Current research interests in our SMART LAB center around the following topics in youth, young adults, and families: (a) factors associated with non-adherence/adherence, disease self-management, and transition readiness and outcomes (e.g., literacy, parental involvement); (b) the development and evaluation of community member informed adherence/self-management promotion interventions; and (c) health and healthcare disparities in underserved populations (e.g., rural families).
Dr. Duncan’s principal focus is with pulmonary disorders, specifically cystic fibrosis and asthma. We have ongoing research studies and grant-funded projects in collaboration with researchers across the U.S. and internationally. Indeed, Dr. Duncan has grant funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to take part in a national consortium of researchers focused on improving adherence in patients with CF. This grant positions Dr. Duncan’s lab to take part in state-of-the-art, patient-centered, multi-site clinical trials over the upcoming years. With the recent transition to OSU (January 2024), we will establish new collaborations with pediatric healthcare teams in Oklahoma City (OU Children's Hospital) and Tulsa.
Students in the SMART Lab conduct research through Dr. Duncan’s research program with pulmonary disorders, but also establish projects on adherence and/or transition with other pediatric populations (e.g., diabetes).
Overall, our applied research is intended to improve the understanding and healthcare of families with children with chronic disease or injury. Indeed, students often participate in activities – like pediatric ground rounds, quality improvement projects during clinical practicum placements, patient education events, etc. – that help our research team integrate into multidisciplinary care teams and that round out the training experiences for our students.
Ongoing Areas Of research
Qualitative and mixed methods research in conducting behavioral clinical trials using a digital health approach
Family-based interventions to promote transfer of disease management responsibility from parents to youth
Behavior change strategies to improve medical regimen adherence in adolescents & young adults
Factors predicting adherence in different pediatric populations
Transition from pediatric to adult healthcare in different pediatric populations
Volitional non-adherence to medical regimens
Provider-parent-patient communication and its relation to adherence and transition readiness