Got Research?

A proven product really needs two things: extensive field testing and well-conducted academic research. We share our clinical experiences with you through our clinicians, technical support staff, trade shows, workshops and Dafo Dynamics; we learn of your experiences at some of those same places.

Since products (especially new ones) can change radically in a few years, it’s hard for research to keep up. A bigger problem faced by academic researchers is connecting with study participants. Since all stakeholders are committed to patient privacy through HIPAA, this can be a daunting challenge.

We’re working on it, though. Here are two things that might help.

• We’ve updated our annotated list of research, and it’s posted on our website, www.cascadedafo.com.
• We’ve initiated a notice board, also on the website.

The notice board works like this: any researcher who is looking for study participants sends us a message (email is fine) briefly describing the study and the desired participant group. It includes the researcher’s contact information (not Cascade’s). Then parents can read these notices and respond directly to the researcher. We are out of the loop, yet researchers have a wider reach.

Researchers, do you need participants? Please visit www.cascadedafo.com/research and follow the guidelines to send us a message. We’ll post it as soon as we’ve reviewed it.

A Sample Notice

Sports Orthoses

I am conducting an exploratory study of the use of DAFO FlexiSport orthoses in sports situations. I need participants with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy between the ages of 4 and 9 who use the FlexiSport and those who don’t. If you live in the greater Chicago area, your child fits these criteria and you are willing for your child to be a study subject, please tell me. Participation will involve an initial assessment (walking, jumping, running) lasting about 60 minutes and two similar followup assessments within three months, each lasting about 60 minutes. Patient confidentiality is unconditionally assured and is required by law.

Ralph Jones
Windy City Health Sciences Center
ralphjones@healthsciences.windycity.edu
615/000-0000