RESEARCH ASSISTANT – Telehealth Chronic Disease Self-Management Program

Reports to: Principal InvestigatorNumber of Positions Available: 1

Location: Women’s College Hospital, TorontoDates: August 2007 – August 2008

We have received funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to conduct a research study to improve access to Chronic Disease Self-Management Programs (CDSMP) in rural and remote communities in Northern Ontario. We have partnered with the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) and community health organizations to use video-conferencing technology to link program leaders and participants at different locations. Our primary research question is to determine if participation in a telehealth CDSMP will lead to an improvement in individual self-efficacy.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Working under the direction of the Investigator and/or more senior staff, the RESEARCH ASSISTANT will:

  • Be trained as a telehealth coordinator by the Ontario Telemedicine Network
  • Manage the coordination of leader, leader OTN studio, participant OTN studio and participant availability using a scheduling database
  • Utilize the scheduling database to book studio time for courses, assign leaders and register participants for courses and keep track of the data collection schedule
  • Organize leader “booster” telehealth training sessions as required
  • Develop community profiles of local organizations and health services to facilitate participant recruitment
  • Distribute recruitment materials to community organizations and health professionals
  • Input data from participant intake forms into the scheduling database
  • Mail out informed consent packages to eligible individuals
  • Distribute course materials to registered participants and OTN studios
  • Conduct four telephone surveys with approximately 250 individuals according to defined protocols with each participant at the following times: baseline, 7 weeks, 4 months, 1 year
  • Attend regular team meetings
  • Create a monthly electronic newsletter for project leaders

QUALIFICATIONS:

The successful candidate will have a Bachelors degree in a health related field or equivalent. Experience working on a research project is required. A high level of motivation and initiative is required to be successful in this position. It is essential that you are adept at working both independently and as a member of a team, that you are organized, detail-oriented and able to make sound decisions. Essential computer skills include word processing, spreadsheet, database and browser skills.

Applicants are asked to forward their resume / CV to Vinita Bansod.

No phone calls, only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

E-mail:

Fax: (416) 323-7513

Mail: Women’s College Hospital

76 Grenville Street, Suite 818

Toronto, Ontario M5S 1B2

Deadline: Monday, July 23, 2007