Ingrid Pretzer-Aboff

Assistant Professor
School of Nursing
367 McDowell Hall
302-831-3327
iaboff@udel.edu

Education

  • PhD, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD
  • Post Masters Certificate - Cardio-Pulmonary CNS, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
  • MA, New York University School of Nursing, New York, NY
  • BSN, New York University School of Nursing, New York, NY

Research Interests

  • Function Focused Care of neurologically compromised older adults and their caregivers, specifically individuals living with Parkinson’s disease.
  • Development and testing of exercise interventions for people with Parkinson’s Disease and for stroke survivors with the goal of increasing physical activity and function.
  • Development and testing of objective measures of function

Professional Organizations

  • American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, 2004 - present
  • American Geriatric Society, 2006 – present
  • Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (2009)
  • Delaware Nurses Association of the American Nurses Association, (1993-present)
  • Delmarva Parkinson’s Alliance, co-founder, co-chair (2010 – present)
  • Gerontological Society of America, 2004 - present
  • Sigma Theta Tau International – Beta Xi Chapter (2000-present) and Pi Chapter (2003-2007),

Grants

  • 5/1/08-4/30/09, IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) – Fellowship - 50% Salary Support. NIH-NCRR (P20RR016472-08)

  • 10/31/08 University of Delaware Cross College Cluster in Aging Initiative (CCCAI) Research on Aging Grant. “Testing the utility of a portable balance plate with persons with Parkinson’s disease in the Community Setting.” Principal Investigator -$20,000.

  • 2005 – 2007, John A. Hartford Foundation Pre-Doctoral BAGNC Scholarship. (Grant # 05-106) - $80,986, 2 year award.

  • 2002 Wheeler, E., Pretzer-Aboff, I., DiSabatino, A., Saylor, J., Lucey, R. “The Psychological and Emotional Well-Being of Patients with Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators.” April 2002 – 2006. CAP grant, College of Health & Nursing Sciences, Center for Research Development, University of Delaware. – Co-investigator.- $3,660

Research Activites

  • March 2010 – present. “Testing feasibility and impact of a community exercise program for people living with Parkinson’s disease and for stroke survivors”. A collaborative multidisciplinary study with UD College of Health Sciences and Beebe Rehab Services, Rehoboth, Del. PI: Dr. Pretzer-Aboff.
  • January 2010 – present. “Qualitative Evaluation of the FastFES treadmill program” (parent study PI: Sr. Stuart binder-McLeod, UD Physical Therapy Dept.)– Investigator: Dr. Pretzer-Aboff.
  • November 2009 – present: “PARTECIPAZIONE E ADERENZA AL PROGRAMMA DI ATTIVITA’ FISICA ADATTATA (AFA) PER MALATTIA DI PARKINSON” – a study of participation and adherence to physical activity program (AFA) for Parkinson’s disease. Funded by the Tuscany Health Care Authority, Italy. PI: Dr. Francesco Benvenuti and Dr. Pretzer-Aboff.
  • November 2008 – present: “Exploring the Feasibility and Utility of a Portable Balance Plate when used with persons with Parkinson’s disease in the Community Setting. PI: Dr. Pretzer-Aboff.
  • Testing the feasibility and impact of a restorative care intervention for older adults with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers, 2003-2008, supported by the John A. Hartford Foundation Pre-Doctoral BAGNC Scholarship. (Grant # 05-106), co-PI: Pretzer-Aboff & Dr. Barbara Resnick.
  • Optimizing function in Parkinson’s patients - the experience of caregivers and patients, 2006. Supported by the John A. Hartford Foundation Pre-Doctoral BAGNC Scholarship. (Grant # 05-106), co-PI: Pretzer-Aboff & Dr. Barbara Resnick.
  • Building Nursing Expertise and Manpower for the Care of the Aging, 2001 – 2004, $90,000 3 year award, AACN John A Hartford Foundation – project faculty.
  • Community-Based Partnerships for Elderly Health Care, 2001 – 2004
    (Grant # 2001–101) $141,630 4 year award, Jessie Ball DuPont Fund -- program evaluation team.
  • Promoting Healthy Lifestyles in Delaware, 2001 – 2003
    (Grant # 1D11 HP 00239) $331,628 2 year award, US Public Health Service, Division of Nursing -- project faculty.

Honors & Awards

  • 2010 Recipient of the University of Delaware International Research Award for the project, “Merging Delaware and Italian Chronic Care Research.” - $3,000.
  • 2010 Recipient of the first Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic Foundation Distinguished Scholar in Nursing Award for Outstanding achievement in improving the lives of people living with Parkinson’s disease. Award - $1,000
  • 2009 Nominated for the “Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising Award”, University of Delaware, May 27, 2009.
  • 2009 Accepted to Visiting Nurse Faculty Program - a Parkinson’s Disease Educational Program. Sponsored by the Edmond J. Safra Foundation from May 26-29, 2009. Award - $2,000.
  • 2008 American Quarter Horse Ride Benefit Funding for Parkinson
    Research. Award - $2750.
  • 2008 AACN Geriatric Nursing Education Consortium (GNEC) program, award from AACN/John A. Hartford Foundation to attend consortium - $825.
  • 2007 Recipient of 2007 Geriatrics and Gerontology Education and Research Program Student Award for excellence in Clinical Service, University of Maryland, Baltimore - $100.
  • 2005 John A. Hartford Foundation Pre-Doctoral BAGNC Scholarship, 2005-07(Grant # 05-106) $80,986, 2 year award.
  • 2001 Induction into the Sigma Theta Tau International (Nursing Honor Society), University of Delaware

Publications

Refereed, research based:

  • Resnick, B., Galik, E., Remsburg, R., Pretzer-Aboff, I. (2009). Concerns about dedicated restorative care – Letter to the Editor. Journal of Gerontological Nursing. 35(5), 11 – 13.

  • Galik, E., Resnick, B., & Pretzer-Aboff, I. (2009). Knowing What Makes Them Tick: Motivating Cognitively Impaired Older Adults to Participate in Restorative Care. International Journal of Older Adults, 15, 48-55.

  • Resnick, B., Cayo, J., Galik, E., & Pretzer-Aboff, I. (August, 2009). Implementation of the Six-Week Educational Component in the Res-Care Intervention: A review of process and outcomes. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing.40 (8), 53-60.

  • Resnick, B., Gruber-Baldini, A., Galik, E., Pretzer-Aboff, I., Russ, K., Hebel, R., Zimmerman, S. (2009). Changing the philosophy of care in long term care:
    testing of the Restorative Care Intervention. The Gerontologist, 49(2), 175-184.

  • Wheeler, E., Pretzer-Aboff, I., Hardie, T., DiSabatino, A., Saylor, J., & Lucey, R.
    (August 2009). Psychological Impact of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator on
    Recipients. Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, 28 (4), 1-6.

  • Resnick, B., Gruber-Baldini, A., Zimmerman, S., Galik, E., Pretzer-Aboff, I., Russ, K., & Hebel, J. (July 2009). Nursing Home Resident Outcomes from the Res-Care Intervention. Journal of American Geriatrics Society. 57(7), 1156-65.

  • Pretzer-Aboff, I., Galik, E., & Resnick, B. (March/April 2009). Barriers and facilitators to optimizing function in the Parkinson’s patient. Rehabilitation Nursing, 34(2), 55- 63.

  • Resnick, B., Galik, B., Pretzer-Aboff, I., Gruber-Baldini, A.L., Russ, K., Cayo, J., Zimmerman, S. (January 2009).Treatment Fidelity in Nursing Home Research: The Res-Care Intervention Study. Research in Gerontological Nursing, 2(1), 1-9.

  • Tanji, H., Gruber-Baldini, A., Anderson, K., Pretzer-Aboff, I., Reich, S., Fishman, P., Weiner, W., & Shulman, L. (Oct 15, 2008). A comparative study of physical performance measures in Parkinson’s disease. Movement Disorders, 23(13), 1897-1905. PMID: 18709681.

  • Galik, E., Resnick B., Gruber-Baldini, A., Nahm, E., Pearson, K., & Pretzer-Aboff, I. (September, 2008). Pilot Testing of the Restorative Care Intervention for the Cognitively Impaired. JAMDA, 9 (7), 516-522. PMID: 18755426.

  • Resnick, B., Galik, E., Pretzer-Aboff, I., Rogers, V., & Gruber-Baldini, A. (April-June, 2008). Testing the reliability and validity of self-efficacy and outcome expectations of restorative care performed by nursing assistants. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 23(2), 162-169. PMID: 18344783

  • Resnick, B., Pretzer-Aboff, I., Galik, E., Zimmerman, S., Russ, K., Cayo, J. & Simpson, M. (Feb. 2008). Barriers and benefits to implementing a restorative care intervention in nursing homes. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 9(2), 103-108. PMID: 18261702.

  • Resnick, B., Gruber-Baldini, A., Pretzer-Aboff, I., Galik E, Custis Buie V, Russ K, & Z immerman S. (2007). Reliability and validity of the evaluation to sign consent measure. The Gerontologist, 47(1), 69-77. PMID: 17327542

  • Wheeler, E., Pretzer-Aboff, I., DiSabatino, A., et al. (Nov/Dec.2006, Jan. 2007). A prospective study of the psychological impact of ICD implant on its recipients. DNA Reporter, 31(4), 15.

  • Shulman, L, Pretzer-Aboff, I., Anderson, K. et al. (2006, June). Subjective patient-report versus objective performance - based measurement of activities of daily living in Parkinson’s disease, Movement Disorders, 21(6), 794-799. PMID: 16482533

    Refereed Abstracts:

  • Pretzer-Aboff, I., Gruber-Baldini,A. (2008). Treatment Fidelity and Data Safety Monitoring Board Findings Associated with the Res-Care Intervention Study. Program No. 53-3. Abstract Viewer. National Harbor, MD: The Gerontological Society of America.
  • Pretzer-Aboff, I. (2007, Oct.). Testing the Impact of Res-Care-PD for older adults and their caregivers. [Abstract 100]. The Gerontologist, 47(1), 160.
  • Pretzer-Aboff, I. (2006, Oct.). Outcomes of the Res-Care-PD Intervention and translating this to special populations. [Abstract 87]. The Gerontologist, 46(1), 133.
  • Resnick, B., Gruber-Baldini, A., Pretzer-Aboff, I., et al. (2006, Oct.). Reliability and validity of the Evaluation to Sign Consent. [Abstract 403]. The Gerontologist, 46(1), 515.
  • Pretzer-Aboff, I., & Resnick, B. (February 2006).Optimizing function in Parkinson’s patients – the experience of caregivers and patients [Abstract]. Movement Disorders, 10(12), S135.

    Book Chapters:

  • Galik, E. & Pretzer-Aboff, I. Chronic degenerative and neurologic disorders. In T. Capriotti and J.P.Frizzell Human Pathophysiology: Introductory Concepts and Clinical Perspectives. Philadelphia: F A Davis Publishing Company. Submitted for publication.

  • Pretzer-Aboff, I. Fluid problems of the older adult. (2010). In: Kee, J.L., Paulanka, B. &
    Pollack, C. (Eds.), Fluids and Electrolytes with Clinical Applications, 8th ed.,
    Albany: Delmar.

  • Pretzer-Aboff, I. Older adults with fluid and electrolyte imbalances. (2010) In: Kee, J.L., Paulanka, B. & Pollack, C. (Eds.), Handbook, Fluid, Electrolytes and Acid-Base
    Imbalances Handbook, 3rd ed., Albany: Delmar.

    Other Publications:

  • Pretzer-Aboff, I. (2007). Testing the feasibility and impact of the Restorative Care –PD intervention on the older adult with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers. [Doctoral dissertation] University of Maryland: Baltimore, MD.

  • Pretzer-Aboff, I. (Winter 2006). Striving for independence: from tennis to walker…one woman’s story. Schwarz Pharma Parkinson’s Report, 2(1), 7.

  • Pretzer-Aboff, I. & Resnick, B. (Winter 2006). Helping caregivers optimize function in nursing home residents with Parkinson’s disease: Tricks of the trade. Schwarz Pharma Parkinson’s Report, 2(1), 7.

  • Pretzer-Aboff, I., (2004). Fluid problems of the older adult. In: Kee, J.L., Paulanka, B. & Purnell, L. (Eds.), Fluids and Electrolytes with Clinical Applications, 7th ed., New York: Delmar.

  • Pretzer-Aboff, I., (2004). Older adults with fluid and electrolyte imbalances. In: Kee, J.L., Paulanka, B. & Purnell, L. (Eds.), Fluid, Electrolytes and Acid-Base Imbalances Handbook, 2nd ed., New York: Delmar.

    Posters:

  • Pretzer-Aboff. I. (April 28, 2009). Testing Restorative Care in People with Parkinson disease and their Caregivers. [Poster] Presented at Capital Hill Poster Session of NIH Institutes and Centers, Cannon Building, Washington, D.C. Research featured in National Center for Research Resources as part of a summary of Delaware IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence.

  • Pretzer-Aboff, I. (November, 2009) Isometric Quickness Protocol as an Objective Assessment of bradykinesia in Parkinson’s Disease, [Poster] Presented at the 4th Annual Nursing Research Conference focusing on Excellence in Evidence-Based Practice and Research. Christiana Hospital, Newark, DE.

  • Wheeler, E., Pretzer-Aboff, I. (presented), Hardie, T., et al. (July 2007). Psychological impact of implantable cardioverter defibrillators on its recipients. [Poster]. Presented at the 18th International Nursing Research Congress focusing on Evidence-Based Practice, Sigma Theta Tau International, Vienna, Austria.

  • Resnick, B., Gruber-Baldini, A., Pretzer-Aboff, I., et al. (November, 2006). Reliability and validity of the Evaluation to Sign Consent. [Poster]. Presented (by BR & IPA) at Gerontological Society of America, Dallas, Texas.

  • Tanji, H., Pretzer-Aboff, I., Gruber-Baldini, A., et al. (Oct/Nov, 2006) Comparison of performance measures for assessment of gait, balance and mobility in patients with Parkinson’s disease. [Poster]. Presented (by HT) at the 10th International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders, Kyoto, Japan.

  • Pretzer-Aboff, I, & Resnick, B. (February, 2006). Optimizing function in Parkinson’s patients - the experience of caregivers and patients [Poster]. Presented at the World Parkinson Congress, Washington, D.C.

Scholarly Research-based Presentations

  • Pretzer-Aboff, I. (May 28, 2009). The Impact of Res-Care for People with Parkinson’s Disease. Invited lecture for the Edmond J. Safra Foundation for the Visiting Nurse Faculty Pilot Program. University of Pennsylvania/ Veteran’s Administration Hospital, Philadelphia Movement Disorder Clinic, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

  • Pretzer-Aboff, I. (March 19, 2009). Testing Res-Care PD for Older Adults with Parkinson’s disease. Paper presentation at the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN) 41st Annual Educational Meeting, Las Vegas, NV.

  • Pretzer-Aboff, I. (November 22, 2008). Treatment Fidelity and Data Safety Monitoring Board Findings Associated with the Res-Care Intervention Study. Symposium presentation at the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), New Harbor, Maryland.

  • Pretzer-Aboff, I. (October 8, 2008). Parkinson’s disease: Barriers and facilitators to function. Invited speaker for the UD SON Speaker Series. Supported by a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant from the IDeA Networks of Biomechanical Research Excellence (INBRE) program of the National Center for Research Resources, Newark, DE.

  • Pretzer-Aboff, I. (November, 2007). Restorative Care: Measurement Challenges and special populations. Symposium presentation at the Gerontological Society of America (GSA). San Francisco, California.

  • Pretzer-Aboff, I. (October, 2007). Parkinson’s Disease – Barriers and Facilitators to Optimizing Function – A Qualitative Study. Invited speaker. Presented at the 2nd Annual Nursing Research Conference, Newark, DE.

  • Pretzer-Aboff, I. (November, 2006). Restorative care for the Individual with Parkinson’s disease. Symposium presentation at the Gerontological Society of America (GSA). Dallas, TX.

  • Pretzer-Aboff, I. (October, 2006). Implementing a restorative care philosophy of care in LTC – restorative care for the resident with Parkinson’s disease. Symposium presentation at the National Gerontological Nursing Association (NGNA), Cincinnati, OH.

  • Pretzer-Aboff, I. (February, 2006). The gerontological perspective: for Parkinson’s Exercise is Key! Presented to the Parkinson Foundations Community Support Group, Annandale, VA.


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