: 5R44AA010181-03
ABSTRACT:
Critical information about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is not reaching those in positions to make the most significant impact on children and families affected by this problem. To address this problem, Vida will produce, evaluate and distribute the FAS Multi-Media Library, a "tool kit" for parents and other caregivers of children with FAS. The Library will target three different caregiver types: 1) A VHS linear video for parents will focus on 11 subject areas across three domains: basic knowledge of FAS's effect on child development/behavior; attitudes about FAS; and coping strategies; 2) A VHS linear video for educators will cover three general areas: knowledge of FAS's impact on learning disabilities and impact on behavior at school; and skills for improving learning and behavior in school; and 3) A CD-ROM for pediatric health care providers will focus on the etiology, diagnosis, developmental assessment and referral for FAS children. The purpose of the proposed evaluation is to assess effectiveness of these visual media as tools to increase understanding of the dimensions of FAS. For parents, Vida will assess changes in knowledge, attitudes and level of engagement with FAS support services and resources. For educators and pediatric health care providers, Vida will assess changes in knowledge.
Status: Phase III
Funding Agency: NIH / NICHD
Reference: 5R44AA010181-03
ABSTRACT:
Critical information about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is not reaching those in positions to make the most significant impact on children and families affected by this problem. To address this problem, Vida will produce, evaluate and distribute the FAS Multi-Media Library, a "tool kit" for parents and other caregivers of children with FAS. The Library will target three different caregiver types: 1) A VHS linear video for parents will focus on 11 subject areas across three domains: basic knowledge of FAS's effect on child development/behavior; attitudes about FAS; and coping strategies; 2) A VHS linear video for educators will cover three general areas: knowledge of FAS's impact on learning disabilities and impact on behavior at school; and skills for improving learning and behavior in school; and 3) A CD-ROM for pediatric health care providers will focus on the etiology, diagnosis, developmental assessment and referral for FAS children. The purpose of the proposed evaluation is to assess effectiveness of these visual media as tools to increase understanding of the dimensions of FAS. For parents, Vida will assess changes in knowledge, attitudes and level of engagement with FAS support services and resources. For educators and pediatric health care providers, Vida will assess changes in knowledge.
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