Studying barriers in seeking care for Sexually Transmitted Infections and Urinary Tract infections among women in rural India
Faculty Information
Name:
Dr. Gautam Kalyatanda MD
Email
gautam.kalyatanda@medicine.ufl.edu
Phone
(352) 294-5481
Faculty Department/Division
Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine
This project is primarily:
Clinical
Research Project Description:
Background:
This study is part of an ongoing research project on Anti-Microbial Resistance in rural communities in India. The primary focus is on preventing Anti-Microbial Resistance, particularly through addressing issues related to self-medication from community pharmacies. The project involves interviewing Last-Mile healthcare workers to identify barriers that prevent women in rural communities and urban slums from seeking care in Primary Health Care Centers.
Hypothesis:
A preliminary study involving interviews with healthcare workers indicated that various factors influence women’s decisions to seek care. These factors include the gender of the healthcare provider, social stigma, and access to transportation for reaching healthcare facilities.
Methods:
We will conduct focus group discussions with various participants, including ASHA workers, physicians in government primary health care centers, nurses, and consenting patients.
Role of the Medical Student:
The medical student will be a team member responsible for conducting focus group discussions, transcribing interviews, and assisting with writing the final paper.
Does this project have an international component or travel?
Yes
If your project has an international component please give details (where, when, data collection involved, etc.):
Where: Mysore, Karnataka, India
When: June / July – 2-3 weeks
Bacterial infection complications after snakebite envenomation in the state of Florida
Name:
Dr. Norman Beatty
Email
norman.beatty@medicine.ufl.edu
Phone
(352) 273-8830
Faculty Department/Division
Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine
This project is primarily:
Case Review
Research Project Description:
Utilizing retrospective analysis of those with venomous snakebite from 2002 until 2025 we will assess who developed bacterial infections as a complication. We will assess which bacterial pathogens and whether they are associated with any certain snake species or another human behavior related to self-treatment or the development of necrotizing fasciitis. Project is already IRB-approved and needs an amendment. Medical student will develop a data collection tool to enter data elements into RedCap secure data server hosted by UF CTSI. This study has never been conducted and will add to the medical literature. It will support a recent publication of an investigation done here at UF which was completed by PI and other UF COM medical students. https://academic.oup.com/trstmh/advance-article/doi/10.1093/trstmh/trae128/7931938. PMID: 39399236. Medical student will be lead author and have the opportunity to present at national conference and PubMed indexed publication. Project would align with those interested in internal medicine, emergency medicine, global health and general surgery.
Does this project have an international component or travel?
No
Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Survey and Multimedia Educational Tool to Improve Awareness of Chagas Disease Among Medical Students
Name:
Dr. Norman Beatty
Email
norman.beatty@medicine.ufl.edu
Phone
(352) 273-8830
Faculty Department/Division
Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine
This project is primarily:
Translational
Research Project Description:
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a protozoan parasite endemic to Latin America. Trypanosoma cruzi is most commonly spread by the “kissing bug”, which is a triatomine bug. However, T, cruzi is also spread less frequently by congenital transmission, unprocessed food containing parasites, and contaminated blood transfusions. The purpose of the research project is to conduct a knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) survey with an accompanying educational module to improve awareness of Chagas disease education among UF COM medical students. Project is already IRB approved. Medical student will be lead in the project and promote to Phase 1 through 4 medical students via electronic dissemination via email and in small groups for a 6-month period. Survey data collected will be entered into RedCap and only deidentified data is collected. Medical student will be able to present at national conference and anticipate first authorship in PubMed indexed journal.
Does this project have an international component or travel?
No
The effect of drugs of abuse on HIV and the blood-brain barrier
Faculty Information
Name:
Dr. Allison Andrews
Email
andrews.allison@ufl.edu
Phone
(352) 294-5275
Faculty Department/Division
Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine
This project is primarily:
Basic
Research Project Description:
Despite the use of Anti-retroviral therapy, rates of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) remain high in people living with HIV. A hallmark of HAND is blood-brain barrier disruption and inflammation in the CNS. Additionally, people with HIV commonly use drugs of abuse, which is known to impact HIV neuropathogenesis and contribute to neurocognitive disorders (NCI). The goal of this work is to examine the effect of various drugs of abuse on the blood-brain barrier, HIV replication and inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS).
Does this project have an international component or travel?
No
Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring at Home for Patients with Hypertension at a Medical Student-Run Clinic
Name:
Dr. Norman Beatty
Email
norman.beatty@medicine.ufl.edu
Phone
(352) 273-8830
Faculty Department/Division
Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine
This project is primarily:
Clinical
Research Project Description:
This project will involve conducting a cross-sectional survey among patients at the Equal Access Clinic Network (EACN) to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) among patients with hypertension (HTN) and the utilization of self-measured blood pressure machines at home or outside a clinical setting. The survey will collect data from patients who visit EACN with concerns for HTN or the need for health care related to HTN and 1) their knowledge of how to self-measure their blood pressure and resources available to them, 2) their perception of self-measured blood pressure at home or away from a clinical setting, 3) their practice of self-measurement of blood pressure at home or away from a clinical setting. The survey will be conducted in-person and one-time for each participant. Primary location will be at the Seventh-day Adventist Church EACN site but can be conducted at other locations within the EACN and during health fairs. Data collected will be de-identified and IRB exemption will be requested. Duration of study will be determined by the medical student but anticipate 3-6 month period. Lead medical student will be first author. Findings will likely lead to presentation at regional or national conference. Anticipate publication in PubMed indexed journal after final analysis and manuscript generation.
Does this project have an international component or travel?
No