Armstrong, April

Institution: University of California, Davis
Grant Title: Patient-Centered Online Care Model for Follow-up Management of Atopic Dermatitis
Grant Number: K08 HS018341
Duration: 5 years (2009-2014)
Total Award: $710,400

Project Description: The project has three main aims:

1. Assess the effect of a asynchronous, online model for delivering direct, follow-up dermatologic care on clinical outcomes in patients with atopic dermatitis.
2. Evaluate the effect of the asynchronous, online model for delivering direct, follow-up dermatologic care on quality of life in patients with atopic dermatitis.
3. Determine the level of patient satisfaction and patient knowledge about atopic dermatitis in the asynchronous, online model for delivering direct, follow-up dermatologic care.

Career Goals: Dr. Armstrong is an Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Director of Teledermatology Program in the Department of Dermatology at the University of California, Davis. She received her MD from Harvard Medical School and served an internship in Internal Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital. This was followed by a residency in Dermatology in the Harvard Combined Dermatology Program. Dr. Armstrong was then awarded a Connetics Clinical Research Fellowship for Improving Access to Dermatologic Care: Center for Connected Health at the Massachusetts General Hospital. The grantee's long-term career goal is to increase access to specialist care for patients in rural and medically underserved communities.

Progress to Date: The Principal Investigator (PI) evaluated two major platforms for carrying out the online visits in the proposed study. She has compiled several instruments for assessing clinical, quality of life, and satisfaction outcomes. Recruitment efforts for study participants are underway.

Future Plans: Dr. Armstrong will continue collecting data on both the control and intervention arms of the study. She will attend Harvard School of Public Health full time during the summer of 2010 for coursework towards her MPH.

Highlights and Specific Accomplishments:

• Academic Research Grant Award, Women's Dermatologic Society, 2009.
• Resident Award, Teledermatology Special Interest Group, American Telemedicine Association, 2008.
• Research grant to study medication adherence, Information Systems Research Council, Partners HealthCare, 2007.

K-Generated Publications: None thus far.

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