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HBPS Faculty, Student, and Alumni Publications
Recent articles published by Dept. of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences (HPBS) researchers showcase their department's commitment to advancing health equity and community-engaged research.
Examining Health Literacy among African Americans
Alumni, Baraka Muvaka, PhD, MPH, and Suur Ayangeakaa, PhD, MPH, alongside Ryan Combs PhD, MA, assistant professor, Monica Wendel, DrPH, MA, professor and chair, and Trinidad Jackson, MS, MPH, senior research associate, had their article “Examining Health Literacy among African Americans: A Narrative Review” published in Health Literacy Research & Practice. The study explores health literacy barriers and strategies among African Americans, drawing from literature and their experiences with community-engaged research in African American communities. Read more.
Community-informed multimedia intervention for HIV prevention, African American young adults
Associate professor Jelani Kerr, PhD, MSPH, and his research team published “Community-Informed Development of a Campaign to Increase HIV Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) Awareness among African American Young Adults” in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. The article details the development of a multimedia campaign using focus groups and a community advisory board to identify media and message preferences. HPBS co-authors include alumna Suur Ayangeakaa, PhD, MPH, Ryan Combs, PhD, MA, assistant professor, and doctoral student Kelsey Burton, MPH. Additional authors are Emma Sterrett-Hong, PhD, Kimberly Parker, PhD, Karen Krigger, MD, Lesley Harris, PhD, MSW, and Jeanelle Sears, PhD, MSW, MSc. Read more.
Community-based Participatory Research & Asthma Action Plans
HPBS doctoral candidate, Rishtya Kakar, is first author on the article titled, “Enhancing the Design and Utilization of Asthma Action Plans: Lessons from Community-Based Participatory Research” in Patient Education & Counseling. The study engaged community members and health professionals to address childhood asthma management in a marginalized community experiencing significant health inequities. The researchers found that leveraging community members' and health professionals' expertise led to the development of an enhanced patient-education tool and an effective provider incentive program with the potential to improve childhood asthma management in marginalized populations. Co-authors included Ryan Combs, PhD, MA, assistant professor, SPHIS alumna, Baraka Muvaka, PhD, MPH, and Jennifer Porter, MD, assistant professor, UofL Dept. of Pediatrics. Read more.
Improving gender minorities’ clinical care
Ryan Combs, PhD, MA, assistant professor, worked on two research projects that investigated how gender minorities are represented and treated in standardized patient programs based in schools of medicine. Combs and UofL School of Medicine researchers Emily Noonan, PhD, MA, Laura Weingartner, PhD, MS, Carrie Bohnert, MPA, CHSE; M. Ann Shaw, MD, MA, FACP, and Susan Sawning, MSSW, designed a qualitative study to investigate experiences of standardized patients who portray a patient seeking gender-affirming care. Findings are presented in the article “Perspectives of Transgender and Genderqueer Standardized Patients in Medical Education,” published September 2020 in Teaching & Learning in Medicine. Read more.
Combs continued collaborating with the School of Medicine colleagues Carrie Bohnert, MPA, CHSE, Emily Noonan, PhD, MA, and Laura Weingartner, PhD, MS, and Aaron Weathers, MA, assistant director for the UofL LGBT Center, to survey accredited medical schools in North America to determine how they represent gender minorities in standardized patient interactions. Results show that input from gender minority communities is essential to teach gender-affirming care, inform best practices, and for ongoing advisory capacity. Their study, “Gender Minorities in Simulation: A Mixed Methods Study of Medical School Standardized Patient Programs in the U.S. and Canada,” is available in the Dec. 2020 issue of Simulation in Healthcare.Read more.
