Research Services

  • Research & Evaluation Design
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Report Writing & Editing
  • Survey Development & Administration
  • Outcome Measurement
  • Focus Group Planning & Facilitation

    why choose vida?

    • A full menu of research & evaluation services
    • Range of projects and ability to work within all budgets
    • Focus placed on evidence-based strategies
    • Experienced NIH-funded researchers with numerous grant awards
    • Multi-method approach: qualitative & quantitative research mix
    • Experienced in developing focused outcome measurements
     

    case studies 

    Formative Research: Managing Environmental Risks in Pregnancy

    Formative research greatly enhances the quality of educational programs.  It is most useful during the earliest phases of program development.  For example, when Vida designed a video for pregnant women about Managing Environmental Risks in Pregnancy, it used two types of formative research: (a) Key Informant Interviews of academic experts, clinicians and pregnant women, and (b) Focus Groups of clinicians and pregnant women.  In this case, Vida’s Research Department provided these essential services:

    • Research design and human subjects approval
    • Develop semi-structured interview schedules, focus group guides
    • Focus group moderation
    • Qualitative data analysis

    For more information on this case study please click here.

    Evaluation: Clinical Trial – Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

    Once an educational program has been developed, a rigorous evaluation is important to assess whether it achieves its objectives.  One of the best ways to find out is to conduct a randomized or controlled clinical trial.  When Vida completed the package Promoting Preterm Infant Development, the programs (one for nurses and one for parents) were tested in four Neonatal Intensive Care Units.  Results showed that nurses increased their knowledge of developmentally supportive care for newborns, and parents had less stress and more confidence.  In this case, Vida’s Research Department provided these essential services:

    • Research design and human subjects approval
    • Develop and pre-test survey instruments
    • Project management, subject recruitment, data collection
    • Data management and analysis
    • Writing final report and manuscript

    For more information on this case study please click here.

    Evaluation: OSCE – Youth Violence

    When a program’s goal is to improve clinical skills, observation is superior to a questionnaire.  To evaluate its Youth Violence Prevention Training for Health Practitioners, Vida proposed to use “observed structured clinical encounters.”  Trained simulated patients present clinicians with a scenario that calls for the skills covered in the program, and later score the clinicians on the skills they demonstrated.  In this case, in addition to evaluation services in Case #2, Vida’s Research Department provided these essential services:

    • Develop vignettes based on program content
    • Develop training and assessment protocols for actors
    • Develop and pre-test outcome measures

    For more information on this case study please click here.
     

    contacts

      Allison Morrill, JD, PhD
      Director of Research & Evaluation
      (617) 744-1765
      Allison.Morrill@Vida-Health.com

              Aimee Arvan
              Marketing Director
              (617) 864-4334 ext. 17
              Aimee.Arvan@Vida-Health.com