Research

Barbara L. Dancy, PhD, RN, FAAN, Funded Projects

Reducing Disparities in Underserved Populations

Funding Source: National Institute of Nursing Research

Dates: 8/1/02 – 6/30/12

Project Team: Norr, Kathleen-UIC, Co-Project Director; Bonner, Gloria, Program Faculty; Dallas, Constance, Program Faculty; Ferrans, Carol, Program Faculty; Hughes, Tonda, Program Faculty; Kavanaugh, Karen, Program Faculty; Miller, Arlene, Program Faculty; Smith, Eva, Program Faculty; Talashek, Marie, Program Faculty; White-Traut, Rosemary, Program Faculty; Wilbur, Jo Ellen, Program Faculty; Zerwic, Julie Johnson, Program Faculty; Braunschweig, Carol, Program Faculty; Chavez, Noel, Program Faculty; Kielliofner, Gary, Program Faculty; Levy, Judith, Program Faculty

Abstract: The purpose of this research-training program is to develop nurse researchers with predoctoral and advanced research expertise in the science of health disparities in underserved populations (HDUP). Underserved populations include individuals who experience health risk due to poverty, disability, or limited education and discrimination related to ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation and age. Epidemiological data confirm the health disparities among these individuals. This multidisciplinary research-training program is integrated with the existing Ph.D. in Nursing Science program at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing. Strong partnerships among multidisciplinary faculty from the College of Nursing , School of Public Health , and the College of Health and Human Development Sciences currently exist. Upon completion of the HDUP program, trainees will use an ecological framework to investigate the reciprocal relationships between the person and the environment that result in persistent health disparities in underserved populations at the local, national, and global levels; demonstrate sound methodological approaches that stress cultural competency and ethical issues related to health disparities; and complete a dissertation or initiate a nursing research program in either explanatory research, intervention research, or dissemination/translation of research findings to enhance public policy. Over the course of 5 years, the program will admit one predoctoral and one postdoctoral student in each of the first 2 years (pre-doctoral for 3-year ten-ns and post-doctoral for 2-year terms). Then one postdoctoral and two predoctoral students will be admitted for the 3rd year and two predoctoral and two postdoctoral students for the 4til year for 2 year terms for a total of 6 predoctoral and 5 postdoctoral students over 5 years. The HDUP will place a special emphasis on recruiting candidates from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, especially from groups traditionally underrepresented in nursing and health care.

Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP)

Funding Source: Health Resources and Services Administration

Dates: 7/1/03– 6/30/10

Co-investigators: Carole Kenner, Marquis Foreman

Abstract: The University of Illinois College of Nursing (UIC CON) is a top-ten ranked graduate school in the country and the largest and lead college in Illinois. The CON and several masters 'majors are ranked in the top IO (US News and World Report, 2003), including nurse midwifery (3d) and advanced community health nursing (5'h). Moreover, the UIC CON holds a ranking of 3d among nursing programs in research funding by the National Institutes of Health (2001 and 2002). Our graduate program is headquartered in Chicago with thriving regional programs in 4 other cities in Illinois. We are the major source of nursing leadership for education, research and advanced practice in the state and contribute substantially beyond and most particularly globally through our Office of Global Health Leadership and the first U.S. WHO Collaborating Center for Nursing and Midwifery. Our educational programs entail quality academic and research training in a
stimulating and nurturing interdisciplinary learning environment and prepare nursing leaders for a complex and dynamic global workplace.

Our faculty number close to 100, with appointments in regular professorial, clinical professorial, research professorial (N~ 60) and clinical instructor positions (N~40, several part-time). All faculty members in professorial positions hold a doctorate. Therefore, the UIC CON has been and continues to be well positioned to provide superior quality education for faculty desperately needed in nursing due to a growing shortage. It is important that faculty members be educated in Colleges and Schools that generate nursing and healthcare knowledge as well as disseminate it. Superb investigative experiences with research-intensive faculty optimize the chances for having teachers who can promote the best discovery thinking in others. With respect to other resources, we have our own 11-story building with a core and individual laboratories for biological, biobehavioral and behavioral research plus core laboratories for research support of faculty and students. We acquired state of the technology videoconferencing and web-based learning to provide broader access to our learning opportunities and courses and currently offer a web-based certificate in teaching/learning Leadership to upgrade faculty skills in teaching/learning and curriculum.

There is a growing and relentless shortage of nurse faculty in the nation and in our target region that parallels the shortage of practicing RNs. In a 2000 national survey, 41.7 percent of responding schools cited insufficient faculty numbers as a reason for not accepting all qualified applicants and a faculty vacancy rate of 7.4% was cited (AACN, 2003). Among 71 Illinois schools surveyed recently, 22 have openings for nurse faculty. Since the mean age of faculty in Illinois is 50.1 years; 67.2% are over 45 years of age; and 42.9% of nurse faculty plan on retiring within the next IO years (Baldwin & Metcalfe, 200 1), the need for doctorate prepared faculty is and will continue to be critical. Therefore, this Nurse Faculty Preparation Loan Program as an incentive for individuals to consider preparation to be faculty members is most timely and relevant.

UIC PhD in Nursing Science Program

Funding Source: US Department of Education

Dates: 8/14/06– 8/13/10

Project Team: Marquis Foreman

Abstract: This project will enable UIC to increase current enrollment of doctoral students especially those from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds, but more importantly to enable a larger number of these students to enroll in study full-time, thereby accelerating the time to completion of degree requirements—by which we can address the national need addressed by the GAANN program. Moreover, increasing the numbers of full-time students will allow them to better immerse themselves in this educational experience and take advantage of the rich resources, opportunities, and talented faculty currently existing at UIC CON.
Given the large number of outstanding doctoral students who we are currently unable to accommodate through fellowship awards, this fellowship program, combined with a UIC focus on research and teaching competencies in nursing science, will enhance the visibility and quality of our nursing science program, and thereby improve our ability to recruit and retain highly qualified students, especially those from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.
The proposed GAANN award would enable UIC CON to:
*Attract more highly talented applicants to PhD in nursing science programs;
*Enroll and retain a higher percentage of the most talented students;
*Recruit and retain more students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds;
*Accelerate degree completion; and
*Enrich and challenge the entire population of doctoral students in nursing science by ensuring the presence of some of the most talented students in the field.

Intention-Formation in Mental Health Services for African American Youth

Funding Source: Juvenile Protection Association

Dates: 4/1/08– 3/30/10

Reducing Health Disparities in AA Women: Lifestyle Physical Activity Adherence

Funding Source: Rush University Medical Center

Dates: 8/27/09– 7/13/15

Role on the Project : co-investigator

Abstract: Despite the known benefits, most individuals do not achieve the recommended levels of physical activity (PA). Overall, African American women have the lowest PA levels, which contributes to substantial disparities in cardiovascular health, diabetes, and depressive symptoms. There is a pressing need to examine ways to promote PA in African American women that are appealing, applicable to clinical practice, and cost-effective. The purpose of this clinical trial is to test the efficacy of our reframed Women’s Walking Program (WWP), consisting of a lifestyle PA prescription and “group visit” delivery model, with or without tailored telephone contacts between group visits for increasing adherence to PA and improving health outcomes. Two telephone contact strategies will be compared against a no-telephone control condition: a person-administered contact strategy using brief motivational interviewing and an automated contact strategy using a telephone computer-linked system. Group visits and telephone contacts are designed to increase adherence to lifestyle PA with an emphasis on accumulation of 3,000 steps daily over baseline. The aims of this study are (1) to compare the initial (adoption 24 weeks) and longer-term (maintenance 2nd 24 weeks) effectiveness of the WWP plus person-administered telephone contacts, WWP plus automated telephone contacts, and the WWP without telephone contacts on (a) increasing adherence to lifestyle PA, (b) improving health outcomes (aerobic fitness, body composition, depressive symptoms), (c) improving self-efficacy and outcome expectations; and (2) to compare cost-effectiveness of the three telephone treatment conditions in relation to adherence to lifestyle PA and health outcomes. The study design is a quasi-experimental clinical trial with random assignment of the treatment conditions to one of three community health care centers matched on race, socioeconomic status, and residential mobility. African American women (n = 234) aged 40 to 65 years, who are sedentary with no major signs or symptoms of cardiovascular disease and no history of myocardial infarction, stroke, or insulin-dependent diabetes will be recruited within a 3-mile radius of the community health care centers. Data will be collected at baseline, and at 24 weeks and 48 weeks using multiple measures of PA; aerobic fitness testing; BMI; waist circumference; depressive symptoms; self-efficacy for overcoming barriers; and outcome expectations. We anticipate that (a) adherence to lifestyle PA and therefore health outcomes will improve and self-efficacy and outcome expectations will be higher in the WWP complemented with telephone contacts compared to the WWP without telephone contacts and (b) the WWP plus automated telephone contact will be more cost-effective than WWP plus person-administered telephone contacts. This study will contribute to identifying a reimbursable, practical way of delivering a behavioral change intervention in clinical settings that will increase adherence to PA and be attractive and appealing to African American women.