According to Jeffrey N. Katz, leader of the study and a doctor at Brigham and Women's Hospital, the effort will focus on what makes the students' experience with RSI unique and will be aimed at finding treatments that work and identifying barriers to prevention.

"The students' experience is fascinating," Katz said. "We don't know much about it yet."

He said since people tend to be more susceptible to tissue problems when they are older, the frequency of RSI among undergraduates is surprising.

Katz added that it is unclear how to provide rehabilitation for students with RSI. Workers tend to have disability insurance and worker's compensation plans that allow them time to recover from RSI as well as make rehabilitation programs available.

"That's a security that students don't enjoy," he said.

Katz's study, funded by a grant from the provost's office, will bring together focus groups of students and staff who have and have not had RSI.

In addition to the research efforts, Coley and Hollis said they are working on increasing UHS physicians' understanding of RSI.

Earlier this year Coley invited Emil Pascarelli, M.D., co-author of Repetitive Strain Injuries, a Computer User's Guide, to speak to UHS physicians.

UHS has also brought two speakers on RSI to weekly "grand rounds"--meetings which most physicians regularly attend in order to meet recertification qualifications.

Coley said UHS has also been working to heighten campus awareness about RSI in the hopes that students will make the necessary changes in their work habits to prevent RSI.

"People don't listen and pay attention if they feel completely well," Coley said, adding that he believes UHS has done well if a student with the early stages of RSI comes in because of outreach efforts.

Despite all of UHS' recent efforts to increase RSI awareness, both Hollis and Coley agree that more needs to be done.

"We're doing a fair amount, but I'm hoping that we will do more next year," said Hollis, mentioning plans for more workshops and media campaigns.