Advance nursing research at the Minnesota State Fair

In addition to trying the new bacon-wrapped waffle dog, Minnesota State Fairgoers will have the opportunity to advance nursing research by visiting the University of Minnesota Driven to Discover Research Facility (D2D).

Last year, the State Fair had its fifth highest attendance ever. These record attendance numbers allow D2D researchers to reach a diverse pool of participants and meet recruitment goals in a matter of hours or days. 

Six School of Nursing research projects will be conducted at the fair this year. On Aug. 26 and Aug. 30, Clinical Professors Mary Benbeneck, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC, FNP-BC, FAANP, FNAP, and Sheila Smith, PhD, APRN, ANP-BC, FAANP, will be obtaining perspectives from adult fairgoers on reproductive health issues.

On Aug. 28, Professor Mary Hearst, PhD, will be asking participants to answer questions about their access to food, their feelings and impressions about the survey questions, and their thoughts about their ability to access nutritional foods.

On Aug. 25-26, Professor Emeriti Casey Hooke, PhD, APRN, CPON, PCNS-BC, and Temple University Associate Professor Carole Tucker, PT, PhD, will be learning about coordination in pre-teens and teens and how it relates to time periods of rapid growth. 

On Aug. 25, 29, 30 and Sept. 1 and 3, Professor Wendy Looman, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC, and Clinical Assistant Professor Elena Geiger-Simpson, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, will be learning how kids are feeling about their life in general and how much this changes over time.

On Aug. 26, 30, 31 and Sept. 4, Assistant Professors Christie Martin, PhD, MPH, RN-BC, LHIT-HP, PHN, and Mary Whipple, PhD, RN, PHN, will examine individual and societal predictors of sedentary behavior and physical activity.

On Aug. 30, 31 and Sept. 4, Clinical Associate Professor Sripriya Rajamani, PhD, MBBS, MPH, Assistant Professor Robin Austin, PhD, DNP, DC, RN-BC, FAMIA, FNAP, and Professor Jenna Marquard, PhD, will seek to understand how patients, parents, and caregivers access and use medical records electronically, which is typically through patient portals.

A complete schedule of research being conducted each day can be found here. Most studies take under 20 minutes and are done in a fun, innovative and convenient way. 

The Driven to Discover Research Facility is located at 1367 Cosgrove St. on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

STORI

Clinical Professor Mary Benbeneck, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC, FNP-BC, FAANP, FNAP, and Clinical Professor Sheila Smith, PhD, APRN, ANP-BC, FAANP

The purpose of this study is to add to current knowledge by obtaining perspectives from adult fairgoers on reproductive health issues relative to reproductive health choices, reproductive healthcare oversight and access and reproductive health issues unique to vulnerable populations such as women and LGBTQ individuals. 

Specific Aims include:

1. Describe individuals' views on the overturn of Roe v. Wade.
2. Obtain insight into reproductive health care services deemed necessary for populations.
3. Identify perceived barriers to reproductive healthcare access.
4. Describe views on beliefs about governmental and religious roles in determining health care rights and access.
5. Describe views on reproductive healthcare topics relative to LGBTQ and non-binary health.

Eligibility: Age 18+, read and speak English

AMEND: Improving Food and Nutrition Security Assessment in Minnesota

Professor Mary Hearst, PhD

Have you ever been asked to fill out a survey and thought the questions were confusing or made you feel bad? We want to hear your thoughts on survey questions about access to food and good nutrition. Participants will be asked to answer questions about your access to food, your feelings and impressions about the survey question and your thoughts about your ability to access nutritional foods. Your information will help us create better questions for future research!

Eligibility: Age 18+, living independently, English or Spanish speaker

How Do You Moove?

Professor Emeriti Casey Hooke, PhD, APRN, CPON, PCNS-BC, and Temple University Associate Professor Carole Tucker, PT, PhD

We want to learn about coordination in pre-teens and teens and how it relates to time periods of rapid growth. We also want to learn about their physical activity and what they like to do. 

Eligibility: Ages 9 to 18

What's Strong with You?

Professor Wendy Looman, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC, and Clinical Assistant Professor Elena Geiger-Simpson, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC

We want to know how kids are feeling about their life in general, and how much this changes over time. We're asking teens and kids to draw a line to show us the ups and downs of their quality of life over the past year and to answer a few survey questions about how they think and feel in general.

Eligibility: Ages 8-17 (kids under 16 must have a parent present)

The D2D WEAR IT! Study

Assistant Professor Christie Martin, PhD, MPH, RN-BC, LHIT-HP, PHN, and Assistant Professor Mary Whipple, PhD, RN, PHN

The purpose of the WEAR IT! Study is to examine individual and societal predictors of sedentary behavior and physical activity. We will also explore how people use and adopt wearable fitness trackers. 

Eligibility: Age 13+

Got Online Medical Record Access?

Clinical Associate Professor Sripriya Rajamani, PhD, MBBS, MPH, Assistant Professor Robin Austin, PhD, DNP, DC, RN-BC, FAMIA, FNAP, and Professor Jenna Marquard, PhD

Our objective is to understand how patients, parents, and caregivers access and use medical records electronically, which is typically through patient portals. The study intends to collect information on individuals' portal access, frequency of use, reasons for use, ease of use and to identify unmet data needs that could be provided through patient portals.

Eligibility: Age 18+