Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2011
Mentor: Dr. Adam Miller
Department: Department of Surgery/Division of Emergency Medicine
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Phone number: 214-648-2965
E-mail: Adam.Miller@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: Medication Refill Seeking Behaviors in ED patients of Chronic Disease
Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):
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Project Type patient-based research
Brief Description of Project:
This project involves a prospective cross-sectional ED study. The student will create a survey under Dr. Miller’s guidance to observe age, income and payment status for patients presenting for medication refills in the ED. Patients with three common chronic illnesses will be surveyed: diabetes, congestive heart failure and/or hypertension. The survey will be conducted over the course of the summer, with a projected goal of over 1000 patients. The student will then work on statistical analyses and writing up results for publication and poster presentations.
Research Question:
Through surveying the patient population at the parkland ED, we hope to determine which patients appear again and again to the ED to seek refills to medications for their chronic illnesses and what barriers (insurance, transportation, lack of primary care physician) lead them to seek treatment in the ED rather than with a primary care physician.
Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students: