I bring a multi-disciplinary research approach, setting forth a new path to explore how social factors shape life for survivors of chronic disease.
I bring a multi-disciplinary research approach, setting forth a new path to explore how social factors shape life for survivors of chronic disease.
Guaranteed income (GI) initiatives have the potential to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities; however, few existing initiatives have assessed health outcomes or social determinants of health, and none have assessed impacts on health disparities. In this application, we propose to develop a framework for what health, social determinants of health, and health disparity indicators might be addressed in a GI pilot and what sources of data might be available for those assessments.
Sponsor: Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute
This study uses the nation’s largest pharmaceutical claims database to assess the frequency with which patients choose not to pay for PrEP prescriptions at the pharmacy point-of-sale, known as a prescription reversal. The results of this first ever study of PrEP prescription reversals will guide who to target for subsequent R series intervention grants focused on increasing retention in PrEP care and can ultimately inform federal safety net programs, industry sponsored medication assistance programs.
Sponsor: NIH/ National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) R21NR018387
Although pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is effective in preventing HIV, high out-of-pocket costs (i.e., co-pays, deductibles, and co-insurance) may prohibit uptake of the intervention. This study evaluates the extent to which out-of-pocket costs may limit PrEP uptake. The results of this study will provide insight for public health programs as well as for development of future interventions that address cost as a barrier to PrEP uptake.
Sponsor: NIH/National Institute of Mental Health 1R21MH118019-01
This study uses the nation’s largest pharmaceutical claims database to assess the frequency with which patients choose not to pay for PrEP prescriptions at the pharmacy point-of-sale, known as a prescription reversal. The results of this first ever study of PrEP prescription reversals will guide who to target for subsequent R series intervention grants focused on increasing retention in PrEP care and can ultimately inform federal safety net programs, industry sponsored medication assistance programs.
Sponsor: NIH/ National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) R21NR018387
Although pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is effective in preventing HIV, high out-of-pocket costs (i.e., co-pays, deductibles, and co-insurance) may prohibit uptake of the intervention. This study evaluates the extent to which out-of-pocket costs may limit PrEP uptake. The results of this study will provide insight for public health programs as well as for development of future interventions that address cost as a barrier to PrEP uptake.
Sponsor: NIH/National Institute of Mental Health 1R21MH118019-01
Disparities in breast cancer screening, risk, and mortality have been found both in studies of sexual minority women and studies of racial minority women. Data from both sexual minority women and cisgender Black women (i.e. female at birth who identifies as a woman) indicate lower use of timely screening mammography, despite higher risk of breast cancer for sexual minority women than heterosexual women and higher breast cancer mortality rates for Black than White women. This mixed-methods study investigates breast cancer screening behaviors (i.e. mammography) and follow-up (i.e. ultrasound or clinic visit) after abnormal results for Black sexual minority women.
Sponsor: Faculty Innovation Fund
Social capital, a characteristic of a collective, has been associated with better health for individuals. This dissertation work explored the extent to which social capital was associated with cancer preventive behaviors for African-Americans in Philadelphia, and whether or not African-American communities had unique social capital structures compare to other race groups. This study incorporated propensity scores, geocoding, and multi-level modelling.
Sponsor: NIH/National Cancer Institute (NCI) 1F31CA136236-01
Upper body breast-cancer related lymphedema (BCRL) is a persistent adverse outcome of cancer treatment that affects the physical health and quality of life of up to 1 in 3 of the 2.9 million breast cancer survivors in the US. For those with BCRL, known predictors of progression include BMI, type of surgery and radiation treatment, all of which are associated with social factors. However, no studies have explored the association of race/ethnicity, geography or other social and environmental factors with BCRL progression. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between macro- (neighborhood) and micro-level (individual) social and environmental risk factors for the persistent adverse effects of cancer treatment, and the costs they pose, using the example of breast cancer survivors who have BCRL as a persistent adverse effect of breast cancer surgery.
Sponsor: NIH/National Cancer Institute (NCI) 1K01CA184288
Venezuela has very low rates of breast cancer, but there is little research explaining the low rates. This independent mixed methods research project focused on perceptions of breast cancer preventive behaviors by Venezuelan women. Focus groups and surveys unveiled that Venezuelan women in the sample did not have confidence that self-breast exams (which were still advocated at that time) were an effective mode of early detection for breast cancer.
Sponsor: William J. Fulbright Foundation/ IIE
Abrams, Abigail. “City Officials Scramble to Prepare as Mass Protests Threaten a Resurgence of COVID-19. Time Magazine. 9 June 2020. https://time.com/5850104/
Seegert, Liz. “The Financial Burden of Breast Cancer”. Forbes.com. 21 January 2020. https://www.forbes.com/sites/
Lorraine T. Dean, ScD
Dr Dean Lab, LLC
Baltimore, MD 21205
Email: drltdean@gmail.com
Twitter: @drltdean