Ruth E. Benedict
DrPH, OTR/L, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy

Contact Information:
UW-Madison
3170 Medical Sciences Center
1300 University Ave
Madison, WI 53706
Phone: (608) 262-0543
Phone: (608) 262-7878
Email: rbenedict@education.wisc.edu

Research Statement

In my work, I am using epidemiological, health services and outcomes research methodologies to enhance our understanding of the special needs of children as well as the effectiveness of the delivery system in serving those needs. Through collaborations with UW-Madison faculty in the Departments of Population Health Sciences and Communicative Disorders, as well as UW-Health clinicians, the Waisman Center, and the Centers for Disease Control, I am engaged in several active studies.

Epidemiology
In collaboration with the Wisconsin Autism and Developmental Disabilities Surveillance Project (WisADDS), under the direction of Dr. Maureen Durkin, we are conducting surveillance of children with cerebral palsy in 10 counties in southeast Wisconsin. This project is part of a multi-site Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network administered by the Centers for Disease Control. My work centers on designing a methodology that moves surveillance efforts beyond case status to determination of a childs level of function. Reliability and validity studies of the methodology are currently being conducted and tested in four sites across the country. Surveillance of functional level will provide important information for monitoring advances in intervention techniques, understanding changes in the composition of cases over time, and estimating the cost of care for programmatic and policy purposes.

Health Services
Children with special needs and their families typically receive a diverse array of health, educational and social services intended to promote their full participation in home, school and community life. Our research examines the determinants and patterns of therapy and supportive service use among children having functional limitations and the role of the service delivery system in meeting childrens needs. Using the National Health Interview Survey Disability Supplement and the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs, we have identified disparities in access to therapy and support services associated with characteristics of the child, the family and the service delivery system. Our research team is currently using a mixed methods approach to better understand which characteristics of the assistive technology (AT) service delivery system promote childrens access to quality AT services. Findings of these studies will extend our knowledge of current policies, programs and practices and contribute to initiatives to ensure that children with special needs and their families receive the supports and services they need.

Outcomes
A third strand of my research focuses on the impact of specific interventions on child and family outcomes. In collaboration with Dr. Leland Albright and the Spasticity and Movement Disorders Clinic at the Waisman Center, we are leading an interdisciplinary, comprehensive study of the effects of Intrathecal Baclofen Pump (ITB) placement and subsequent therapy on the health, function and quality of life of children or young adults with movement disorders and their caregivers. Using a longitudinal design, measures of each participants physiological status, motor control, function, participation, quality of life, and burden of care will be obtained prior to and following the intervention. This work will provide vital information on the effectiveness of neurosurgical and therapeutic interventions for children with movement disorders.

Representative Publications

Benedict RE, Baumgardner AM. Disabil Rehabil. (2009) A population approach to understanding children's access to assistive technology. Disability and Rehabilitation. 2009;31(7):582-92.

Yeargin-Allsopp M, Van Naarden Braun K, Doernberg NS, Benedict RE, Kirby RS, Durkin MS. (2008) Prevalence of cerebral palsy in 8-year-old children in three areas of the United States in 2002: a multisite collaboration. Pediatrics. 2008 Mar;121(3):547-54.

Benedict RE. (2008) Quality medical homes: meeting children's needs for therapeutic and supportive services. Pediatrics. 2008 Jan;121(1):e127-34. Epub 2007 Dec 3.

Benedict RE. (2006) Disparities in use of and unmet need for therapeutic and supportive services among school-age children with functional limitations: a comparison across settings. Health Services Research. 2006 Feb;41(1):103-24.

Benedict RE, Farel AM. (2003) Identifying children in need of ancillary and enabling services: a population approach. Social Science & Medicine. 2003 Dec;57(11):2035-47.