Research & Training

RESEARCH STATEMENT

Professor Jacobs’ research examines the interface between the environment and human capabilities. In particular, she examines the individual factors and environmental demands associated with increased risk of functional limitations among populations of university students with traumatic brain injuries and school-aged students in their use of computers and backpacks. In addition, she is investigating the nature, perception, and impact of peer-to-peer mentoring in a population of online post-professional occupational therapy doctoral students on their professional development.

TRAINING 

Interprofessional Leadership in Healthcare certificate

This project is a collaboration between the College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College (Sargent College) and the School of Social Work (SSW) to create a non-credit online certificate in Interprofessional Leadership in Health Care using an alumni mentoring approach. This certificate will highlight the vast experiences of Boston University alumni by engaging them as e-mentors in five one-month online courses. The goal of the certificate is to increase healthcare professionals’ skills and knowledge in interprofessional leadership.

Most healthcare professionals who assume leadership roles have not had any leadership training and are often ill equipped to lead interprofessional teams. Regularly, they learn leadership and management skills on the job while in leadership positions. Consequently, their effectiveness as an interprofessional team leader is limited. This certificate will help prepare healthcare professionals with the skills to better coordinate and deliver services which ultimately will result in better health care outcomes. We will focus on team-based approaches that capitalize on authentic case studies, simulations, and exercises, using a mentorship model that leverages technology, such as Project ECHO® and Zoom. Of particular importance will be that teams will work in peer-to-peer dyads with BU alumni mentorship leading and coaching these teams furthering our engagement with alumni.

Team: Karen Jacobs, Bronwyn Keefe & Craig Slater

Click this link to learn about the certificate: project page.

ERGONOMICS LAB

Currently, Karen is collaborating on research in the following projects:

Investigation of equal peer-to-peer mentoring in occupational therapy post-professional graduate education

The Department of Occupational Therapy at Boston University College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College provides an online post-professional doctorate in occupational therapy (OTD) program that utilizes web cameras and an electronic communication platform (Adobe Connect) to provide face-to-face faculty-student and student-to-student (peer-to-peer) e-mentoring opportunities.  These e-mentoring experiences are intended to support the intense and specialized nature of each student’s doctoral work.  This mixed methods research project is investigating the nature, perception, and impact of current peer-to-peer e-mentoring on the professional development of graduates from the Boston University online post-professional doctorate in occupational therapy (OTD) program. We will utilize findings to make any necessary changes to the e-mentoring aspect of the online post-professional OTD program in order to continue providing enriching, evidence-based e-mentoring experiences for our students.

Co-Investigators: Dr. Linda Niemeyer, Dr. Nancy Doyle, Dr. Liat Gafni-Lachter

An interprofessonal experience: Home & community participation in Bogota, Colombia

Through collaboration with Professor Rebecca Khurshid in BU engineering two entry-level occupational therapy graduate students participated in the assessment of assistive technology (AT) devices in Bogotá, Colombia. Through a one-month interprofessional service-learning experience in Colombia, the occupational therapy graduate students provided consultation to the Robotics Lab located at the Colombian School of Engineering Julio Garavito, and collaborated with engineering students on their robotic walker project3. This robotic walker project is in collaboration with Professor Khurshid’s Boston University Robotic Lab. Under our mentorship, the occupational therapy students also conducted a research project to identify the factors in the physical, social, and cultural contexts that influence participation in home and community environments for adults with ambulatory challenges in Bogotá, Colombia. For some participants, the benefits and limitations of their current forms of AT for mobility were also assessed.

Karen and other researcher have completed studies/projects in the following areas:

Project Career: Development of an Interprofessional Demonstration to Support the Transition of Students with Traumatic Brain Injuries from Postsecondary Education to Employment

In a collaborative venture, Kent State University, JBS International, Inc., West Virginia University, and Boston University the goal of this 5-year (2013-2018) National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) supported project is to develop, test a technology-driven, long-term, and resource-rich individualized support program that merges cognitive support technology (CST) and vocational rehabilitation (VR) practices to improve the career readiness and employment outcomes of civilian and veteran undergraduate students with traumatic brain injuries.

http://www.kent.edu/ehhs/rhab/projectcareer/index.cfm

Technology & Employment Coordinator at BU: Amanda Nardone

An investigation of parental knowledge of factors related to schoolbag carriage

The purpose of this research study is to investigate parental awareness/knowledge of factors related to schoolbag carriage. The objectives are to establish the level of parental awareness/knowledge about: (i) schoolbag type and design features; (ii) schoolbag use; and (iii) the effects of wearing a schoolbag; Further objectives are to: (v) establish the sources of acquired information if appropriate; and (vi) establish the preferred platforms of the parents/guardians for receiving information about schoolbag use.

Co-Investigators: Karen Jacobs & Sara Dockrell,

Other projects included:

  • The nature, perception and impact of faculty-to-student and student-to-student e-mentoring on professional development post-graduation from an online post-professional doctoral program
  • iPad use and ergonomic training: Its effect on math achievement in middle school students
  • Middle school students and their notebook computer use
  • A pilot study to evaluate the feasibility of the Telerehabilitation Computer Ergonomics System (tele-CES) in addressing computer use problems
  • Karen has co-developed with Dr. Nancy Baker at the University of Pittsburgh, the Telerehabilitation Computer Ergonomics System (tele-CES) for computer users with arthritis. The tele-CES is a remote systematic ergonomics program aimed at substantially reducing work disability among workers with any type of arthritis.
  • The Effect of the Nintendo Wii Fit and Exercise Improving Balance and Quality of Life in Community Dwelling Elders (Jessie Franco)
  • Backpack usage and self-reported musculoskeletal discomfort in university students (June Mung Yuing Hu, Karen Jacobs, & Michael Pencina)
  • Wii Health: The Health and Wellness Benefits of Wii on University Freshmen (Linda Zhu, Monique Dawes, Jessie Franco, Cancha Igari, Allison Huggins, Amarachi Umez-Eronini, & Becky Ranta)
  • University students and their use of notebook computers: Phases 1, 2, & 3
  • Use of computer aided instruction (CAI) with high school students (collaborating with the Boston Public Schools)
  • Middle school students and their use of interactive media.” (Karen Jacobs & Kathryn Runge)
  • The usability of personal digital assistants (PDAs) to manage health care decisions at the point of care
  • Effects of a backpack safety & injury prevention program with school-aged children (collaborated with Dr. Shelley Goodgold, ScD, PT (Simmons College)
  • University students and their use of notebook computers: Phase III
  • Middle school students and their notebook computer use
  • Backpack usage and self-reported musculoskeletal discomfort in university students (June Mung Yuing Hu, Karen Jacobs, & Michael Pencina)
  • University students and their use of notebook computers: Phases I & II
  • Use of computer aided instruction (CAI) with high school students (collaborating with the Boston Public Schools)
  • Middle school students and their use of interactive media.” (Karen Jacobs & Kathryn Runge)
  • The usability of personal digital assistants (PDAs) to manage health care decisions at the point of care
  • Effects of a backpack safety & injury prevention program with school-aged children (collaborated with Dr. Shelley Goodgold, ScD, PT (Simmons College)

The following projects were completed, under Karen’s supervision, by students in the Master of Science program in occupational therapy at Boston University:

  • “The prevalence of computer-related musculoskeletal complaints in college students” (Audra Hamilton and Christine Connelly)
  • “Gender-age environmental associates of middle school student’s low back pain with backpack use”. (Hsin-yu Chiang)
    Perceived knowledge of occupational therapy services and referral frequency among physicians working with children (Diana Marshak)

The following are projects were completed by former students in the entry-level Master of Science program in occupational therapy at Boston University. Three of these projects were published in issue 18(3) in the journal, WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, & Rehabilitation. (www.iospress.nl)

  • Efficacy of body mechanics education on posture while computing in middle school children (Gretchen Rowe)
    The effectiveness of a home-based ergonomics intervention on the proper use of computers by middle school children (Chad Williams)
  • Efficacy of education on posture while wearing backpacks in middle school children (Amy Feingold)
    Time use outcomes for adolescents participating in a family and schools together (FAST) program (Erin Leigh Basquill)
    The effectiveness of a family-based skills training program on time-use and time-use satisfaction in parents with adolescents (Meghna Gandhi)
  • Perceived knowledge of occupational therapy services and referral frequency among physicians working with the geriatric population (Elizabeth Sawyko)