The REGARDS-Sepsis study will identify individual and community-level risk factors for sepsis, as well as strategies to prevent sepsis and reduce its high mortality. Emergency Medicine and Public Health researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) are conducting this five-year study, which is supported by a grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Learn more about the REGARDS and REGARDS-Sepsis studies.
HCV Awareness, Risk Assessment, and Healthcare Utilization Among “Baby Boomers” Presenting to the UAB Emergency Department”The CDC recently updated Hepatitis C virus (HCV) risk and screening guidelines to include one-time testing for all persons born between the years 1945 and 1965 (“Baby Boomers”). The purpose of this survey research is to prospectively evaluate the awareness of HCV infection risk, healthcare utilization patterns, and HCV infection risk behaviors of Baby Boomers who utilize the emergency department.
Facilitating HIV/AIDS and HIV Testing for Literacy for Emergency Department Patients
The purpose of this study is to test whether individuals presenting to Emergency Department (ED) study sites retain knowledge about HIV/AIDS better when presented with an informational video versus brochure. Both the video and the brochure aim to increase HIV testing knowledge, motivation, and behavioral skills, and impact HIV re-testing behaviors. We will assess short-term improvement in HIV/AIDS and HIV testing knowledge and longer-term retention over 12 months. This is a multi-site, randomized, controlled, longitudinal trial. The larger study will stratify samples within language (English or Spanish speaking) by health literacy level, and randomly assign patients within health literacy level to receive HIV/AIDS and HIV testing information by video or a pictorial brochure.
Applying the Biopsychosocial Model to Post-MVC Pain Development in African Americans
This study examines the mechanisms of pain and psychological sequelae that are common after minor motor vehicle collision, but poorly understood.
Utilization, Hospitalization and Outcomes of Heart Failure Patients Presenting to UAB Emergency Departments: A Prospective Study
The purpose of this study is to identify and recruit a cohort of heart failure (HF) patients who present to UAB Emergency Departments. Our objective is to conduct a prospective study that will improve our understanding of ED utilization, hospitalization, and outcomes among HF patients in our community. Results from this study will allow us to identify ways to improve our management of HF patients. In particular, this project will prioritize HF-related health disparities among underserved minority patients and the elderly by emphasizing comparisons between African American and Caucasian HF patients, and between older (65+ years) and younger (50 to less than 65 years) HF patients.
Emergency Care of Older Adults: Analysis of Different Care Models
There are 20 million visits to US emergency departments by adults 65 years or older each year, yet no consensus basic plan of care existed until 2014. Our team, including authors of that consensus plan, is working to evaluate the feasibility of that model across different patient populations.