DISABILITY PREVENTION FOR MOBILITY IMPAIRED OLDER ADULTS

该指导公共卫生研究科学家发展奖的候选人是一名初级研究员，他计划建立一个独立的研究职业生涯，研究物理环境对老年残疾人的影响。拟议的职业发展计划建立在候选人现有的临床和研究优势，以发展公共卫生研究方法，健康结果和衰老生物学方面的专业知识。该培训计划旨在促进在高生产力和科学丰富的学术环境中提高独立性。教学课程，量身定制，以满足学习需求和候选人的研究兴趣，将导致硕士学位。在公共卫生。在指导和咨询委员会的指导下，PI将进行一项研究，旨在为多中心临床试验提供初步数据。这个指导培训期的目标是从这个程序中脱颖而出，作为一个独立的研究者，具有出版物的既定记录和一个完全资助的研究计划。该培训计划的研究部分是为了应对寿命更长但患有更多慢性疾病的老年人的激增而开发的。有希望的初步研究表明，环境支持可以预防与衰老有关的残疾，并可能改善健康状况。拟议的研究将检查家庭改造的临床干预的有效性。本研究的目的是：1）客观评估研究人群的身体活动水平; 2）确定环境改造干预是否可以改善研究人群的功能表现; 3）确定优化研究人群活动表现所需的环境改造类型和剂量; 4）确定将研究结果转化为国家计划的可行性。将进行一项随机对照试验，以研究环境支持如何影响90名患有行动障碍的慢性病老年人的功能表现、健康相关生活质量和体力活动水平。研究结果将用于设计一项多中心随机对照试验（R 01），并将转化为公共卫生从业人员的干预策略，以改善家庭的可及性，并减少患有行动障碍的慢性病老年人的残疾。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The candidate for this Mentored Public Health Research Scientist Development Award is a junior investigator who plans to establish an independent research career studying the influence of the physical environment on older adults with disabilities. The proposed career development plan builds on the candidate's existing clinical and research strengths to develop expertise in public health research methods, health outcomes, and the biology of aging. The training program is designed to promote increasing independence in a highly productive and scientifically enriched academic environment. Didactic coursework, tailored to meet the learning needs and research interests of the candidate, will result in a M.S. in Public Health. Under the direction of a mentoring and advisory committee, the PI will conduct a research study designed to provide preliminary data for a multi site clinical trial. The goal of this mentored training period is to emerge from this program as an independent investigator with an established record of publications and a fully funded program of research. The research component of this training program was developed in response to the surge of aging adults who are living longer, but with more chronic conditions. Promising preliminary research suggest that environmental support can prevent aging-related disability and potentially lead to improved health outcomes. The proposed study will examine the efficacy of a clinical intervention of home modifications. The aims of this study are to 1) objectively assess physical activity levels in the study population; 2) determine if an environmental modification intervention can improve functional performance in the study population; 3) determine the type and dose of the environmental modification necessary to optimize activity performance for the study population; and 4) determine feasibility of translating findings into a national program. A randomized controlled trial will be conducted to examine how environmental support influences functional performance, health related quality of life and physical activity levels of 90 chronically diseased older adults with mobility impairments. The findings will be used to design a multi site randomized controlled trial (R01)and will be translated into intervention strategies for public health practitioners to improve accessibility in homes and lead to decreased disability among chronically diseased older adults with mobility impairments.