HSR&D Senior Research Career Scientist Award

这项拟议的高级研究职业科学家奖是为了支持凯利·艾伦博士的活动， 设立退伍军人事务部(VA)卫生服务研究与发展部(HSR&D) 研究人员，使她能够扩大她的科学、指导和服务贡献。艾伦医生的 研究重点是改善慢性肌肉骨骼(MSK)患者的护理和预后， 尤其是骨性关节炎。艾伦博士的大部分研究都是在退伍军人管理局的医疗保健中进行的 系统。MSK是退伍军人中最普遍和最致残的疾病之一，他们患有 与普通人群相比，这些健康问题的负担更大。此外，Dr。 Allen和其他人已经证明，MSK条件下的护理质量存在差距，包括利用不足 一线循证治疗，如物理治疗和行为干预。致信地址 这些重要的挑战，艾伦博士的研究特别侧重于进行务实和 行为和健康服务干预对患者，特别是退伍军人的有效性试验 慢性MSK病症。这些试验的目标是开发和测试能够 在退伍军人管理局以及其他医疗保健系统中实施，以提高护理质量、效率和患者- 以结果为中心。 艾伦博士领导了八项针对MSK疾病干预的随机对照试验，以及一项 这一研究领域的先导性和观察性研究的数量。在艾伦博士领导的试验中，干预 方法包括基于电话的患者计划(自我管理、体力活动、体重 管理，疼痛认知行为疗法)，这是一种基于初级保健提供者的方法来改善 骨关节炎管理，基于团体的物理治疗，基于互联网的锻炼计划，以及 增加骨性关节炎患者体力活动和功能的护理方法。一个例子是 艾伦博士的研究对卫生系统产生的影响是当地退伍军人管理局以团体为基础实施的 骨性关节炎的理疗方案，被发现与个人理疗一样有效 但需要更少的资源，并且可以改善访问。艾伦博士也是许多MSK的联合研究员 研究，包括治疗骨性关节炎的不同护理模式和干预方法的五项积极试验 和慢性腰背痛。作为一名联合研究员，艾伦博士的贡献集中在 进行大规模的务实试验。 除了艾伦博士的研究活动外，她还为许多国家和国际组织做出了贡献 委员会和领导小组。最近的活动包括在退伍军人事务部HSR&D拨款审查小组提供服务， 高铁研发指导委员会非药物性疼痛管理最新会议，以及 退伍军人事务部疼痛测量工作组。她也是《骨关节炎和软骨》的副主编，领先的 整形外科杂志。 退伍军人事务部HSR&D高级研究职业科学家奖所允许的保护时间将允许艾伦博士 加强她对退伍军人事务部HSR&D使命的贡献，重点是改善对患有慢性病的退伍军人的护理 MSK条件，以及加强在退伍军人事务部进行务实试验。除了增加她的 全面参与地方和国家退伍军人管理局委员会，艾伦博士在颁奖期内拟议的活动 包括：1)领导广泛的努力，了解MSK条件下治疗效果的异质性，2) 建立和领导一个国家工作组，以加强和促进退伍军人事务部的务实试验和3) 增加对初级调查人员的指导，这些调查人员在慢性疾病的护理模式和质量方面具有专业知识和兴趣 MSK条件。

This proposed Senior Research Career Scientist award is to support the activities of Dr. Kelli Allen, an established Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) investigator, allowing her to her expand her scientific, mentoring and service contributions. Dr. Allen’s research focuses on improving care and outcomes for patients with chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, particularly osteoarthritis. The majority of Dr. Allen’s research has been conducted in the VA healthcare system. MSK conditions are among the most prevalent and disabling conditions among Veterans, who bear a greater burden of these health problems compared with the general population. In addition, research by Dr. Allen and others has shown that there are gaps in quality of care for MSK conditions, including underutilization of first-line, evidence-based treatments such as physical therapy and behavioral interventions. To address these important challenges, Dr. Allen’s research particularly focuses on conducting pragmatic and effectiveness trials of behavioral and health services interventions for patients, particularly Veterans, with chronic MSK conditions. The goal of these trials is to develop and test programs and delivery models that can be implemented in the VA, as well as other healthcare systems, to improve care quality, efficiency and patient- centered outcomes. Dr. Allen has led eight randomized controlled trials of interventions for MSK conditions, as well as a number of pilot and observational studies in this research area. Among trials Dr. Allen has led, intervention approaches have included telephone-based patient programs (self-management, physical activity, weight management, cognitive behavioral therapy for pain), a primary care provider-based approach to improve osteoarthritis management, group-based physical therapy, internet-based exercise programs, and a stepped care approach to increasing physical activity and function in patients with osteoarthritis. One example of a health system impact resulting from Dr. Allen’s research is the local VA implementation of a group-based physical therapy program for osteoarthritis, which was found to be as effective as individual physical therapy but requires fewer resources and can improve access. Dr. Allen has also been a co-investigator on many MSK studies, including five active trials of diverse care models and intervention approaches for treating osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain. As a co-investigator, Dr. Allen’s contributions focus on methodologies for conducting large pragmatic trials. In addition to Dr. Allen’s research activities, she has contributed to many national and international committees and leadership panels. Recent activities include service on VA HSR&D grant review panels, the steering committee for HSR&D State of the Art Meeting on Non-Pharmacological Pain Management, and the VA Pain Measures Work Group. She is also an Associate Editor for Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, a leading orthopedic journal. The protected time allowed by a VA HSR&D Senior Research Career Scientist award will allow Dr. Allen to enhance her contributions to the VA HSR&D mission, with a focus on improving care for Veterans with chronic MSK conditions, as well as enhancing the conduct of pragmatic trials in the VA. In addition to increasing her overall participation in local and national VA committees, Dr. Allen’s proposed activities for the award period include: 1) Leading a broad effort to understand heterogeneity of treatment effects in MSK conditions, 2) Developing and leading a national work group to enhance and facilitate pragmatic trials in the VA and 3) Increasing mentorship of junior investigators with expertise and interests in care models and quality for chronic MSK conditions.