Investigating Efforts to Recognize and Reduce Bystander Reluctance in the Utilization of Naloxone for Opioid Overdose Reversal
Faculty Information
Name:
Sarah Vas MD
Email
sarah.vas@ufl.edu
Phone
(352) 265-4357
Faculty Department/Division
Psychiatry
This project is primarily:
CQI
Research Project Description:
According to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, in 2023 alone, over 107,543 people died from overdose. Whereas encountering a life-threatening overdose can arise unexpectedly in any context, rapid and effective responses by bystanders can save lives. This interdisciplinary, collaborative project provides educational resources and tools (including Naloxone) that coalesce evidence-based information, content expertise and impactful interaction to address priority needs raised by our whole community regarding the opioid crisis.
Do you align with our commitment to combat the opioid crisis, to improve health outcomes and to address health disparities while engaging the community with innovative and inclusive strategies? If so, you’ll enjoy the projects we’re working on this year. You (MSRP student) will receive guidance in reviewing the literature, analyzing survey data, with the goal of presenting and publishing your findings. Under the co-mentorship of Dr. Joel Rowe and Dr. Sarah Vas, you will have opportunities to engage the community and to participate in Bystander Overdose Action Team workshops.
We hope to hear from you.
Joel Rowe, MD and Sarah Vas, MD
Does this project have an international component or travel?
No
Do you align with our commitment to combat the opioid crisis, to improve health outcomes and to address health disparities while engaging the community with innovative and inclusive strategies? If so, you’ll enjoy the projects we’re working on this year. You (MSRP student) will receive guidance in reviewing the literature, analyzing survey data, with the goal of presenting and publishing your findings. Under the co-mentorship of Dr. Joel Rowe and Dr. Sarah Vas, you will have opportunities to engage the community and to participate in Bystander Overdose Action Team workshops.
We hope to hear from you.
Joel Rowe, MD and Sarah Vas, MD
Exploring Efficiencies in Psychiatry Training: Teaching Rapport Building and the Related Impact on Autism Diagnostic Evaluations
Name:
Dr. Clare Liddon
Email
cliddon@ufl.edu
Phone
(352) 273-7529
Faculty Department/Division
Psychiatry
This project is primarily:
Clinical
Research Project Description:
Psychiatrists are tasked with evaluating children for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) within psychiatric evaluation appointments. These evaluations lead to critical decisions in a child’s care; they may result in a diagnosis of a NDD, referrals to other providers for services, or referrals to other providers for further evaluation. In all cases, the outcomes of the diagnostic evaluation are pivotal to a child’s medical care. Thus, as with any medical care, the skill set of the psychiatrist to make an accurate diagnosis is of the utmost importance, as it may produce life-changing access to services for children in need.
Often, psychiatrists complete a diagnostic evaluation within a single patient appointment. ASD and other NDDs are observation-based diagnoses; that is, the psychiatrist must see the behaviors defined in the DSM-V criteria for ASD to determine if it is present, absent, or if further evaluation is required. This diagnosis should be based on how the child typically behaves, rather than just how they behave in a novel place like a doctor’s office. To see a child behave as they would outside of a doctor’s office, the child must feel comfortable. In a single appointment, there is limited time to build the trust and rapport required for comfort. Psychiatrists who are skilled in building rapport may do so faster in a diagnostic evaluation, leaving precious time to complete the observations and interviews required for the diagnostic process. The purpose of this study is to use behavioral rapport building training to increase psychiatrists’ rapport building skills and to evaluate if psychiatrists who are good at building rapport have better ASD diagnostic evaluation outcomes.
We will use evidence-based, behavioral training procedures to directly teach psychiatry trainees rapport-building strategies. We will also complete direct observations to determine if these skills are applied in real-time, diagnostic evaluation appointments. Finally, we will evaluate if those who receive the training get better diagnostic evaluation outcomes, as measured by their standards of practice.
Does this project have an international component or travel?
No
Improving access to Autism Diagnoses and Related Genetic Evaluations
Name:
Dr. Takahiro Soda
Email
takahirosoda@ufl.edu
Phone
(352) 294-4946
Faculty Department/Division
Psychiatry
This project is primarily:
CQI
Research Project Description:
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a prevalence of 1in 36 children. Studies have identified factors related to patient demographics that are associated with delays in diagnosis of ASD itself.
Everyone diagnosed with ASD is recommended to undergo a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation that includes assessment of possible etiologies, including genetic conditions. Recent studies in my lab have further identified patient demographic factors that affect local rates of completed genetic testing affecting health equity. This has led to several process changes meant to increase rates of completed evaluations to deliver excellent healthcare for all individuals affected and seen in the health system. A robust analysis on whether these implemented changes has led to a subsequent increase in care delivery is needed.
The objective of this summer project is to analyze whether these process changes have led to changes in offered, completed evaluations. Secondary analysis will also look at the rate of impact on subsequent clinical decision making. The expected outcome of the summer project will be a manuscript submission reporting out these results.
There will be further opportunities for case reports based on individual genetic results that were determined to be the etiology.
Does this project have an international component or travel?
No
Wellbeing Among Medical Trainees in Florida
Name:
Dr. Lisa Merlo
Email
lmerlo@ufl.edu
Phone
(352) 294-4932
Faculty Department/Division
Psychiatry
This project is primarily:
Translational
Research Project Description:
Clinician wellbeing is a key contributor to both professional fulfillment and quality of patient care. However, medical training is a period marked by high rates of burnout and psychological distress. In order to better understand factors currently affecting wellbeing among medical trainees (i.e., medical students, PA students, and resident physicians) in the State of Florida, this project surveyed trainees across the 10 medical schools in the state.
Survey items assessed mental and emotional wellbeing, burnout, stress, exposure to harassment/discrimination/bullying, coping strategies, substance use, institutional supports, etc. The MSRP student(s) will assist with analysis of the survey findings, and will contribute to preparation of abstracts for conference presentation. It is expected that the student(s) will have the opportunity for authorship on a peer-reviewed scientific publication.
Does this project have an international component or travel?
No