Developing an Integrative Evidence Informed Practice Clinical Internship

s EXPLORE September/October 2013, Vol. 9, No. 5 323 Scholars Program a senior faculty member created and implemented an activity to review and evaluate media reports of medical research as an assignment within a year long clinically oriented class. Summary of Work: In 2006 a project was initiated whereby students identified and examined media reports compared with original research studies on which they were based. The project spans three academic terms with graduated series of exercises which elicit growing depth of critical thinking. It was guided by Research Literate Practitioner competencies developed by the grant. Reflection and communication are incorporated into the exercises. A grading rubric based on the competencies was used for assessment. Summary of Results: Based on six cohorts of students, qualitative data indicate that the project had a major impact on students. In written and oral feedback a majority of students report acquiring knowledge of how to use research studies to assess media medical report quality. They also report an increased understanding of research linking to clinical work with patients. A minority of students report not gaining skills from the project due to previous research or ambivalence regarding the import of these skills. Conclusion: Participation in this activity appears to have created an increase in research literacy at the clinical level of interaction with patients. Students can be taught how to analyze media reports of medical studies to determine the accuracy of these reports. This student centered learning activity expands student awareness and practical skills using research in clinical decision making. The practices of self reflection and evidence informed communication with patients are enhanced through this work. Contact: Joseph Coletto, jcoletto@ocom.edu Implementation of a Prospective Clinical Outcomes Study in a CAM/IM Teaching Clinic Ryan Bradley, Brendan Smith, and Erica Oberg 1 Bastyr University, Kenmore, Washington, United States 2 Bastyr University, Edmonds, Washington, United States Background: Over 70% of incoming naturopathic medical students express interest in receiving one-on-one research experiences during their education, however existing research capacity and the availability of research faculty time for mentorship often limit these opportunities. Simultaneously, there is a great need to quantify the outcomes from CAM/IM practices in order to document the effectiveness of these approaches to patients care. Summary of Work: “Naturopathic Patient-Reported Outcomes in Heart Disease and Diabetes (ND-PROHD)” was implemented in January 2012 in order to provide clinical research opportunities for newly created Student Research Clinicians and a Chief Resident within the naturopathic clinical training clinic of Bastyr University. This prospective, observational cohort study uses the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) system coupled with mobile web browsers in order to collect patient-reported data in real time during clinical rotations. Prospective changes in quality of life, selfefficacy, self-care behaviors and mood will be collected quarterly and compared to baseline values every six months. Summary of Results: IRB approval was secured prior to implementation. As of June 2012, 4 student research clinicians have participated in the elective, i.e., two per quarter, and 31 participants had been enrolled in the study, allowing for student participation in over 75 patients interviews. Of the participants enrolled, 18 (58%) were seeking care for type 2 diabetes and 11 (35%) were seeking care for hypertension. Implementation has been smoothly integrated into the flow of routine care. Interim results following the initial six months of implementation are currently under analysis. Conclusion: Creating specific clinical research electives facilitates research opportunities for CAM/IM trainees, and helps provide access to clinical research faculty for mentorship. Using existing health information technology tools, the implementation of prospective clinical research can be efficiently performed in academic CAM/IM settings, enriching student research training, and simultaneously collecting critical data on patient outcomes and quality of care from CAM/IM academic clinics. Contact: Ryan Bradley, rbradley@bastyr.edu CAM Practitioners Conducting Research: Preliminary Findings from a Survey and Interviews to Inform Workforce Training Kimberly Tippens, Sue Fleishman, Ashley Russell, and