Innovative Research & Real-World Impact: Dr. Beth Pyatak to Deliver Live Keynote Address at PNWU’s 2022 Research Symposium
At PNWU, our communities are our laboratories, and our annual Research Symposium is our chance to showcase the community health revolutionizing work being conducted by our mission-driven students, faculty, and community partners. On Thursday, April 14, Dr. Beth Pyatak will deliver the keynote address at PNWU’s 2022 Research Symposium.
As the director of USC’s Lifestyle Redesign for Chronic Conditions (LRCC) Laboratory, Dr. Pyatak leads a lab exploring the impact of chronic conditions — such as diabetes and arthritis — on health and well-being, particularly among populations which are medically underserved or at elevated risk for poor health and quality of life.
In anticipation of her keynote address, we connected with Dr. Pyatak to learn more about the role of research in chronic condition management, her perspectives on conducting research, and more.
How did you get into research about people with chronic health conditions?
My initial interest was in school-based practice – probably because I come from a long line of teachers!
In my graduate studies I had the opportunity to work on two Lifestyle Redesign research projects with Dr. Florence Clark, who pioneered this intervention approach. At around the same time, I was in a close relationship with someone living with type 1 diabetes. Although the research I was working on was with a very different population – pressure injury prevention for people with spinal cord injury – it struck me that many of the lifestyle issues at play were similar.
These were things like having to negotiate and find a balance between meaningful activities and disease management activities, and the concept of structuring your daily life with an awareness of perpetual risk.
I realized how relevant and helpful occupational therapy could potentially be for people living with diabetes, and my research evolved from that starting point.
What are some of the most interesting insights you've gained from this line of work?
I have learned that what are typically thought of as the key components to living with a chronic condition – taking medications, self-monitoring, physical activity, and other lifestyle and behavior changes – are often not what people need support with when living with a chronic condition.
Very often, people need to address other aspects of their lives that interfere with their condition management.
For instance, a student may need help with time management and study skills, because their chronic condition takes a back seat during midterms and finals when they are cramming for exams. Once they are better able to cope with their other responsibilities, their condition management improves simply because it is less disrupted by other activities and life stressors.
What do you see as the big opportunities in the research area in the next 5-10 years?
I think research (and advocacy!) to demonstrate the effectiveness of alternative models of care is a big area to move toward. Rethinking what constitutes the most effective primary and specialty care teams, and how to make use of technologies like mobile health, patient portals and telehealth in ways that elevate our effectiveness, rather than creating more busywork for everyone involved.
There is a lot of potential to make care more accessible and effective using technology, as well as address burnout and the growing healthcare provider shortage, but only if we do so thoughtfully.
What role do you think other professions like osteopathic medicine and physical therapy can play with this kind of research?
I think a team approach is essential when it comes to supporting people with chronic conditions.
They are going to live with [fill-in-the-blank] condition for the rest of their lives, and as their lives change, so do their health needs. Having a well-rounded team ensures that the right expertise is available to address people’s changing needs.
Also on a well-functioning team, you know the other providers and staff have your back, and patients’ needs are much less likely to be overlooked or fall through the cracks.
“There is a lot of potential to make care more accessible and effective using technology, as well as address burnout and the growing healthcare provider shortage, but only if we do so thoughtfully.”