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TREET: Training in Rehabilitation Efficacy and Effectiveness Trials

ReHaB Core ⟩

Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) continue to be the gold standard for assessing the efficacy and effectiveness of rehabilitation science interventions. Unfortunately, relatively few researchers have completed large-scale trials of rehabilitation interventions, and there are no centralized training programs that impart the wide array of skills necessary to conduct such studies. The NCMRR Research Plan specifies that postdoctoral training programs be established to produce researchers capable of performing clinical trials. The training program at the University of Southern California enabled doctoral level scholars from rehabilitation-related fields to gain the expertise necessary to perform sophisticated clinical trials, including comparative effectiveness studies.

Over a five year period, 10 PhD level researchers were recruited to undergo an intensive two-year training sequence which involved exposure to all phases of clinical trials research. Reflecting a strong interdisciplinary emphasis, faculty members from three program branches (occupational therapy, physical therapy, and advanced technology) oversaw a coordinated training experience that included individualized mentorship plans, core coursework, participation in training seminars, immersion in externally funded projects, and writing of grant proposals and research publications. The training was organized around four core themes:

1. the identification of effective interventions for children (pediatric rehabilitation);
2. protective and risk factors in adults with disabilities;
3. the rehabilitation and subsequent reintegration of people with disabilities into the community (acute and community-based rehabilitation); and
4. applications of innovative technology.

Anticipated trainee outcomes include an increased capacity to independently conduct RCTs and an increase in the quantity and rigor of rehabilitation science publications. In the long term, the ability to train a cohort of young career scientists in RCT methodology will lead to an improved research base that will promote the development and testing of interventions that increase the effectiveness of rehabilitation services.

Funding

Type	Source	Number	Amount	Period
Federal	NIH / Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) / National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) / National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR)	5T32HD064578-05	$168,363	May 2015 – Apr 2016
Federal	NIH / Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) / NICHD / NCMRR	5T32HD064578-04	$293,671	May 2014 – Apr 2015
Federal	NIH / Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) / NICHD / NCMRR	5T32HD064578-03	$284,152	May 2013 – Apr 2014
Federal	NIH / Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) / NICHD / NCMRR	5T32HD064578-02	$228,228	May 2012 – Apr 2013
Federal	NIH / Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) / NICHD / NCMRR	1T32HD064578-01A1	$110,187	May 2011 – Apr 2012

USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
1540 Alcazar Street, CHP 133, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9003

ACOTE accreditation | NBCOT certification

The USC entry-level master’s degree program (cost of attendance) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education® (ACOTE®) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The USC entry-level doctorate in occupational therapy (OTD) degree program (cost of attendance) is accredited by ACOTE®. View our program’s ACOTE® standards public data. ACOTE® c/o the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.®, 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 652-AOTA, www.acoteonline.org.

Professional program graduates are eligible to apply for the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®), nbcot.org. All states require licensure to practice; a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT® OTR certification examination or attain state licensure. Program results from the NBCOT® can be found online at www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.