RUSH Project Completes its Work

SEDL's Research Utilization Support and Help (RUSH) project began its work on June 1, 2003 and concludes its activities on May 31, 2009. Over the six years of project activity, many changes have been seen in the area of knowledge utilization. Some of these include: (1) an increased emphasis on the use of evidence in shaping our knowledge base, (2) expansion of the infrastructure that supports knowledge utilization in the disability community, and (3) heightened visibility and use of an integrated knowledge production and utilization model known as knowledge translation.

Over the years of RUSH project activity, a variety of resources have been developed and offered including technical assistance to NIDRR grantees to increase their potential for knowledge utilization, workshops focusing on logic modeling and utilization planning, and the creation of a Web-based resource, the RUSH Toolbox.

RUSH project activities have also focused on conducting research to expand our understanding about knowledge utilization and knowledge translation within the parameters of a NIDRR grant context. The RUSH project used its funds to expand utilization outcomes within existing NIDRR grant activities through its Research Utilization Awards (RUAs). This final RUSH Update highlights two RUAs that were recently completed. Additional information highlighting some findings from survey activity of RUSH is also provided in this final edition.

While many advancements have been made, much work remains to do. Although the RUSH project is concluding, SEDL’s RUSH staff will continue to pursue activities aimed at increasing the utilization and benefits of disability research findings in the disability community.

RUSH Staff,

Effect of a Web-based Training on Practice Patterns of Professionals Recommending Manual Wheelchairs

Drs. Laura Cohen and Stephen Sprigle compared the results of a face-to-face traditional continuing education workshop to one that delivered the same content via a Web-based platform. Both the Web-based training and the face-to-face program proved to be effective methods of transferring research knowledge and impacting attitudes. Using the Web in training had a positive influence on both leadership and independence, but the traditional workshop appeared to do an overall better job at influencing attitudes. Read more about their findings in their final report (download the Sprigle/Cohen final report).

Promoting Screening for Substance Use Disorders
in Vocational Rehabilitation

Drs. Dennis Moore, Mary McAweeney, Linda Lazowski, and Allen Heinemann used their RUA to validate and field test hypotheses and findings about the adoption of a substance abuse screener by state vocational rehabilitation programs. This project evaluated the "train-the-trainer" approach of using this screening tool, known as the Substance Abuse in Vocational Rehabilitation – Screener (SAVR-S).

Moore et al. concluded that statewide implementation of a substance abuse screener is effective in delivering desired training results, but substantial barriers to routine use of a Substance Abuse Disorder screener in VR remain. Implementing the RUA in conjunction with the RRTC provided a cost- and time-effective method to test dissemination/utilization of a promising intervention in vocational rehabilitation (download the Moore final report).

Knowledge Translation Activity Among NIDRR Grantees

This RUSH Update offers an extensive analysis of comparisons among NIDRR grantees that work in different priority areas, using data from the RUSH project's Research Utilization Survey (download the survey report).