{"id":22,"date":"2010-02-22T11:08:42","date_gmt":"2010-02-22T16:08:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/kjacobs\/?page_id=22"},"modified":"2020-05-29T15:28:12","modified_gmt":"2020-05-29T19:28:12","slug":"research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/kjacobs\/research\/","title":{"rendered":"Research & Training"},"content":{"rendered":"

RESEARCH STATEMENT<\/strong><\/p>\n

Professor Jacobs\u2019 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.<\/p>\n

TRAINING\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Interprofessional Leadership in Healthcare<\/em><\/strong> certificate<\/p>\n

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\u2019 skills and knowledge in interprofessional leadership.<\/p>\n

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\u00ae 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.<\/p>\n

Team: Karen Jacobs, Bronwyn Keefe & Craig Slater<\/p>\n

Click this link to learn about the certificate:\u00a0project page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

ERGONOMICS LAB <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Currently, Karen is\u00a0collaborating on research in the following projects:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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<\/em><\/strong>Investigation of\u00a0equal\u00a0peer-to-peer mentoring in occupational therapy post-professional graduate education<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 <\/span>These e-mentoring experiences are intended to support the intense and specialized nature of each student\u2019s doctoral work.\u00a0 <\/span>This mixed methods research project is investigating the nature, perception, and impact of current\u00a0peer-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.<\/p>\n

Co-Investigators: Dr. Linda Niemeyer, Dr. Nancy Doyle, Dr. Liat Gafni-Lachter<\/p>\n

An interprofessonal experience: Home & community participation in Bogota, Colombia<\/strong><\/p>\n

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 Bogot\u00e1, 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<\/sup>. This robotic walker project is in collaboration with Professor Khurshid\u2019s 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 Bogot\u00e1, Colombia. For some participants, the benefits and limitations of their current forms of AT for mobility were also assessed.<\/p>\n

Karen\u00a0and other\u00a0researcher have completed\u00a0studies\/projects in the following areas:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Project Career: Development of an Interprofessional Demonstration to Support the Transition of Students with Traumatic Brain Injuries from Postsecondary Education to Employment<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/<\/a>www.kent.edu\/ehhs\/rhab\/projectcareer\/index.cfm<\/a><\/p>\n

Technology & Employment Coordinator at BU:\u00a0Amanda Nardone<\/p>\n

An investigation of parental knowledge of factors related to schoolbag carriage<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Co-Investigators: Karen Jacobs & Sara Dockrell,<\/p>\n

Other projects included:<\/p>\n