Employer and Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) Professionals Perceptions Study

The Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut is seeking employers and Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) professionals to participate in a research study to understand the perceptions of employers and OEHS professionals regarding the employment of athletic trainers in the occupational setting and the athletic trainer’s role in mitigating heat stress. The time commitment will be 1-1.5 hours and participants will be compensated.

You are eligible to participate if you meet the following criteria:

• Over the age of 18
• Currently employed as a non-medical, OEHS professional or employer (i.e. environmental health and safety manager, safety manager, industrial hygienist, CEO, or owner, etc.)
• Currently have an athletic trainer employed at their place of work
• Can speak English fluently
• Have access to a phone or computer for the interview

We those who meet the criteria above to participate in a one-hour interview conducted over the phone or virtual WebEx platform. If qualified and decide to participate, participation in this study is completely voluntary.

Please fill out this screening questionnaire so we can ensure you are eligible (if interested)

We will keep your information private and no information will be shared with your employer. The audio from your interview will be recorded to allow researchers to write down what you have said and to better organize the information at a later time. Audio recordings will be destroyed at least three years after the end of this study. We will use the information we learn to for published articles or for presentations to other scientists. We will keep your information private by using pseudonyms for you and your institution. Others will not be able to identify you in those papers or presentations.

If you meet the inclusion criteria, you will be contacted through email or phone call to set up a phone interview.

For more information, contact Cecelia Kaufman at cecilia.kaufman@uconn.edu.

UConn research study to improve arm function through play in children with hemiplegia

Researchers at the University of Connecticut are conducting a research study to compare the effects of 2 types of play-based interventions (SPEED and CRAFT) to improve affected arm function in children with hemiplegia between 3 and 8 years. The study will be conducted within the child’s home or in their community within a 1.5- hour driving radius from the University of Connecticut, Storrs campus.

This study, funded through NIH, will involve a 6-week intervention where researchers will provide training sessions to the child 2 times/week. Caregivers will also be trained to provide 2 additional sessions with their
child each week.

The SPEED group (Strength and Power in upper Extremities through Exploratory Driving) will receive training using powered ride-on-toys operated with a single joystick provided on the child’s affected side. The CRAFT group (Creative Rehabilitation for Arm Function Training) will receive playful creative activities to improve strength and flexibility in the affected arm and hand. Both groups will encourage children to use their affected arm for goal-directed activities in fun and engaging ways.

If you are interested in learning more about the study or participating in the study, please contact study principal investigator, Sudha Srinivasan at sudha.srinivasan@uconn.edu or at 860-486-6192.