Research Project Activities
PHS Division Funding News
Julie Gleason-Comstock, Ph.D., CHES (PI) was awarded a CVRI ISIS Award, “Eating for Heart Health: A Kiosk-Based Public Health Education and Primary Care Feasibility Study.” Co-PIs on the interdisciplinary public health research team are Nancy T. Artinian, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.H.A., F.P.C.N.A., F.A.A.N., Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Director of the Center for Health Research, College of Nursing, and Catherine Jen, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Nutrition and Food Science. The study is a double-blind randomized control design. The research team will examine the feasibility of using a kiosk to deliver a healthy eating intervention in a primary care clinic serving uninsured and underinsured adults in the City of Detroit.
Funding Source: Wayne State University, School of Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute
Period of Support: 10/2010 - 9/2011
Total cost: $21,696
Diabetes and Obesity in Minority Youth
Dr. Kim Cambell-Voytal (PI) completed two projects last year broadly focused on obesity, both of which were funded by the Michigan Department of Community Health. The first study, Prevention of Diabetes in Latino Families, applied a community-based participatory research (CBPR) methodology to adapt and evaluate two cognitive behavioral interventions (parents; children) to increase healthy eating and physical activity behaviors in a predominantly Mexican-American community. The second study, Detection of Obesity in Urban Minority Youth, was a longitudinal study of obesity prevalence among urban minority youth, primarily Latino. Dr. Campbell-Voytal is currently analyzing these data and seeking funding to expand her work in this area. Dr. Campbell-Voytal recently shared some of her work with the Southwest Detroit community with regard to afterschool program policies and practices on physical activity and health activity and healthy nutrition for children.
Modeling of Healthcare Innovations in Complex Adaptive Systems
Dr. James Janisse is developing new work to understand the diffusion of healthcare innovations. He is currently using systems science methodologies (e.g. social network analysis and agent based modeling) to understand how the use of a specific new breast cancer therapy (Aromatase Inhibitors) was adopted within the Henry Ford system. Dr. Janisse is endeavoring to better understand the diffusion processes and help identify the characteristics of the innovation and those individual, organizational and healthcare system factors that inhibit, promote and accelerate the adoption of important medical advances that are optimal for given organizational environments. Their interdisciplinary team includes faculty from Psychology, Biostatistics, Medicine, Computer Science, Engineering, Epidemiology, Nursing, and Economics. Dr. Janisse is currently seeking both internal and external funding for this work.
PRIMER website
Dr. Victoria Neale (co-Investigator) collaborated with two other investigators on the development and launch of the PRIMER website. This website provides a suite of resources to facilitate multi-site research, especially for the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) and practice-based research network (PBRN) communities. This project was funded by a CTSA Community-Engagement supplemental grant, making Dr. Neale likely the first WSU person to receive CTSA funding! PRIMER slides
Research Culture of Practice-based Research Networks
Dr. Victoria Neale (PI) recently completed this AHRQ funded study in which the goal was to develop research integrity best practices specific to the practice-based research networks (PBRN) context. This study engaged survey and practice-based researchers to identify essential PBRN-specific research best practices. Using these data as well as a comprehensive review of literature, Dr. Neale's team developed a psychometrically sound self assessment instrument, the PBRN Research Best Practices Check-list. Next steps will include dissemination and evaluation of the instrument as well as development of standard operating procedures for each of the 31 best practices.
 LIFE (Life Influences on Fetal Environments) Study
Dr. Dawn Misra (PI) began this 5 year study of racism and preterm birth with R01 funding from NIH in December 2008. Dr. Rhonda Dailey (project director) and Ms. Carolyn Archer (research assistant) are the primary staff on the project. Co-investigators are Dr. Cleo Caldwell at the University of Michigan and Dr. Theresa Osypuk at Northeastern University. Black mothers delivering at Providence Hospital are recruited to complete an extensive interview on exposures and experiences across their life course with concurrent medical record abstraction. When possible, grandmothers are also interviewed. As of May 2010, the LIFE study has successfully collected data on approximately 500 mothers and 200 grandmothers. A spin-off of the study focusing on fathers contributions to birth outcomes is also being piloted and funding sought.
Racial differences in prostate cancer treatment decision making
Dr. Jinping Xu (PI) is continuing her 5 year (2006-2011) American Cancer Society Mentored Research Scholar Grant in Applied and Clinical Research with her mentor Dr. Kendra Schwartz. The goal of this project is to investigate how men with localized prostate cancer make their treatment decisions, and the extent to which cultural/racial differences are influential in the decision-making process. In the first phase of the study, Dr. Xu and colleagues explored men's decision making processes using semi-structured individual interviews. Based on these qualitative data, supplemented by review of literature, a culturally-sensitive survey instrument was developed and tested in African American and half white men identified by the Metro-Detroit SEER cancer registry as diagnosed with localized prostate cancer. Analyses are now underway.
Community-Based Participatory Research on Drug Overdose Prevention and Reversal
A Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) project with Community Health Awareness Group and the City of Detroit Department of Health & Wellness Promotion on reversal of opiate overdose for intravenous drug users (IDU) began in 2009 (http://www.cus.wayne.edu). This public health research will recommend best practices for naloxone distribution through a syringe exchange program and develop a model to address multiple factors within the IDU population.
HIV Prevention for Older Women by Primary Care Physicians
Drs. Rosalie Young, Julie Gleason-Comstock, and Jinping Xu will analyze the HIV prevention knowledge and behavior of primary care physicians among older females. A survey will be administered to physicians and trainees in Family Practice, Internal Medicine, and ObGyn. An earlier survey of Internal Medicine residents identified several knowledge and practice needs including sexual history taking and assessing risk behavior such as drug use among older patients. It was published in J Am Ger Soc (2008) 56, 10: 1980-81. The current study will expand the survey to determine educational needs, communication patterns, and HIV risk behavior and will compare physicians from the three primary care specialties.
Healthy Sisters Program
Dr. Rosalie Young (PI) recently completed a Susan G Komen Foundation funded study of healthy living among African American breast cancer survivors. Studies have associated healthy living with better survival rates and less recurrence of breast cancer, but these studies did not target African American women not did they offer culturally relevant programs. During 2006-2008 42 African American women were enrolled in a population-specific behavioral change program. They received culturally appropriate classroom education and individualized telephone counseling (see photo below). Study participants achieved modest weight loss, improved their exercise behavior, and showed a major rise in quality of life. Two manuscripts have been submitted that present findings from the study. Five presentations were made at meetings including the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, 2008.
Breast cancer survivors learning about lifestyle change.
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