ABOUT
Dr. Jennifer Piatt, CTRS
The focus of my research program is housed in action-based research that examines behavioral interventions within the realm of community-based rehabilitation with individuals who present disabling conditions and illnesses. I use research in recreational therapy (RT) as a public health initiative to better understand how different interventions can address secondary health conditions, improve health outcomes, and decrease health care costs. My research is grounded in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) bio-psycho-social model. My overarching goal is to better understand what type of public health initiatives within the realm of RT have a positive impact on health outcomes among adults and children with disabling conditions within community-based rehabilitation settings
Research Focus
Sexual Health and Women with
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
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Sustaining an acute SCI, or being diagnosed with MS or ALS is an overwhelming life experience that significantly impacts sexual health. These disabling conditions introduce changes and new potential risks to the sexual health of women and their partner(s). Our team is establishing novel approaches to addressing sexual health related issues as a RT facilitation technique.
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Socially Assistive Robots (SARs)
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SAR is a new field of robotics that focuses on assisting users through social rather than physical interaction. Our team is establishing SARs as an appropriate intervention to be facilitated by recreational therapists with various populations.
Research Team
I have developed a collaborative research team within my primary clinical research based on the affinity research model. The team consists of undergraduate, masters and doctoral students; as well as co-investigators. The research team continuously engages in collaboration with scholars nationally as well as internationally.
Current Projects
Once our research demonstrated that recreational therapy intervention increased active participation, we became more interested in how we could address the management of secondary health conditions through community- based rehabilitation.
The formation of the community-based rehabilitation team (CBRT) has been working on establishing evidence-based interventions since 2012
Contact Me
Dr. Jennifer Piatt, CTRS
The Department of Health and Wellness Design,
School of Public Health, Indiana University,
Bloomington
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