Appalachian Star Trial (AppSTAR)
About the Appalachian STAR Trial
The University of Kentucky has partnered with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Duke University to bring an enhanced school hearing screening program to 14 different school districts throughout Eastern Kentucky. The study is called the Appalachian STAR Trial (AppSTAR). “STAR” stands for Specialty Telemedicine Access for Referrals.
The project aims to improve hearing screenings within the school system and create a direct telemedicine referral process so that children who fail the hearing screenings don’t fall through the cracks and get the care they need. Results from this study will be used to expand preventative screening programs throughout schools in rural America.
This is a 5-year project which began in the Fall of 2021. This study is supported by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, the Kentucky Department of Education, and the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services via their Office for Children with Special Healthcare Needs (OCSHCN) clinics in Morehead & Barbourville. The school districts that are participating in the project include the following:
- Carter County School District
- Clay County School District
- Elliott County School District
- Fleming County School District
- Harlan County School District
- Laurel County School District
- Lawrence County School District
- Lewis County School District
- Menifee County School District
- Morgan County School District
- Montgomery County School District
- Robertson County School District
- Rockcastle County School District
- Whitley County School District
How do I learn more?
For more information, email our research team at UKAppSTAR@uky.edu or call us at 859-363-6207.
This study is led by Susan Emmett, MD, MPH and Matthew Bush, MD, PhD, MBA and is supported by the National Institutes of Health – National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
(NIH-NIDCD) Grant #U01OD033247