Despite the popularity of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), little is known about the feasibility and effectiveness of CAM for low income minority populations. Additionally, although a number of academic medical centers are starting to offer CAM educational programs for their faculty, Boston University Medical Center does not have any initiative to educate faculty about CAM research. Lastly, although some family medicine and primary care residency programs have begun including CAM teaching cases into curricula, the majority have not, and there are no national models of CAM teaching cases for residency training. My career goals are to become an independent research investigator of CAM for low income populations, a leader in CAM education at Boston University Medical Center, and a national leader in CAM curriculum development and research for family medicine and primary care. If awarded, a K07 Academic Career Development Award would provide the necessary support to reach these goals. My co-mentors are Larry Culpepper, M.D., M.P.H., Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at Boston University, and Russell Phillips, M.D., Chief of the Division of General Medicine and Primary Care at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. To gain experience in CAM research with low income populations, my first specific aim is to conduct a randomized controlled feasibility trial of hatha yoga classes versus a wait list control group for 30 low income English and Spanish speaking individuals with chronic low back pain. An expert panel will develop a standardized yoga protocol that will be taught in English and Spanish. To become a leader at my institution in CAM education, my second specific aim is to present Grand Rounds about CAM research to twelve different clinical departments and study their impact. Each presentation will review CAM research specific to the interests of the department. Wireless audience response technology will be used to measure and compare the attendees' pre- and post-presentation attitudes towards CAM research, education, and clinical integration. To gain experience in CAM curriculum design and evaluation, I will assemble a working group that will develop a standardized CAM curriculum of twelve teaching cases. The evidence- based cases will be piloted and evaluated prior to being published for national dissemination to family medicine and primary care residency programs. To inform these three aims, I will pursue coursework in clinical trial design, longitudinal analysis, cost effectiveness analysis, human subject protection, cross-cultural care, educational theory, curriculum design, and computer-assisted instruction. The training provided by this award would prepare me well to become a successful independently-funded CAM investigator focused on the needs of low income populations and innovation in CAM education, both at my institution and nationally.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
Type
Academic/Teacher Award (ATA) (K07)
Project #
5K07AT002915-02
Application #
7097493
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAT1-LD (01))
Program Officer
Hopp, Craig
Project Start
2005-08-01
Project End
2010-06-30
Budget Start
2006-07-01
Budget End
2007-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$128,493
Indirect Cost
Name
Boston Medical Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
005492160
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02118
Koch, Iris; Moriarty, Maeve; Sui, Jie et al. (2013) Bioaccessibility of mercury in selected Ayurvedic medicines. Sci Total Environ 454-455:9-15
Streeter, C C; Gerbarg, P L; Saper, R B et al. (2012) Effects of yoga on the autonomic nervous system, gamma-aminobutyric-acid, and allostasis in epilepsy, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Med Hypotheses 78:571-9
Highfield, Ellen Silver; Spellman, Lisa; Barnes, Linda L et al. (2012) Profile of minority and under-served patients using acupuncture. Complement Ther Med 20:70-2
Koch, Iris; Moriarty, Maeve; House, Kim et al. (2011) Bioaccessibility of lead and arsenic in traditional Indian medicines. Sci Total Environ 409:4545-52
Jayawardene, Innocent; Saper, Robert; Lupoli, Nicola et al. (2010) Determination of in vitro bioaccessibility of Pb, As, Cd and Hg in selected traditional Indian medicines. J Anal At Spectrom 25:1275-1282
Saper, Robert B; Sherman, Karen J; Cullum-Dugan, Diana et al. (2009) Yoga for chronic low back pain in a predominantly minority population: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Altern Ther Health Med 15:18-27
Saper, Robert B; Rash, Rebecca (2009) Zinc: an essential micronutrient. Am Fam Physician 79:768-72
Saper, Robert B; Phillips, Russell S; Sehgal, Anusha et al. (2008) Lead, mercury, and arsenic in US- and Indian-manufactured Ayurvedic medicines sold via the Internet. JAMA 300:915-23
Wilkinson, Joanne E; Saper, Robert B; Rosen, Amy K et al. (2008) Prayer for health and primary care: results from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey. Fam Med 40:638-44
Highfield, Ellen Silver; Barnes, Linda; Spellman, Lisa et al. (2008) If you build it, will they come? A free-care acupuncture clinic for minority adolescents in an urban hospital. J Altern Complement Med 14:629-36

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