Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2009

Mentor: Danielle M. Robertson, O.D., Ph.D.
Department: Ophthalmology
Room number: E7.234
Mail Code: 9057
Phone number: 8-3416
E-mail: Danielle.robertson@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: A three month prospective study evaluating contact lens compliance with wearing schedule and care regimen

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): pending

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects)

Patient-based research

Brief Description of Project:

Patient compliance with contact lens wear remains an on-going problem and a significant risk factor for infection. Despite new and improved lens designs and care products, risk for microbial infection has remained unchanged in past decades with incidence rates of 4/10,000 wearers per year for daily and 20/10,000 wearers per year for overnight lens wear. With approximately 135 million patients wearing contact lenses worldwide, the identification and elimination of critical risk factors is imperative to maximizing contact lens safety. The focus of this project is to assess patient compliance with contact lens wearing schedules and care regimens in established contact lens wearers. Based upon previously reported studies of compliance, a brief questionnaire is currently being derived by me and my collaborator Dr. Dwight Cavanagh, which will contain approximately 25 questions (see Eye & Contact Lens 33(6): 430-433, 2007). All patients will be surveyed in the contact lens clinic at UTSWMC at the completion of their examinations. We anticipate approximately 100 - 150 patients will be evaluated. The medical student will be responsible for administering the questionnaire to each patient (ie. verbally questioning each patient) and all subsequent data collection. Under both my guidance and my collaborator, the medical student will then participate in the data analysis and manuscript preparation. Data will be evaluated with the input and validation of the Biostatistics department. If the student does an extraordinary job, he will be encouraged to submit his findings for presentation at a national meeting.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

Jerry P. Kalangara - oral presentation at UTSW medical student research forum
Ifeoma Achebe
Josh Hubregsen
Rebecca Baucom - poster presentation at UTSW medical student research forum