Developing Research Infrastructure: the Puerto Rico Health Services Research Institute Experience

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On September 14, 2009, Roberto E. Torres-Zeno made this presentation at the 2009 Annual Conference. Select to access the PowerPoint® presentation (211 KB).

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Slide 1

Developing Research Infrastructure: the Puerto Rico Health Services Research Institute Experience

Roberto E. Torres-Zeno, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Health Services Administration Department
University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health

AHRQ 2009 Annual Conference
September 14, 2009
 

 

Slide 2

Acknowledgement

• Research project supported by grant # 6 R24 HS014060-06 awarded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
• Project Period: 2003-2009
• AHRQ Minority Research Infrastructure Support Program (MRISP)

 

Slide 3

Purpose of Presentation

• Identify purpose and specific aims of AHRQ award
• Describe partnerships between the PRHSRI and collaborating organizations
• Impact on health services delivery system in PR
• Identify challenges of developing a research infrastructure support system

 

Slide 4

Grant Specific Aims

• Establish and maintain an administrative structure in the Health Services Administration Department (HSAD) in the Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH)
• Establish a faculty development and mentoring program that will enhance the HSAD and GSPH capabilities to undertake health services research

 

Slide 5

Grant Specific Aims

• Formulate and conduct pilot projects in health services research that will lead toward more comprehensive investigations through the submission of proposals for external funding

 

Slide 6

Grant Specific Aims

• Provide methodological and technical support that will facilitate:
  • the identification and advancement of potential research ideas
  • The development of successful research proposals for external funding
  • Conducting pilot research projects in health services research focusing on health disparities
  • The dissemination of research findings for policy development purposes

 

Slide 7

Pilot Research Projects

• Health Services Utilization Pattern of Children and Adolescents with Asthma by Health Insurance Status in Puerto Rico
• The Effect of Health Care Reform on Infant Mortality: The Case of Puerto Rico
• Psychometric Properties of the Performance of Mental Health Services for Children and Adolescents (Organizational Climate)

 

Slide 8

Pilot Research Projects

• Health Seeking Behavior and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Utilization Patterns in Puerto Rico: Implications for Health Policy and Administration
• Development of a Spanish Version of the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT)
• Social Environment and Family Factors Associated with Childhood Obesity Among Elementary School Students in Puerto Rico

 

Slide 9

Partnerships

• Academia and US Federal Government
  • US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Obesity Project (PI: Dr. Winna Rivera)
    • Collaboration in Dietary Research - US Department of Agriculture Extramural Agreement
    • Use of USDA Dietary Intake Software by PRHSRI researchers

 

Slide 10

Partnerships

• Academia and US Federal Government
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Obesity Project (PI: Dr. Winna Rivera)
    • In exchange of technical review and updates of Puerto Rican foods and recipes in the USDA Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies
    • 4-day training provided to PRHSRI researchers on use of USDA Dietary Intake Software

 

Slide 11

Partnerships

• Academia and US Federal Government
  • Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Project (PI: Roberto E. Torres-Zeno)
    • Access to 2007 NHIS CAM Supplement instrument (Spanish version) for cultural adaptation in Puerto Rico
    • Technical Support by NCHS/CDC
    • Potential use to study Puerto Ricans in the US
    • Potential use to compare Puerto Ricans in the US vs Puerto Ricans living in the island

 

Slide 12

Partnerships

• Academia and PR Government
  • Puerto Rico Health Department Maternal and Child Health Division & Infant Mortality Project (PI: Dr. Heriberto Mar�n)
    • Database provided by Puerto Rico Health Department.
    • MCH Division Director member of PRHSRI Advisory Board.
    • Research findings shared with MCH Division.

 

Slide 13

Partnerships

• Academia and PR Government
  • Puerto Rico Health Department Maternal and Child Health Division & PRHSRI Infant Mortality Project (PI: Dr. Heriberto Mar�n)
    • Research findings shared with Commission on Evaluation of the Puerto Rico Health Care System (2006)
    • Mar�n et al., The Effect of Managed Care on Prenatal Care: the Case of Puerto Rico, Maternal and Child Health Journal, 2009 Mar;13(2):187-97. Epub 2008 (May 17)

 

Slide 14

Partnerships

• Academia and PR Government
  • PR Department of Education and Obesity Project (PI: Dr. Winna Rivera)
    • Access to elementary school children and parents for study authorized by PR Department of Education
    • Research findings available to PR Department of Health Maternal and Child Health Division
    • Potential projects to replicate study in other school districts

 

Slide 15

Partnerships

• Within University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus (UPRMSC)
  • Cancer Center Research proposal
  • Puerto Rico Comprehensive Center for the Study of HIV Disparities ($25,000 for PCAT validation on HIV populations)
  • School of Medicine Endowed Health Services Research Center
  • GSPH Human Nutrition Program (Obesity Project)

 

Slide 16

Partnerships

• Community Organizations and Academia
  • Primary Health Care Association of Puerto Rico, Inc. and PCAT Project (PI: Dr. Ruth R�os)
  • Access to primary care centers
  • Access to physicians and administrators
  • Access to patients
• Future dissemination of research findings
• Potential improvement of primary health care centers delivery system in Puerto Rico

 

Slide 17

Concluding Remarks

• Strong partnership development
• Knowledge development on health services issues
• Challenges
  • Use findings and acquired knowledge
  • Dissemination
  • Influence health policy
  • Change in the delivery system
  • PRHSRI external funding
• www.prhsri.rcm.upr.edu