Studies Seeking Research Volunteers

Several of our research studies are currently seeking volunteers. If you would like to participate in, or learn more about one of the projects listed below, please contact the person listed for that project.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Studies

• Telephone Intervention for Pain for Persons with MS
• Evaluating Desktop and Mobile User Interfaces for Improving Accessibility and Usability
• Aging with MS and other Physical Disabilities Survey Study

Telephone Intervention for Pain for Persons with MS

Researchers in the departments of Orthopedics, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington are seeking study participants in a project investigating treatment for pain related to multiple sclerosis.

Treatment interventions focusing on providing education about chronic pain and how to change how a person thinks about and copes with his/her pain have been used to treat chronic pain in the general population. The purpose of this study is to see if these treatments delivered over the telephone can benefit persons with multiple sclerosis. Specifically, we want to determine if these treatments can help reduce the negative consequences that pain often causes in terms of a person's mood, daily activities, and enjoyment of life.

We are also interested in finding out if these treatments decrease a person's pain. Subjects will participate in eight 60-minute treatment sessions performed over the telephone by one of the study’s clinicians. Subjects will also participate in telephone interviews before, during, and after treatment sessions. Participation in the study will last approximately 13 months. Compensation for completion of the telephone interviews is provided.

To participate in this study, you must be at least 18 years of age, have moderate to severe chronic pain, be able to communicate over the telephone, and be able to speak, read and understand English.

For more information, please contact Telephone Intervention for Pain Study (TIPS) staff at (206) 616-9058 or 1 (866) 928-2104 or email painstdy@u.washington.edu. Please remember that we cannot guarantee the confidentiality of any information sent by e-mail.

[to top]

Evaluating Desktop and Mobile User Interfaces for Improving Accessibility and Usability

We are studying ways to improve the accessibility of desktop computers, particularly for people with motor impairments (e.g., tremor, low strength, poor coordination, rapid fatigue.) To this end, we are looking for subjects to participate in our study.

This study will ask you to perform some simple mousing tasks with a computer mouse, like clicking on buttons or moving over line segments. The study will take place at our lab on the University of Washington campus.

If you are interested in participating in our study, "Evaluating Desktop and Mobile User Interfaces for Improving Accessibility and Usability," please call (510) 410-9323 or email eunky@u.washington.edu. (Please note that we cannot guarantee the confidentiality of email.)

We are narrowing our research to people with the following qualities:

• 18 years old or older
• Some form of motor impairment that affects the use of the hands (e.g., tremor, low strength, poor coordination, fatigue, accuracy difficulties, speed difficulties, etc.)
• Mouse, touchpad or trackball users

We encourage people of all genders, ethnicities, and familiarity levels with computers to participate. Realize that it is only the technology we are testing, not you!

You will be paid $30 for your time. The study will take approximately an hour or longer.

Feel free to take a look at our research group website to find out more our research program.

[to top]

Aging with MS and other Physical Disabilities Survey Study

It may be surprising to you, but rehabilitation professionals don’t know much about the natural course of aging with physical disabilities such as muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, post polio syndrome, and spinal cord injury. It is important to understand how aging impacts your life with a disability, and what to expect long term as a person with a physical disability ages. The most fundamental requirement for increasing our knowledge and developing effective treatments is the availability of reliable, sensitive, and meaningful ways of measuring things like pain, fatigue, mobility, and communication, and their effects on day-to-day functioning.

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

If you decide to participate in this study, we will ask you to fill out two to four surveys over the course of four years, depending on your age. As long as you are over 18, you are eligible to participate. These surveys will ask you about your experience with pain, fatigue, sleep, participation in daily activities, your social support, and general mood and outlook. The survey will also ask for some basic demographic information, such as your age, gender, and education. The survey will take about 60 minutes to complete. Each time we have received your completed survey, you will receive a check for $25 for your time and effort.

Participating in this research is completely voluntary. You may decide not to participate in this study, and you may withdraw from the study at any time. Your decision to withdraw will not affect your health care in any way. There are no penalties or loss of benefits if you choose not to take part in the study or if you decide to withdraw early.

PARTICIPATE

If you would like to participate, please contact project staff at:

University of Washington
Aging Rehabilitation Research and Training Center
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
206-221-5641 or 1-888-634-6778
agerrtc@u.washington.edu *

*Please remember that we cannot guarantee the confidentiality of any information sent by email.

[to top]