HSR&D Senior Research Career Scientist Award

这个提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， 成立退伍军人事务部（VA）卫生服务研究与发展（HSR&D） 调查员，使她能够扩大她的科学，指导和服务贡献。艾伦医生 研究重点是改善慢性肌肉骨骼（MSK）疾病患者的护理和结果， 特别是骨关节炎。艾伦博士的大部分研究都是在退伍军人事务部医疗保健部门进行的 系统MSK条件是退伍军人中最普遍和最致残的条件之一， 与一般人口相比，这些健康问题的负担更大。此外，博士的研究。 艾伦和其他人已经表明，有差距的照顾质量的MSK条件，包括利用不足 一线循证治疗，如物理治疗和行为干预。解决 这些重要的挑战，艾伦博士的研究特别侧重于进行务实和 对患者，特别是退伍军人，进行行为和健康服务干预的有效性试验， 慢性MSK病症。这些试验的目标是开发和测试程序和交付模型， 在VA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条件的干预措施的随机对照试验，以及一项 在这一研究领域进行的试点和观察性研究的数量。在艾伦博士领导的试验中， 方法包括基于电话的患者程序（自我管理、身体活动、体重 管理，疼痛的认知行为疗法），以初级保健提供者为基础的方法，以改善 骨关节炎管理，以小组为基础的物理治疗，基于互联网的锻炼计划，和一个阶梯式的 增加骨关节炎患者身体活动和功能的护理方法。的一个示例 卫生系统的影响，从博士艾伦的研究是当地VA实施的一组为基础的 物理治疗计划的骨关节炎，这是发现是一样有效的个人物理治疗 但需要较少的资源，并可改善获取。艾伦博士也是许多MSK的共同研究者 研究，包括五项积极的试验，涉及治疗骨关节炎的各种护理模式和干预方法 慢性腰痛。作为一名合作研究者，艾伦博士的贡献集中在方法学上， 进行大规模务实试验。 除了艾伦博士的研究活动外，她还为许多国家和国际 委员会和领导小组。最近的活动包括服务于VA HSR&D赠款审查小组， HSR&D非药物疼痛管理最新技术会议指导委员会，以及 VA疼痛测量工作组。她也是骨关节炎和腕关节炎的副编辑， 骨科杂志 VA HSR&D高级研究职业科学家奖允许的受保护时间将使艾伦博士能够 加强她对VA HSR&D使命的贡献，重点是改善对患有慢性疾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的审判。除了增加她的 全面参与地方和国家退伍军人管理委员会、艾伦博士在颁奖期间提议的活动 包括：1）领导广泛的努力，以了解MSK条件下治疗效果的异质性，2） 发展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审判，以及3） 增加对具有专业知识和对慢性病护理模式和质量感兴趣的初级研究人员的指导 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.