Suggestions
These are just ideas off the top of my head. All would need much more work to flesh out a study protocol and scheme for implementation, but all are “do-able.” We have faculty in our department who could serve as advisors on any of these projects, and I’d put them in touch with you as things progress. Each study would also require a local (i.e., SGU or St. Vincent’s) faculty person. [Robbie Hage is a great guy, but I'm not sure he can handle all potential students and all potential studies.] Of course, your own ideas/suggestions are welcome, and we’ll probably come up with others, too.
Survey: Why do people who usually wear seatbelts at home (i.e, US) not wear them when they’re in Grenada/St. Vincent’s?
Using GPS to map all motor vehicle crashes for one year: Usefulness in targeting injury/crash prevention activities.
Motor vehicle crash injury and death rates over multiple years. (This would be filling in the data for the years between 1994 and 1999 – Lisa Keough has already collected those two years, but trend data would provide better information.)
Observational study of seatbelt use rates. (Apparently this has already been done at some point by an MPH student, but not sure when, over what time period, etc. An updated study would certainly be appropriate.)
Observation study of child restraint use rates. (C’mon, how hard is it to count to zero?)
Children riding in pick-up truck beds: prevalence, incidence of injury, injury patterns, etc.
Descriptive study of pediatric immunization programs / success. (From what we learned during our visit, the Grenada experience may actually exceed that of the US.)
Descriptive paper on the EMS system. (National Association of EMS Physicians requests such papers for presentation at their annual meeting. Pretty easy way to score a “presentation” on your CV.)
Descriptive study of outcomes of crash?/heart attack?/ respiratory distress?/etc. patients transported by ambulance.
Observational study of incidence of malnutrition encountered in the emergency department.
Study of SGU grads and success in resident match – how far down the match list do they go compared to traditional North American students? (my guess is there’s not much difference)
Descriptive paper on potential interfaces between emergency medicine/EMS and public health in Caribbean nations. (EMS/Public health interface is an emerging big-deal in US.)
Simplistic crash reconstruction. (Nothing too fancy, just direction of impact, apparent cause of crash, injuries, etc.)
Surveillance of sports related injuries / possible comparison (emphasizing differences?) between Caribbean and North America (has injury control implications)
Effects of providing ACLS?/BTLS?/PHTLS?/ATLS? Training programs in the Carribean.
What are the public’s expectations of the health care system? (Survey? Compare permanent population to tourists?)
Surveillance of intentional injuries (assaults, etc).
Descriptive study of mgmt of traumatic brain injury / rehabilitation/ follow-up.
Descriptive study of EMS access / response.
Surveillance of toxic plants / ingestions (we have both a tox and a poisonous plants specialist who could help with this)
Alternative medicine practices in Grenada/St. Vincent’s (how widespread is it? What are the common occurrences, etc. Another pet topic of our tox specialist)
Impact of wireless communications on emergency response systems in Caribbean.
Lawrence Brown –> Email Mr. Brown.