VI2P Researchers Presented Their 6-Month Study Progress and Goals For Continuation

With support from the College of Medicine in 2017, the Center for Health Services Research (CHSR) selected and funded four projects in the Value of Innovation to Implementation Program (VI²P); https://chsr.med.uky.edu/vi2p. The goal of VI²P is to foster trans-disciplinary collaboration among scientists and practitioners to form project teams that undertake studies that advance dissemination and implementation research methods and measures, and conduct studies implementing evidence-based practices.

Coordinated by Jing Li, MD, MS (Associate Director of the CHSR and Director, OVIHD), the VI²P initiative reached its first important milestone of 6 months. On March 26^th, VI²P researchers and colleagues presented their initial progress on their projects. Some highlights from the reports include:

Kristin Ashford, RN, PhD (Principal Investigator on “Tobacco Use in Pregnancy Intervention for Cessation; ToPIC”) informed colleagues that the ToPIC team has conducted the planned provider focus groups and practice assessment survey. She is excited to add another study site from Baptist Health Lexington, and the project has start enrolling patients for the intervention.

James Keck, MD, MPH (Principal Investigator on “Partnership for Identification and Primary-care Based Enrollment to a Prevention Intervention for Diabetes; PIPE to Prevent Diabetes”) presented findings from the patient focus groups and provider baseline survey. The results indicated the knowledge and awareness gaps and unmet needs in patients, while an evidence-practice gap was prevalent among providers.

Jill Kolesar, PharmD, MS (Principal Investigator on “Implementing Oncology Precision Medicine in Kentucky”) conveyed findings from the many focus group and informant interviews conducted. Interestingly, essentially all of the patients involved in focus groups were unaware of precision medicine and its benefits.

Christina Studts, PhD, LCSW. (Principal Investigator on “Adaptation and Pilot Implementation of the Family Check-up for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children”) reported great stakeholder engagement in the study. The Community Advisory Board (CAB) members strongly voiced the preference of having trained parents of deaf and hard of hearing children serve as the interventionist rather than social workers. With this input, the study team established a new partnership with the Kentucky Hands & Voices and plans to train two parent coaches to deliver the intervention.

All VI²P researchers have set impressive goals for the continuation of their studies, including R01 and R18 grant submissions, planned manuscripts, and conference presentations. To learn more about the VI²P program, visit https://chsr.med.uky.edu/vi2p.