MEI has extensive experience planning and conducting health behavior research. Since 1993, we have conducted 27 studies, generating more than 27 peer-reviewed published papers. We have conducted both qualitative and quantitative research studies, using a variety of methodologies and various research populations, including patients, families, caregivers, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.

MEI often collaborates with other organizations on research projects and grant proposals. We take on a variety of roles from research design, IRB approval ^* , and recruitment to data analysis and publication submissions.

^* As a non-profit, the MEI's policy on Institutional Review Board (IRB) services is to request exemption from IRB-associated fees.

MEI Supported Research

When the Medical Education Institute subcontracts research tasks to other organizations, we acknowledge and reimburse for indirect costs involved in conducting research. On MEI-supported research projects, reimbursement for indirect costs is limited to 8%.

Indirect Costs Definition: Indirect costs, or overhead, are those costs associated with operating a business. These costs are not easily identifiable or exclusively related to a particular project; however, they are necessary to conduct the research. Some examples are accounting and payroll costs, rent, insurance, human resources, and utilities.

2011

Home Dialysis Program Market Study
Telephone

2010

National Survey of Nephrologists
In

Results will inform efforts to improve outcomes for people with chronic kidney disease. Two abstracts reporting on preliminary analyses were accepted for oral presentations at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) meeting in November 2010. Results were published in Hemodialysis International ,

The survey was endorsed by the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC), the International Society of Hemodialysis (ISHD), and the Renal Support Network (RSN), and was developed in consultation with dialysis experts.

2009

Fresenius Focus Groups
Study
Tasks:

2008

Fresenius Focus Group
Study to assess patient experiences of in-center hemodialysis care and education.
Tasks: Write moderator's guide, facilitate groups, write final paper.

DaVita at Home — Home Hemodialysis Care Partner Experiences
Telephone interview study to explore the perceived burdens of home hemodialysis vs. in-center hemodialysis from the perspective of the care partner.
Tasks: Contribute to study protocol, edit interview guide, conduct interviews, analyze data, and draft final paper.

DaVita at Home — Patient Quality of Life on Home Hemodialysis vs. In-center
Telephone interview study to explore the lived experience of how patients' quality of life is affected by a change from in-center to home hemodialysis treatment.
Tasks: Contribute to study protocol, edit interview guide, conduct interviews, analyze data, and draft final paper.

NxStage Focus Groups
Study to assess differences between patients who chose daily home hemodialysis and those who were offered it but declined.
Tasks: Program and contract management, edit moderator's guide, conduct analyses, write final paper.

2006

Life Options Internet Study
Life Options study to assess hemodialysis patient education level and Internet use for health information-seeking, both direct and indirect (i.e., via family and friends).
Tasks: Design quantitative survey, obtain cooperation from large dialysis organizations, contribute to final report.

Medicare Dialysis Facility Compare Website Evaluation Phase 3
MEI subcontract to Research Triangle Institute (RFP) No. CMS-02-014/DB "Evaluation of Changes to the Dialysis Facility Compare Website."
Tasks: Offer renal content/community expertise; review all materials and analyses; recruit dialysis chains, patients, family members, social workers, dietitians, nurses, CKD patients and family members for focus groups and cognitive interviews in Lincoln, NE; Raleigh-Durham, NC; Orange Park, FL; New Orleans; Boston; Baltimore; Phoenix; Los Angeles; and Cleveland. And contract management, develop focus group guide, protocol, and all forms, attend 4 groups in Chicago and San Francisco, and develop analyses, write final paper.

2005

Chronic Kidney Disease Self-management Study
Life Options study to assess self-management participation, functioning and well-being, hemoglobin, serum creatinine, and serum albumin among 250+ CKD patients in Virginia and Florida.
Tasks: Program and contract management, review protocol and all forms, negotiate with study sites, review analyses and final paper.

2004

Intradialytic Hypertension Study
Synephros study to assess nurse management of IDH in dialysis clinics.
Tasks: Design qualitative and quantitative approach to evaluate nurse behavior to prevent and manage IDH. Develop survey tools, recruit subjects, analyze data, contribute to final report.

Medicare Dialysis Facility Compare Website Evaluation Phase 2
MEI subcontract to Research Triangle Institute ((RFP) No. CMS-02-014/DB "Evaluation of the Content of Dialysis Facility Compare Website.")
Tasks: Offer renal content/community expertise; review all materials and analyses; recruit dialysis chains, patients, family members, nephrologists, social workers, dietitians, nurses, technicians, CKD patients and family members for cognitive interviews in San Antonio, Boston, and New Haven.

2003

Medicare Dialysis Facility Compare Website Evaluation
MEI subcontract to Research Triangle Institute ((RFP) No. CMS-02-014/DB "Evaluation of the Content of Dialysis Facility Compare Website.")
Tasks: Offer renal content/community expertise; review all materials and analyses; recruit dialysis chains, patients, family members, nephrologists, social workers, dietitians, nurses, technicians, CKD patients and family members for interviews and focus groups in Washington DC, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles. Facilitate some groups.

Voice Activated Telephone System (VATS) study
MEI subcontract to Adherence Technologies SBIR Grant through the U.S. Dept. of Education.
Tasks: Offer renal content/community expertise; review all materials and analyses; recruit dialysis center social workers and patients in a pilot study among 50 patients to validate a telephone version of the SF-36 against the paper-and-pencil version.

2002

CKD Symptom Management Study
Life Options study to assess symptom prevalence, burden, and management among 307 randomly selected dialysis patients.
Tasks: Program and contract management, review protocol and all forms, review analyses, contribute to final paper.

Diabetes Patient Focus Groups
Amgen study to assess diabetes patients' knowledge of kidney disease and treatment, risk for kidney disease, diabetes education experience, and relationships with care providers.
Tasks: Program and contract management, develop focus group guide, protocol, and all forms, attend 4 groups in Chicago and San Francisco, and develop analyses, write final paper.

Diabetes Educator Interviews
Amgen study to assess diabetes patient educators' perspectives on patient education regarding kidney disease and treatment, unmet needs, materials used, and curricula. Tasks: Program and contract management, develop interview guide, protocol, and all forms, recruit renal social worker to conduct interviews, develop analyses, write final paper.

Chronic Kidney Disease Focus Groups
Amgen study to assess CKD patients' knowledge of kidney disease and treatment, risk for kidney disease, education experience, and relationships with care providers.
Tasks: Program and contract management, develop focus group guide, protocol, and all forms, attend 4 groups in Chicago and San Francisco, and develop analyses, write final paper.

CKD Patient Telephone Interviews
Amgen study to assess CKD patients' knowledge of kidney disease and treatment, education experience, and relationships with care providers.
Tasks: Program and contract management, develop phone interview guide, protocol, and all forms, recruit renal social worker to conduct interviews, develop analyses, write final paper.

2000

CKD Educator Interviews
Amgen study to assess CKD patient educators' perspectives on patient education regarding kidney disease and treatment, unmet needs, materials used, and curricula.
Tasks: Program and contract management, develop interview guide, protocol, and all forms, recruit renal social worker to conduct interviews, develop analyses, write final paper.

ESRD Patient Focus Groups
Amgen study to assess dialysis patients' knowledge of kidney disease and treatment, education experience, and relationships with care providers.
Tasks: Program and contract management, develop focus group guide, protocol, and all forms, attend 4 groups in Chicago and San Francisco, and develop analyses, write final paper.

ESRD Patient Telephone Interviews
Amgen study to assess dialysis patients' knowledge of kidney disease and treatment, education experience, and relationships with care providers.
Tasks: Program and contract management, develop phone interview guide, protocol, and all forms, recruit renal social worker to conduct interviews, develop analyses, write final paper.

1999

Patient Opinion Study Part A
Life Options study to assess 30 dialysis patients' experiences seeking and acquiring information about kidney disease and its treatment.
Tasks: Project management, develop phone interview guide, conduct interviews, develop analyses, write final paper.

Patient Opinion Study Part B
Life Options study to assess 30 dialysis patients' experiences with symptom identification and management
Tasks: Project management, develop phone interview guide, conduct interviews, develop analyses, write final paper.

Patient Opinion Study Part C
Life Options study to assess 30 dialysis patients' experiences of rehabilitation.
Tasks: Project management, develop phone interview guide, conduct interviews, develop analyses, write final paper.