Social Work Commons^™

Evaluating The Impact Of Incentives On Clinical Trial Participation: Protocol For A Mixed Methods, Community-Engaged Study, Jerome T. Galea, Karah Y. Greene, Brandon Nguyen, Andrea N. Polonijo, Karine Dubé, Jeff Taylor, Christopher Christensen, Zhiwei Zhang, Brandon Brown

Social Work Faculty Publications

Background: Monetary incentives in research are frequently used to support participant recruitment and retention. However, there are scant empirical data regarding how researchers decide upon the type and amount of incentives offered. Likewise, there is little guidance to assist study investigators and institutional review boards (IRBs) in their decision-making on incentives. Monetary incentives, in addition to other factors such as the risk of harm or other intangible benefits, guide individuals’ decisions to enroll in research studies. These factors emphasize the need for evidence-informed guidance for study investigators and IRBs when determining the type and amount of incentives to provide to …

Closing Delivery Gaps In The Treatment Of Tuberculosis Infection: Lessons From Implementation Research In Peru, Courtney M. Yuen, Ana Karina Millones, Daniela Puma, Judith Jimenez, Jerome T. Galea, Roger Calderon, Gabriela S. Pages, Meredith B. Brooks, Leonid Lecca, Tom Nicholson, Mercedes C. Becerra, Salmaan Keshavjee

Social Work Faculty Publications

Background: Targeted testing and treatment of TB infection to prevent disease is a pillar of TB elimination. Despite recent global commitments to greatly expand access to preventive treatment for TB infection, there remains a lack of research on how best to expand preventive treatment programs in settings with high TB burdens.

Methods: We conducted implementation research in Lima, Peru, around a multifaceted intervention to deliver TB preventive treatment to close contacts of all ages, health care workers, and people in congregate settings. Key interventions included use of the interferon gamma release assay (IGRA), specialist support for generalist physicians at primary-level …

A Review Investigating The Relationship Between Cannabis Use And Adolescent Cognitive Functioning, Elena Cyrus, Makella S. Coudray, Sandra Kiplagat, Yandra Mariano, Ines Noel, Jerome T. Galea, Dexter Hadley, Jessy G. Dévieux, Eric Wagner

Social Work Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Incident Tuberculosis Diagnoses In Children At High Risk For Disease, Milagros Wong, Julia M. Coit, Milagros Mendoza, Silvia S. Chiang, Helen Marin, Jerome T. Galea, Leonid Lecca, Molly F. Franke

Social Work Faculty Publications

We followed 35 children meeting a research definition for unconfirmed tuberculosis (TB) but in whom a pediatric pulmonologist did not diagnose or treat TB. After a median follow-up of 16.4 months, most children were not diagnosed with TB following a comprehensive evaluation. However, 2 were diagnosed with TB, demonstrating high TB risk (6%; exact 95% CI, 1%–19%). In some contexts, researchers may wish to supplement these research definitions with clinical decision data and longitudinal follow-up in order to improve specificity.

Prediction Tool To Identify Children At Highest Risk Of Tuberculosis Disease Progression Among Those Exposed At Home, Meredith B. Brooks, Leonid Lecca, Carmen Contreras, Roger Calderon, Rosa Yataco, Jerome Galea, Chuan-Chin Huang, Megan B. Murray, Mercedes C. Becerra

Social Work Faculty Publications

Background: There is a dearth of research to understand which children, among those who are exposed at home to tuberculosis (TB), are at the highest risk of TB disease, to tailor care. We sought to identify predictors of TB progression in children.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of children living with adults with pulmonary TB in Lima, Peru (2009–2012). We applied classification and regression tree analysis to examine potential predictors of incident TB disease during 12 months in 3 age groups (0–4, 5–9, and 10–14 years). We calculated the relative risk (RR) for top predictors in each age …

A Non-Specialist Depression Care Pathway For Adolescents Living With Hiv And Transitioning Into Adult Care In Peru: A Nested, Proof Of Concept Pilot Study, Jerome T. Galea, Carmen Contreras, Milagros Wong, Karen Ramos, Valentina Vargas, Hugo Sánchez, Renato A. Errea, Leonid Lecca, Molly F. Franke

Social Work Faculty Publications

Background: Adolescents living with HIV (ALWH) are disproportionally impacted by depression, experiencing worse HIV outcomes. Integrated depression and HIV care may support antiretroviral adherence. This study pilot tested for proof of concept a basic depression care pathway for ALWH to inform depression care integration with HIV services in Peru.

Methods: ALWH were screened for depression with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Participants with PHQ-9 scores of ⩾10 or suicidal ideation (SI) were eligible for Psychological First Aid (PFA) delivered by non-mental health specialists. Participants with PHQ-9 re-assessments of ⩾20 or SI were referred to specialized services.

Results: Twenty-eight (11 female, …

Impact Of The Sars-Cov-2 Pandemic On Adolescents Living With Hiv In Lima, Peru, Renato A. Errea, Milagros Wong, Liz Senador, Alicia Ramos, Karen Ramos, Jerome T. Galea, Leonid Lecca, Hugo Sánchez, Carlos Benites, Molly F. Franke

Social Work Faculty Publications

Adolescents living with HIV (ALWH) have lower rates of virologic suppression and higher rates of immunologic decline compared to their older counterparts, potentially placing them at high-risk for developing severe SARS-CoV-2 disease. ALWH who are transitioning to adult care face additional challenges to remaining in care and adhering to treatment. In this special section we report the experiences of ALWH in the process of transitioning to adult HIV services during the COVID-19 pandemic. In first place, the government-mandated stay-at-home order has substantially limited access to full HIV care by restricting public transportation, HIV medication stock-outs, and the suspension of routine …

Gender In The Time Of Covid-19: Evaluating National Leadership And Covid-19 Fatalities, Leah C. Windsor, Gina Yannitell Reinhardt, Alistair J. Windsor, Robert Ostergard, Susan Allen, Courtney Burns, Jarod Giger, Reed Wood

Social Work Faculty Publications

In this paper we explore whether countries led by women have fared better during the COVID-19 pandemic than those led by men. Media and public health officials have lauded the perceived gender-related influence on policies and strategies for reducing the deleterious effects of the pandemic. We examine this proposition by analyzing COVID-19-related deaths globally across countries led by men and women. While we find some limited support for lower reported fatality rates in countries led by women, they are not statistically significant. Country cultural values offer more substantive explanation for COVID-19 outcomes. We offer several potential explanations for the pervasive …

Technical Reviewing For The Family First Prevention Services Act: Strategies And Recommendations, Antonio R. Garcia, Peter J. Pecora, Audrey H. Schnell, Cynthia Burnson, Elizabeth Harris, Allison Finseth

Social Work Faculty Publications

The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) has compelled states to expand their priorities to implement evidence-based practices (EBPs) as a means to prevent foster care placement. While the states may opt to include EBPs already approved by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), some state leaders are opting to commission an independent technical review for the EBP they would prefer to implement as part of their FFPSA plan. While the goal is for ACF to approve their plan and issue a temporary license, little guidance is provided on how to conduct technical reviews. Relying upon the expectations that …

Two Clinical Prediction Tools To Improve Tuberculosis Contact Investigation, Ruoran Li, Francesco Nordio, Chuan-Chin Huang, Carmen Contreras, Roger Calderon, Rosa Yataco, Jerome Galea, Zibiao Zhang, Mercedes C. Becerra, Leonid Lecca, Megan B. Murray

Social Work Faculty Publications

Background: Efficient contact investigation strategies are needed for the early diagnosis of TB disease and treatment of latent TB infections.

Methods: Between September 2009 and August 2012, we conducted a prospective cohort study in Lima, Peru in which we enrolled and followed 14,044 household contacts of adult pulmonary TB patients. We used information from a subset of this cohort to derive two clinical prediction tools that identify contacts of TB patients at elevated risk of progressing to active disease by training multivariable models that predict (1) co-prevalent TB among all household contacts and (2) one-year incident TB among adult contacts. …

Witnessing Intimate Partner Violence Across Contexts: Mental Health, Delinquency, And Dating Violence Outcomes Among Mexican Heritage Youth, Lela Rankin Williams, Heidi Adams Rueda

Social Work Faculty Publications

Immigrant Mexican American (MA) youth are at greater risk for violence exposure due to risk factors associated with migration–postmigration processes and as they settle into urban U.S. communities marked by crime and poverty. Less is known about the contexts of this exposure. Specifically, what are the ecological contexts in which youth witness intimate partner violence (IPV), how do these experiences differ by immigration generational status, and what is the impact on youth’s externalizing and internalizing behaviors? MA adolescents (N = 279; 15–17 years, M = 16.17, SD = 0.81) from the Southwest United States participated in an online survey. …

Risk And Protective Factors Of Dementia Among Adults With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review Protocol, Karen A. Lawrence, Theresia M. Pachner, Molly M. Long, Stephanie Henderson, Donna L. Schuman, Brenda L. Plassman

Social Work Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with an increased risk of dementia. Individual epidemiological studies have controlled for several confounders of the relationship between PTSD and increased dementia risk, yet particular risk factors underlying this relationship have not been determined. This systematic review protocol aims to identify risk and protective factors of dementia among adults with PTSD.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will conduct an electronic search of the databases: PubMed, CINAHL, PsychINFO, The Cochrane Library, Scopus and ProQuest Dissertation and Theses Global. After screening the studies, quantitative synthesis will be performed, if possible. Otherwise, a narrative synthesis will be …

Staff Perspectives Regarding The Influence Of Trauma On The Intimate Partnering Experiences Of Adolescent Mothers In Residential Foster Care, Autumn M. Bermea, Heidi Adams Rueda, Kwynn M. Gonzalez-Pons

Social Work Faculty Publications

Adolescent girls in foster care are disproportionately vulnerable to pregnancy and parenthood. These experiences of motherhood might be partially attributable to experiences of trauma, including sexual trauma. Trauma, particularly related to domestic violence and sexual abuse, have been linked to subsequent struggles in intimate relationships, such as dating violence or engagement in unsafe sexual behaviors. Although some research has begun to investigate experiences of trauma on relationships, there has been a lack of focus on intimate relationships in general and how they have been influenced by past and/or current traumatic experiences. The present study draws on 12 interviews with program …

A Look At Empathy, University Belonging, And Intersectionality: How To Support A Diverse Student Body Amid The Covid-19 Crisis, Shantalea Johns, Stephanie Hawkes

Social Work Faculty Publications

The present short essay discusses the impact COVID-19 has had on college students. As universities work to build supportive learning environments during these unprecedented times, it is important for practitioners to consider how mental health and student identity impact student success. The framework proposes that empathy, university belonging, and an intersectional approach to academic support can contribute to a student's mental health, identity, and emotional well-being as they transition back to academic life.

Health-Related Quality Of Life And Health Literacy Among Mexican American And Black American Youth In A Southern Border State, Steven Hoffman, Heidi Adams Rueda, Lauren Beasley

Social Work Faculty Publications

Among adults, health literacy and health-related quality of life are highly correlated constructs that are associated with tangible health outcomes. While the connection between these concepts and health outcomes among youth is still unclear, studying these factors among at-risk adolescent populations can provide researchers, policy-creators, and educators a quantifiable summary of the challenge they face in their efforts to reduce health disparities. The purpose of this study was to better understand the health of minority youth living in a Southern state near the US-Mexico border. Specifically, we sought to describe their health literacy and health-related quality of life, and identify …

An Assessment Of Mental Wellbeing And Health-Related Quality Of Life Among Youth Living In Central Mexico, Steven Hoffman, Heidi Adams Rueda, Stefan Chase

Social Work Faculty Publications

The current state of adolescent mental health and wellbeing in Mexico constitutes a serious public health concern. In an effort to better understand the potential impact this crisis is having on youth in Central Mexico, we designed a study to assess the connection between Mental Wellbeing and Health-related Quality of Life among a sample of children in junior high school. Descriptive statistics suggest that 22.5% of our sample was “at-risk” of poor health-related quality of life, with 19.8% at risk within the physical subscale and 24.3% at risk within the psychosocial subscale. Regression analyses showed that mental wellbeing scores significantly …

Human Behavior And The Social Environment: Fall 2020 Syllabus, Rigaud Joseph

Social Work Faculty Publications

Syllabus for graduate course on Human Behavior and the Social Environment. (Critical examination and application of biological, psychological, and social aspects of human development from infancy through old age. Major theories, risk and protective factors.)

A Qualitative Exploration Of Racial And Ethnic Differences In Cost Of Care Conversations Among Older Adults, Kyaien Oquinn Conner, Jaqueline Wiltshire, Edlin Colato Garcia, Barbara Langland-Orban, Erica Anderson, Iraida Carrion, Amber Goodman, Ashley Goodman

Social Work Faculty Publications

Background: The rapidly growing racially diverse, aging population in the United States is presenting unique challenges for our social, economic, and healthcare systems. Rising health care costs, increased patient cost-sharing, and limited financial resources make this generation of older Americans susceptible to large medical bills or debt which disproportionally impacts older racial/ethnic minorities. Cost-of-care (CoC) conversations between patients and doctors is one recommended approach to containing health care costs and alleviating patients’ financial burden of care.

Methods: The current study used focus group methodology to qualitatively explore the contextual factors that influence CoC conversations in a diverse sample of older …

Tuberculosis Clinical Presentation And Treatment Outcomes In Pregnancy: A Prospective Cohort Study, Brittney J. Van De Water, Meredith B. Brooks, Chuan-Chin Huang, Letizia Trevisi, Leonid Lecca, Carmen Contreras, Jerome Galea, Roger Calderon, Rosa Yataco, Megan Murray, Mercedes C. Becerra

Social Work Faculty Publications

Background: There is limited research to guide TB treatment specifically in pregnant women and few studies have described the presentation of TB in pregnant women. We aimed to understand TB presentation and treatment outcomes in pregnant women in a low HIV burden setting. We describe a cohort of women of childbearing age treated for TB disease in Lima, Peru, and compare clinical presentation and treatment outcomes among pregnant and non-pregnant women between 2009 and 2012, including 36 pregnant women.

Methods: This is a prospective cohort study. Subjects were recruited from across 106 public health centers in Lima, Peru. Baseline demographic, …

Impact Of Mental Disorders On Active Tb Treatment Outcomes: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, G. Lee, J. Scuffell, J. T. Galea, S. S. Shin, E. Magill, E. Jaramillo, A. C. Sweetland

Social Work Faculty Publications

Background: Comorbid mental disorders in patients with TB may exacerbate TB treatment outcomes. We systematically reviewed current evidence on the association between mental disorders and TB outcomes.

Methods: We searched eight databases for studies published from 1990 to 2018 that compared TB treatment outcomes among patients with and without mental disorders. We excluded studies that did not systematically assess mental disorders and studies limited to substance use. We extracted study and patient characteristics and effect measures and performed a meta-analysis using random-effects models to calculate summary odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: Of 7687 studies identified, 10 …

Parent-Led, Stepped-Care Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy For Youth With Autism And Co-Occurring Anxiety: Study Rationale And Method, Ana C. Ramirez, Stacey C. Grebe, Morgan M. Mcneel, Danica L. Limon, Sophie C. Schneider, Leandra N. Berry, Robin P. Goin-Kochel, Sandra L. Cepeda, Robert G. Voigt, Alison Salloum, Eric A. Storch

Social Work Faculty Publications

Anxiety disorders affect up to 50% of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are significantly impairing to the person affected, as well as to their loved ones. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been established as the gold-standard treatment for anxiety disorders among typically developing youth and adults, and demonstrates similar efficacy among youth with high-functioning autism (HFA). Many CBT interventions utilize a “full-package” treatment approach to treat co-occurring anxiety in youth with ASD. However, these service delivery systems are often therapist-intensive, costly, and impractical, thereby compromising full engagement and treatment adherence. This paper describes the design, rationale, and methodology of …

Uncovering Reasons For Treatment Initiation Delays Among Children With Tb In Lima, Peru, J. Coit, M. Wong, J. T. Galea, M. Mendoza, H. Marin, M. Tovar, S. S. Chiang, L. Lecca, M. F. Franke

Social Work Faculty Publications

Background: Timely diagnosis and treatment of pediatric tuberculosis (TB) is critical to reducing mortality but remains challenging in the absence of adequate diagnostic tools. Even once a TB diagnosis is made, delays in treatment initiation are common, but for reasons that are not well understood.

Methods: To examine reasons for delay post-diagnosis, we conducted semi-structured interviews with Ministry of Health (MoH) physicians and field workers affiliated with a pediatric TB diagnostic study, and caregivers of children aged 0–14 years who were diagnosed with pulmonary TB in Lima, Peru. Interviews were analyzed using systematic comparative and descriptive content analysis.

Results: We …

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Beijing Lineage And Risk For Tuberculosis In Child Household Contacts, Peru, Chuan-Chin Huang, Alexander L. Chu, Mercedes C. Becerra, Jerome T. Galea, Roger Calderón, Carmen Contreras, Rosa Yataco, Zibiao Zhang, Leonid Lecca, Megan B. Murray

Social Work Faculty Publications

Few studies have prospectively compared the relative transmissibility and propensity to cause disease of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing strains with other human-adapted strains of the M. tuberculosis complex. We assessed the effect of Beijing strains on the risk for M. tuberculosis infection and disease progression in 9,151 household contacts of 2,223 culture-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients in Lima, Peru. Child contacts exposed to Beijing strains were more likely than child contacts exposed to non-Beijing strains to be infected at baseline, by 12 months of follow-up, and during follow-up. We noted an increased but nonsignificant tendency for child contacts to develop TB. …

A Positively Selected Fbn1 Missense Variant Reduces Height In Peruvian Individuals, Samira Asgari, Yang Luo, Ali Akbari, Gillian M. Belbin, Xinyi Li, Daniel N. Harris, Martin Selig, Eric Bartell, Roger Calderon, Kamil Slowikowski, Carmen Contreras, Rosa Yataco, Jerome T. Galea, Judith Jimenez, Julia M. Coit, Chandel Farroñay, Rosalynn M. Nazarian, Timothy D. O’Connor, Harry C. Dietz, Joel N. Hirschhorn, Heinner Guio, Leonid Lecca, Eimear E. Kenny, Esther E. Freeman, Megan B. Murray, Soumya Raychaudhuri

Social Work Faculty Publications

On average, Peruvian individuals are among the shortest in the world1. Here we show that Native American ancestry is associated with reduced height in an ethnically diverse group of Peruvian individuals, and identify a population-specific, missense variant in the FBN1 gene (E1297G) that is significantly associated with lower height. Each copy of the minor allele (frequency of 4.7%) reduces height by 2.2 cm (4.4 cm in homozygous individuals). To our knowledge, this is the largest effect size known for a common height-associated variant. FBN1 encodes the extracellular matrix protein fibrillin 1, which is a major structural component of microfibrils. We …

Psychological Pathway From Obesity-Related Stigma To Anxiety Via Internalized Stigma And Self-Esteem Among Adolescents In Taiwan, Chung-Ying Lin, Meng-Che Tsai, Chih-Hsiang Liu, Yi-Ching Lin, Yi-Ping Hsieh, Carol Strong

Social Work Faculty Publications

The objective of this research was to examine the pathway from public stigma, to perceived stigma, to depression in adolescents via internalized stigma. Adolescents in grade 7 through 9 from a junior high school in Changhua County in Taiwan completed self-administered surveys from March to July in 2018. Adolescents were asked questions regarding depressive symptoms, obesity-related perceived stigma, and internalized stigma. Structural equation modeling was used to fit the pathway model. The pathway was first analyzed with the full sample and then stratified by actual and perceived weight status. Our final analytic sample consisted of 464 adolescents. The pathway model …

Turning Doctoral Students Into Faculty In Gerontological Social Work: The AgeSw Experience, Nancy Kusmaul, Stephanie P. Wladkowski, Sally Hageman, Allison Gibson, Rebecca L. Mauldin, Jennifer C. Greenfield, Noelle L. Fields

Social Work Faculty Publications

Developing faculty interested in aging may help social work meet the needs of our growing aging population. However, doctoral students need a variety of supports to complete PhDs and become gerontological social work faculty. This study explored one program’s role in supporting the development of social work doctoral students to faculty in gerontology. An e-mail invitation was sent to all former participants (2010–2016 cohorts) of the Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW) Pre-Dissertation Fellows Program (PDFP). The 38-question online survey consisted of Likert-type scales, multiple answers, and one open-ended question per section about the program’s impacts on …

Peer Victimization, Internalizing Problems, And Substance Use In Urban African American Adolescents In Chicago: The Relevance Of The Self-Medication Hypothesis, Jun Sung Hong, Yi-Ping Hsieh, Kelly Lynn Clary, Rose Theda, Ryan Russ, Dexter R. Voisin

Social Work Faculty Publications

The aim of the study was to explore the link between peer victimization and substance use and tested the mediating role of internalizing problems in urban African American adolescents in Chicago. Six hundred and thirty-eight adolescents in Chicago's Southside participated in the study. Results from the hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that youth who reported peer victimization were at risk of internalizing problems. Those who were bullied by their peers were more likely to display internalizing problems, which was also significantly associated with substance use. Consistent with the self-medication hypothesis, findings from the study suggest that bullied youth are likely …

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response As An Intervention To Autism Spectrum Disorder, Ariana Galante, Nafees Alam

Social Work Faculty Publications

Studies pertaining to Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) highlight the need for further research on ASMR and autism, paving the way for an increase in interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The therapeutic use of ASMR videos provide a significant improvement in mood and behavioral development. ASMR allows audiences to reap the benefits of soothing and calming sensations. Using ASMR as audiovisual therapy can serve as a notable component to early intervention, alleviating symptoms associated with meltdowns and struggles of emotional self-regulation. Accessibility is important, as are pre-assessments for Misophonia and other potential factors that may limit the benefits of …

Service User Inclusion In Social Work Education, A Factor Analysis, Nafees Alam

Social Work Faculty Publications

Based on the Principle Component Analysis extraction method using the Varimax with Kaiser Normalization rotation method, the Rotated Component Matrix gleans three extracted factors that were then examined for loading. Analysis finds Component 1 (C1) pertains to student development, Component 2 (C2) pertains to professional development and Component 3 (C3) pertains to service user compensation, with linear regression showing all three components as statistically significant, each with a significance of 0.000. C1, student development, has an unstandardized beta of 5.690 and a standardized beta of 0.783, C2, professional development has an unstandardized beta of 3.016 and standardized beta of 0.415 …

Faculty Perceptions Of Service User Empowerment And Consumerism, A Quantitative Study, Nafees Alam

Social Work Faculty Publications

Background: The purpose of this exploratory study was to establish the state of US social work faculty perceptions on service user empowerment and consumerism. Despite the trademark of the profession being service user-oriented, United States’ social work curricula lacks service user inclusion in the education of social workers. Methods: This was a cross-sectional exploratory study involving 404 social work faculty across the United States. In addition to demographic variables, the instrument used consisted of a questionnaire informed by existing literature. Results: The maximum possible composite score for this study was 50. The mean composite score was 41.977 (SD = 3.647), …