UIC College of Nursing

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

Mother/Daughter HIV Risk Reduction Intervention

Funding Source: National Institute of Mental Health

Dates: 2/11/02 – 1/31/08

Co-Investigators: Susan Levy; Sally Freels; Kathleen Crittenden

Abstract: Though HIV risk reduction interventions delivered by health experts have generally proven successful, their success has not significantly reduced the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic among African American adolescent girls, especially low-income girls, who are at high risk for contracting HIV. While several researchers have advocated that active parental involvement may have a more profound effect on HIV risk reduction, they also note that parents have inadequate skills to assist their adolescents. Few programs have tested the effectiveness of preparing mothers with the knowledge and skills needed to assist their daughters develop HIV risk reduction behavior. The specific aim is to examine systematically over a two-year period the effectiveness of the Mother/Daughter HIV Risk Reduction Intervention in increasing daughter's HIV risk reduction behavior: delay of sexual activity until after 13 and if sexually active, either refrain from sex or consistently use condoms and have fewer sex partners. A split-plot repeated measures design will be used to compare the treatment intervention, the Mother/Daughter HIV Risk Reduction Intervention (MDRR) with two control groups: the Health Expert HIV Risk Reduction Intervention (HERR) and the Mother/Daughter Health Promotion Intervention (MDHP). Based on social cognitive theory and theory of reasoned action, the research utilizes a convenience sample of low-income inner city adolescent females who range in age from 11-14: 184 mother/daughter pairs in MDRR, 184 mother/daughter pairs in MDHP, and 184 daughters in HERR. However, the interventions will be randomly assigned to one of three demographically similar but geographically distinct study settings. The adolescents' mothers deliver the content in MDRR and MDHP and the research staff delivers the content in HERR. The content for MDRR and HERR focuses on HIV risk reduction skills while the content for MDHP focuses on nutrition and exercise. Mothers receive from the research staff intensive group training before they teach in a group setting the content to their daughters. Then individual mother/daughter pairs in MDRR and MDHP and individual daughters in HERR receive quarterly booster sessions. Mother/daughter pairs and daughters will be assessed at pretest, immediate posttest, and quarterly for 24 months. Multiple logistic regression model and multiple linear regression model will be used to analyze the data.

Reducing Disparities in Underserved Populations

Funding Source: National Institute of Nursing Research

Dates: 8/1/02 – 5/31/07

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 five-year NRSA 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.