Jennifer Hodgson - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Jennifer Hodgson
Contemporary Family Therapy
Adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients diagnosed with cancer, and their caregivers, experience... more Adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients diagnosed with cancer, and their caregivers, experience a wide range of biopsychosocial stressors. The systemic transactional model Bodenmann in Swiss J Psychol 54: 34–49, 1995 posits that distress and coping are interrelated when close relationships are faced with a shared stressor. This study’s purpose was to understand the interrelated nature of distress and coping among AYA cancer patients and their caregivers. The research questions were: (a) What are the within sample and dyadic outcomes associated with distress and coping strategies among matched AYA oncology patients and caregivers? and (b) To what extent will patient and caregiver engagement predict patient and caregiver distress, as well as the patient problem list? A descriptive, cross-sectional design was utilized to collect data from 19 matched patient-caregiver dyads. Outcome variables included: (a) distress, (b) patient perceived problems, and (c) perceived stress. Predictor variables included: (a) coping styles, (b) relational assessment, and (c) caregiver burden. Actor-partner interdependence modeling revealed: (a) patients’ and caregivers’ use of engagement style coping strategies has a positive impact on patients’ distress, while caregivers’ use of engagement style coping strategies also has benefits for their own distress, (b) caregivers’ use of engagement style coping strategies may help reduce patients’ endorsement of biopsychosocial or practical problems, and (c) greater use of disengagement style coping strategies may decrease caregivers’ endorsement of issues included on the patient’s problem list. Future researchers are recommended to further investigate cancer as a relational illness. Clinicians and health policy makers are encouraged to develop policies and protocols toward treating the relational unit as the standard of care rather than as the exception.
American Journal of Health Studies, 2020
The primary care system is a fertile ground for professionals to be trained to promote positive h... more The primary care system is a fertile ground for professionals to be trained to promote positive health behaviors. However, most primary care systems that integrate physical and behavioral health struggle with financial start-up and sustainability. The growth and development of mechanisms for supporting grass roots integration highlight the creativity and sheer will of communities, states, and healthcare systems to innovate their way to health. And now, for the first time, national-level funding initiatives have begun to support integration. This article highlights funding mechanisms at the state, foundation, payor, and federal levels that have been used to champion innovation. It provides a historical and future-oriented primer of the various mechanisms for initiating and advancing integration in primary care settings.
The Qualitative Report, Dec 8, 2014
A 20 year retrospective qualitative case study was conducted to investigate the relational impact... more A 20 year retrospective qualitative case study was conducted to investigate the relational impact of choriocarcinoma (a type of gestational cancer) on a couple of child-bearing age. A unique feature to the study was that the primary investigator was the couple's biological son, initiating the first known autocase study design. Using holistic content analysis, investigators learned that anticipatory grief played a central part in the couple's ultimate detachment and divorce. While the wife began to refocus her emotional energies on her children, in psychological preparation for her possible death, the husband focused on ways to keep the family finances together in preparation for life after cancer. He perceived her emotional detachment from him as abandonment. In spite of taking separate paths, the two perceived one another as heroes. The conceptual and clinical implications for a young couple battling gestational cancer are discussed.
Part of the Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies Commons, and
Clinical Methods in Medical Family Therapy, 2018
Community health centers (CHCs) provide affordable, accessible care to patients in urban and rura... more Community health centers (CHCs) provide affordable, accessible care to patients in urban and rural areas across the nation. Health centers must be located in underserved locales, governed by a community-majority board, provide a core set of primary care services, and offer a sliding fee scale to patients under 200% of the federal poverty level (National Associations of Community Health Centers, 2017a). Based on most recent figures, health centers serve more than 25 million patients (1 out of every 15 Americans), 71% of whom are at the 100% federal poverty level and below and 83% are uninsured or publicly insured (NACHC, 2017a). Health centers employ over 8400 mental health and substance abuse staff and provide access to these services in the most underserved communities in the nation. In 2015, over 8.3 million clinic visits were provided for mental health or substance abuse issues; this represents a 56% growth in behavioral health visits since 2010 (NACHC, 2017b).
The Qualitative Report, 2014
Little is known about the experience among adult children who have a parent with Parkinsons Disea... more Little is known about the experience among adult children who have a parent with Parkinsons Disease (PD). The purpose of this study was to explore, appreciate, and describe their experiences using a phenomenological methodology. Narratives were collected from seven participants who have a parent diagnosed with PD and analyzed according to Colaizzis (1978) phenomenological data analysis method. Seven thematic clusters were identified and an exhaustive description is presented to summarize the essence of their lived experience. The study indicates a strong sense of essential positivism from the participants stories, and overall, it seems PD has brought some degree of biological, psychological, socially, and/or spiritual meaning to their lives that they may not have otherwise noticed or experienced.
Companies and industries influence a considerable number of policy changes in the United States, ... more Companies and industries influence a considerable number of policy changes in the United States, especially when it comes to healthcare. Their influence is grounded in the large number of employees hired and concomitant budget lines that are directed toward employees’ healthcare coverage. Businesses often pay partial or full health insurance on behalf of both the employee and his/her family. Healthcare costs for individuals, families, and employers continue to rise on a yearly basis; these have a “pocketbook impact” on both ordinary families and U.S. businesses alike (National Conference of State Legislators [NCSL], 2017).
(e) utilizing the solution, and (f) evaluate the outcome. Problem-solving forms are presented. On... more (e) utilizing the solution, and (f) evaluate the outcome. Problem-solving forms are presented. One page is dedicated to the topic of empathy. A brief chapter on mindfulness is presented breaking down mindfulness into the components of mindfulness of senses, mindfulness of body, mindfulness of self, mindfulness of others, and relaxation. This is a very short and basic book. Many tried-and-true behavioral strategies for managing inappropriate behavior in children are not addressed including positive practice, overcorrection, and restitution. Even the most basic and effective behavioral procedure of using Time Out is perhaps, insufficiently addressed. While this workbook does positively address many issues of communication and understanding, its basic strength is helping intact families with minimal problems be more sensitive to and communicate better with mostly compliant children. Given the brevity of the book, the $39.95 price renders it less competitive to many other parental self-help child management books that are currently available. Its strength lies in its promotion of positive psychology and the fact that it guides parents on a strength-based approach. It covers many important topics but, one is always left with the notion that topics are covered insufficiently. Dealing with empathy was only one page of a few exercises leaves one wishing for more. Greater development of the many positive points presented throughout this book would have been helpful and led to a more satisfying experience for parents.
Clinical Methods in Medical Family Therapy, 2018
The principal advantages for pioneering new territory lay in both the creativity for courageous i... more The principal advantages for pioneering new territory lay in both the creativity for courageous individuals and opportunities for those who follow. The West was settled on inspiration (and perspiration) fueled by a desire for a better way, a better life, and a more hopeful future. Likewise, the development of medical family therapy (MedFT) grew from a need in healthcare for a more collaborative, relationally based, and systemic system. Today, it is finding its place. Much like pioneering settlers, MedFTs have moved from the most populated areas to those in need of more development. With each step, there is continued learning and growing appreciation for each setting’s unique population, needs, diverse cultures, and resources. In McDaniel, Hepworth, and Doherty’s (1992) early primer, primary care was described as an ideal environment for MedFT. Over the years, this scope and attention has evolved to include secondary and tertiary care settings. This book attempts to serve as a learning tool for new and experienced professionals wanting to develop as MedFTs and who wish to expand into new territories for which they were not formally trained.
Clinical Methods in Medical Family Therapy, 2018
The term “Psychiatry,” named first in 1808 by physician Johann Christian Reil, is derived from tw... more The term “Psychiatry,” named first in 1808 by physician Johann Christian Reil, is derived from two Greek words: psyche (soul) and iatros (healer) (Marneros, 2008). Over the years, psychiatry has remained a specialty of medicine focused on the complexities of the human mind. While understanding the etiologic and remediating factors of mental illness has been a mainstay of psychiatric practice, clinical methods have varied over time. Psychiatry has seen shifts from Freudian psychoanalysis to more structured, manualized therapeutic approaches. Emerging science has taken the profession further away from its therapeutic roots, in favor of psychopharmacologic and neurologic discovery. Nevertheless, psychiatry continues to be a practice defined by interdisciplinary collaboration as well as conceptualization sensitive to familial and cultural factors. This is demonstrated through the American Psychiatric Association’s (American Psychiatric Association, 2016a) values of “prevention, access, care and sensitivity for patients and compassion for their families; respect for diverse views and pluralism within the field; and respect for other health professionals” (para 3).
The Handbook of Systemic Family Therapy, 2020
Journal of marital and family therapy, 2018
While advocacy was essential to establishing the field of marriage and family therapy, at present... more While advocacy was essential to establishing the field of marriage and family therapy, at present a social and political advocacy skill set is lacking for the typical marriage and family therapist (MFT). This article reviews the importance of being active in social and political advocacy and highlights the attributes of MFTs' professional identity that uniquely position us for success in these areas. Other mental health fields' pedagogical approaches to training and education are explored, and recommendations are made for how MFTs can begin to increase their competency in advocacy. Ideas for incorporating advocacy into a professional identity are presented for MFTs at every level of professional experience. Finally, the concept self-of-the-advocate is introduced and discussed.
Families, systems & health : the journal of collaborative family healthcare, 2017
Integrated behavioral health care (IBHC) is an emerging solution for the delivery of behavioral h... more Integrated behavioral health care (IBHC) is an emerging solution for the delivery of behavioral health in primary care contexts. Although IBHC has been implemented and studied for more than 2 decades, little seems to be known about how it is best evaluated. This article illustrates a framework for IBHC evaluation based on the Three World view (with a focus on the operational and financial worlds) and delivers results from a systematic review on the operational and financial characteristics of existing IBHC research. This study identified original reports of research that included an evaluation or assessment of the operational or financial success or sustainability of IBHC sites or programs. A total of 3,386 articles were found through the selected databases and 46 articles were found to meet the inclusion criteria. From the 46 articles that contained an IBHC evaluation including operational or financial variables, 9 operational and 11 financial characteristics were identified as bar...
Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy, 2017
Carolina University. With her support, I was able to complete my dissertation on a topic that is ... more Carolina University. With her support, I was able to complete my dissertation on a topic that is very close to my heart. I also would like to extend my thanks to Dr. Angela Lamson who has been a source of humor and encouragement during my graduate school experience. Also, I'd like to thank Dr. Mark White for teaching me to be a more confident researcher and for providing helpful, and often hilarious support. Further, I'm grateful to Dr. Tom Irons for his unique perspective, calming presence, and watermelon bowtie wearing. This whole process has been an absolutely amazing experience, and I'm forever grateful to and for all of you! I would also like to acknowledge Meghan Lacks, Joshua Fowler, and Amelia Muse for assisting me with data collection and analysis. They each provided instrumental components of the research process. Last, but most definitely not least, there is absolutely no way to put into words how grateful I am for the support of my wonderful mom, dads, and grandparents. Without them, this experience would not have been possible. They provide constant support, encouragement, and joy in my life. They are the most amazing people I have ever known, and I love them dearly.
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 2015
The research on the diagnostic accuracy of Spanish language depression-screening instruments cont... more The research on the diagnostic accuracy of Spanish language depression-screening instruments continues to be scarce in the US. Under-detection of depression by Primary Care Providers is approximately 50 % in the general population and this rate may be even higher for Latino immigrants for whom the depression rate tends to be higher than for non-Hispanic Whites. This systematic review shows that there is still limited evidence that guides primary care-based depression screening for Spanish speakers. The economic, social, and human costs of depression are high and complex; yet improvements in the effectiveness of treatment cannot be made available to sufferers of the disorder if they go undetected.
Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy, Dec 4, 2015
Migrant and seasonal farmworking (MSFW) women patients experience substantially more intimate par... more Migrant and seasonal farmworking (MSFW) women patients experience substantially more intimate partner violence (IPV) than the general population, but few health-care providers screen patients for IPV. While researchers have examined screening practices in health-care settings, none have exclusively focused on MSFW women. The aim of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of health-care providers who have screened for and/or addressed IPV with MSFW women patients. Researchers utilized descriptive phenomenology to capture the lived experiences of these health-care providers. Data were analysed using Colaizzi's seven-stage framework. Interviews were conducted with nine female participants - all of whom: (i) were clinically active health-care providers within the MSFW community, (ii) were bilingual in English and Spanish or had access to a translator, (iii) had treated MSFW patients who had experienced IPV and (iv) were at least 18 years of age. Participants' ...
Journal of health care chaplaincy, 2015
Hospital chaplaincy and spiritual care services are important to patients' medical care and w... more Hospital chaplaincy and spiritual care services are important to patients' medical care and well-being; however, little is known about healthcare providers' experiences receiving spiritual support. A phenomenological study examined the shared experience of spiritual care between hospital chaplains and hospital-based healthcare providers (HBHPs). Six distinct themes emerged from the in-depth interviews: Awareness of chaplain availability, chaplains focus on building relationships with providers and staff, chaplains are integrated in varying degrees on certain hospital units, chaplains meet providers' personal and professional needs, providers appreciate chaplains, and barriers to expanding hospital chaplains' services. While HBHPs appreciated the care received and were able to provide better patient care as a result, participants reported that administrators may not recognize the true value of the care provided. Implications from this study are applied to hospital cha...
Obesity surgery, Jan 30, 2015
Bariatric surgery is the most effective intervention for morbid obesity, resulting in substantial... more Bariatric surgery is the most effective intervention for morbid obesity, resulting in substantial weight loss and the resolution of co-morbid conditions. It is not clear what impact bariatric surgery and the subsequent life-style changes have on patients' couple relationships. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the lived experience of couples after one member of the couple underwent bariatric surgery. This study utilized a phenomenological approach of semi-structured interviews of the couples jointly (n = 10 couples). Colaizzi's method of analysis for phenomenological studies was utilized to elucidate the central themes and distill the essence of the participants' experience. All of the couples felt their post-operative success was due to a joint effort on both members of the couples' part. The participant couples described the following five emerging thematic experiences: (a) changes in physical health, (b) changes in emotional health, (c) cha...
Qualitative health research, Jul 23, 2015
Patients who present with medically unexplained illnesses or medically unexplained symptoms (MUI/... more Patients who present with medically unexplained illnesses or medically unexplained symptoms (MUI/S) tend to be higher utilizers of health care services and have significantly greater health care costs than other patients, which add stress and strain for both the patient and provider. Although MUI/S are commonly seen in primary care, there is not sufficient information available regarding how providers can increase their level of confidence and decrease their level of frustration when working with patients who present with MUI/S. The goal of this article is to present findings from a qualitative phenomenology study, which highlights medical residents' experiences of caring for patients with MUI/S and the personal and professional factors that contributed to their clinical approaches. Results from these studies indicate that residents often experience a lack of confidence in their ability to effectively treat patients with MUI/S, as well as frustration surrounding their encounters...
Contemporary Family Therapy
Adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients diagnosed with cancer, and their caregivers, experience... more Adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients diagnosed with cancer, and their caregivers, experience a wide range of biopsychosocial stressors. The systemic transactional model Bodenmann in Swiss J Psychol 54: 34–49, 1995 posits that distress and coping are interrelated when close relationships are faced with a shared stressor. This study’s purpose was to understand the interrelated nature of distress and coping among AYA cancer patients and their caregivers. The research questions were: (a) What are the within sample and dyadic outcomes associated with distress and coping strategies among matched AYA oncology patients and caregivers? and (b) To what extent will patient and caregiver engagement predict patient and caregiver distress, as well as the patient problem list? A descriptive, cross-sectional design was utilized to collect data from 19 matched patient-caregiver dyads. Outcome variables included: (a) distress, (b) patient perceived problems, and (c) perceived stress. Predictor variables included: (a) coping styles, (b) relational assessment, and (c) caregiver burden. Actor-partner interdependence modeling revealed: (a) patients’ and caregivers’ use of engagement style coping strategies has a positive impact on patients’ distress, while caregivers’ use of engagement style coping strategies also has benefits for their own distress, (b) caregivers’ use of engagement style coping strategies may help reduce patients’ endorsement of biopsychosocial or practical problems, and (c) greater use of disengagement style coping strategies may decrease caregivers’ endorsement of issues included on the patient’s problem list. Future researchers are recommended to further investigate cancer as a relational illness. Clinicians and health policy makers are encouraged to develop policies and protocols toward treating the relational unit as the standard of care rather than as the exception.
American Journal of Health Studies, 2020
The primary care system is a fertile ground for professionals to be trained to promote positive h... more The primary care system is a fertile ground for professionals to be trained to promote positive health behaviors. However, most primary care systems that integrate physical and behavioral health struggle with financial start-up and sustainability. The growth and development of mechanisms for supporting grass roots integration highlight the creativity and sheer will of communities, states, and healthcare systems to innovate their way to health. And now, for the first time, national-level funding initiatives have begun to support integration. This article highlights funding mechanisms at the state, foundation, payor, and federal levels that have been used to champion innovation. It provides a historical and future-oriented primer of the various mechanisms for initiating and advancing integration in primary care settings.
The Qualitative Report, Dec 8, 2014
A 20 year retrospective qualitative case study was conducted to investigate the relational impact... more A 20 year retrospective qualitative case study was conducted to investigate the relational impact of choriocarcinoma (a type of gestational cancer) on a couple of child-bearing age. A unique feature to the study was that the primary investigator was the couple's biological son, initiating the first known autocase study design. Using holistic content analysis, investigators learned that anticipatory grief played a central part in the couple's ultimate detachment and divorce. While the wife began to refocus her emotional energies on her children, in psychological preparation for her possible death, the husband focused on ways to keep the family finances together in preparation for life after cancer. He perceived her emotional detachment from him as abandonment. In spite of taking separate paths, the two perceived one another as heroes. The conceptual and clinical implications for a young couple battling gestational cancer are discussed.
Part of the Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies Commons, and
Clinical Methods in Medical Family Therapy, 2018
Community health centers (CHCs) provide affordable, accessible care to patients in urban and rura... more Community health centers (CHCs) provide affordable, accessible care to patients in urban and rural areas across the nation. Health centers must be located in underserved locales, governed by a community-majority board, provide a core set of primary care services, and offer a sliding fee scale to patients under 200% of the federal poverty level (National Associations of Community Health Centers, 2017a). Based on most recent figures, health centers serve more than 25 million patients (1 out of every 15 Americans), 71% of whom are at the 100% federal poverty level and below and 83% are uninsured or publicly insured (NACHC, 2017a). Health centers employ over 8400 mental health and substance abuse staff and provide access to these services in the most underserved communities in the nation. In 2015, over 8.3 million clinic visits were provided for mental health or substance abuse issues; this represents a 56% growth in behavioral health visits since 2010 (NACHC, 2017b).
The Qualitative Report, 2014
Little is known about the experience among adult children who have a parent with Parkinsons Disea... more Little is known about the experience among adult children who have a parent with Parkinsons Disease (PD). The purpose of this study was to explore, appreciate, and describe their experiences using a phenomenological methodology. Narratives were collected from seven participants who have a parent diagnosed with PD and analyzed according to Colaizzis (1978) phenomenological data analysis method. Seven thematic clusters were identified and an exhaustive description is presented to summarize the essence of their lived experience. The study indicates a strong sense of essential positivism from the participants stories, and overall, it seems PD has brought some degree of biological, psychological, socially, and/or spiritual meaning to their lives that they may not have otherwise noticed or experienced.
Companies and industries influence a considerable number of policy changes in the United States, ... more Companies and industries influence a considerable number of policy changes in the United States, especially when it comes to healthcare. Their influence is grounded in the large number of employees hired and concomitant budget lines that are directed toward employees’ healthcare coverage. Businesses often pay partial or full health insurance on behalf of both the employee and his/her family. Healthcare costs for individuals, families, and employers continue to rise on a yearly basis; these have a “pocketbook impact” on both ordinary families and U.S. businesses alike (National Conference of State Legislators [NCSL], 2017).
(e) utilizing the solution, and (f) evaluate the outcome. Problem-solving forms are presented. On... more (e) utilizing the solution, and (f) evaluate the outcome. Problem-solving forms are presented. One page is dedicated to the topic of empathy. A brief chapter on mindfulness is presented breaking down mindfulness into the components of mindfulness of senses, mindfulness of body, mindfulness of self, mindfulness of others, and relaxation. This is a very short and basic book. Many tried-and-true behavioral strategies for managing inappropriate behavior in children are not addressed including positive practice, overcorrection, and restitution. Even the most basic and effective behavioral procedure of using Time Out is perhaps, insufficiently addressed. While this workbook does positively address many issues of communication and understanding, its basic strength is helping intact families with minimal problems be more sensitive to and communicate better with mostly compliant children. Given the brevity of the book, the $39.95 price renders it less competitive to many other parental self-help child management books that are currently available. Its strength lies in its promotion of positive psychology and the fact that it guides parents on a strength-based approach. It covers many important topics but, one is always left with the notion that topics are covered insufficiently. Dealing with empathy was only one page of a few exercises leaves one wishing for more. Greater development of the many positive points presented throughout this book would have been helpful and led to a more satisfying experience for parents.
Clinical Methods in Medical Family Therapy, 2018
The principal advantages for pioneering new territory lay in both the creativity for courageous i... more The principal advantages for pioneering new territory lay in both the creativity for courageous individuals and opportunities for those who follow. The West was settled on inspiration (and perspiration) fueled by a desire for a better way, a better life, and a more hopeful future. Likewise, the development of medical family therapy (MedFT) grew from a need in healthcare for a more collaborative, relationally based, and systemic system. Today, it is finding its place. Much like pioneering settlers, MedFTs have moved from the most populated areas to those in need of more development. With each step, there is continued learning and growing appreciation for each setting’s unique population, needs, diverse cultures, and resources. In McDaniel, Hepworth, and Doherty’s (1992) early primer, primary care was described as an ideal environment for MedFT. Over the years, this scope and attention has evolved to include secondary and tertiary care settings. This book attempts to serve as a learning tool for new and experienced professionals wanting to develop as MedFTs and who wish to expand into new territories for which they were not formally trained.
Clinical Methods in Medical Family Therapy, 2018
The term “Psychiatry,” named first in 1808 by physician Johann Christian Reil, is derived from tw... more The term “Psychiatry,” named first in 1808 by physician Johann Christian Reil, is derived from two Greek words: psyche (soul) and iatros (healer) (Marneros, 2008). Over the years, psychiatry has remained a specialty of medicine focused on the complexities of the human mind. While understanding the etiologic and remediating factors of mental illness has been a mainstay of psychiatric practice, clinical methods have varied over time. Psychiatry has seen shifts from Freudian psychoanalysis to more structured, manualized therapeutic approaches. Emerging science has taken the profession further away from its therapeutic roots, in favor of psychopharmacologic and neurologic discovery. Nevertheless, psychiatry continues to be a practice defined by interdisciplinary collaboration as well as conceptualization sensitive to familial and cultural factors. This is demonstrated through the American Psychiatric Association’s (American Psychiatric Association, 2016a) values of “prevention, access, care and sensitivity for patients and compassion for their families; respect for diverse views and pluralism within the field; and respect for other health professionals” (para 3).
The Handbook of Systemic Family Therapy, 2020
Journal of marital and family therapy, 2018
While advocacy was essential to establishing the field of marriage and family therapy, at present... more While advocacy was essential to establishing the field of marriage and family therapy, at present a social and political advocacy skill set is lacking for the typical marriage and family therapist (MFT). This article reviews the importance of being active in social and political advocacy and highlights the attributes of MFTs' professional identity that uniquely position us for success in these areas. Other mental health fields' pedagogical approaches to training and education are explored, and recommendations are made for how MFTs can begin to increase their competency in advocacy. Ideas for incorporating advocacy into a professional identity are presented for MFTs at every level of professional experience. Finally, the concept self-of-the-advocate is introduced and discussed.
Families, systems & health : the journal of collaborative family healthcare, 2017
Integrated behavioral health care (IBHC) is an emerging solution for the delivery of behavioral h... more Integrated behavioral health care (IBHC) is an emerging solution for the delivery of behavioral health in primary care contexts. Although IBHC has been implemented and studied for more than 2 decades, little seems to be known about how it is best evaluated. This article illustrates a framework for IBHC evaluation based on the Three World view (with a focus on the operational and financial worlds) and delivers results from a systematic review on the operational and financial characteristics of existing IBHC research. This study identified original reports of research that included an evaluation or assessment of the operational or financial success or sustainability of IBHC sites or programs. A total of 3,386 articles were found through the selected databases and 46 articles were found to meet the inclusion criteria. From the 46 articles that contained an IBHC evaluation including operational or financial variables, 9 operational and 11 financial characteristics were identified as bar...
Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy, 2017
Carolina University. With her support, I was able to complete my dissertation on a topic that is ... more Carolina University. With her support, I was able to complete my dissertation on a topic that is very close to my heart. I also would like to extend my thanks to Dr. Angela Lamson who has been a source of humor and encouragement during my graduate school experience. Also, I'd like to thank Dr. Mark White for teaching me to be a more confident researcher and for providing helpful, and often hilarious support. Further, I'm grateful to Dr. Tom Irons for his unique perspective, calming presence, and watermelon bowtie wearing. This whole process has been an absolutely amazing experience, and I'm forever grateful to and for all of you! I would also like to acknowledge Meghan Lacks, Joshua Fowler, and Amelia Muse for assisting me with data collection and analysis. They each provided instrumental components of the research process. Last, but most definitely not least, there is absolutely no way to put into words how grateful I am for the support of my wonderful mom, dads, and grandparents. Without them, this experience would not have been possible. They provide constant support, encouragement, and joy in my life. They are the most amazing people I have ever known, and I love them dearly.
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 2015
The research on the diagnostic accuracy of Spanish language depression-screening instruments cont... more The research on the diagnostic accuracy of Spanish language depression-screening instruments continues to be scarce in the US. Under-detection of depression by Primary Care Providers is approximately 50 % in the general population and this rate may be even higher for Latino immigrants for whom the depression rate tends to be higher than for non-Hispanic Whites. This systematic review shows that there is still limited evidence that guides primary care-based depression screening for Spanish speakers. The economic, social, and human costs of depression are high and complex; yet improvements in the effectiveness of treatment cannot be made available to sufferers of the disorder if they go undetected.
Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy, Dec 4, 2015
Migrant and seasonal farmworking (MSFW) women patients experience substantially more intimate par... more Migrant and seasonal farmworking (MSFW) women patients experience substantially more intimate partner violence (IPV) than the general population, but few health-care providers screen patients for IPV. While researchers have examined screening practices in health-care settings, none have exclusively focused on MSFW women. The aim of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of health-care providers who have screened for and/or addressed IPV with MSFW women patients. Researchers utilized descriptive phenomenology to capture the lived experiences of these health-care providers. Data were analysed using Colaizzi's seven-stage framework. Interviews were conducted with nine female participants - all of whom: (i) were clinically active health-care providers within the MSFW community, (ii) were bilingual in English and Spanish or had access to a translator, (iii) had treated MSFW patients who had experienced IPV and (iv) were at least 18 years of age. Participants' ...
Journal of health care chaplaincy, 2015
Hospital chaplaincy and spiritual care services are important to patients' medical care and w... more Hospital chaplaincy and spiritual care services are important to patients' medical care and well-being; however, little is known about healthcare providers' experiences receiving spiritual support. A phenomenological study examined the shared experience of spiritual care between hospital chaplains and hospital-based healthcare providers (HBHPs). Six distinct themes emerged from the in-depth interviews: Awareness of chaplain availability, chaplains focus on building relationships with providers and staff, chaplains are integrated in varying degrees on certain hospital units, chaplains meet providers' personal and professional needs, providers appreciate chaplains, and barriers to expanding hospital chaplains' services. While HBHPs appreciated the care received and were able to provide better patient care as a result, participants reported that administrators may not recognize the true value of the care provided. Implications from this study are applied to hospital cha...
Obesity surgery, Jan 30, 2015
Bariatric surgery is the most effective intervention for morbid obesity, resulting in substantial... more Bariatric surgery is the most effective intervention for morbid obesity, resulting in substantial weight loss and the resolution of co-morbid conditions. It is not clear what impact bariatric surgery and the subsequent life-style changes have on patients' couple relationships. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the lived experience of couples after one member of the couple underwent bariatric surgery. This study utilized a phenomenological approach of semi-structured interviews of the couples jointly (n = 10 couples). Colaizzi's method of analysis for phenomenological studies was utilized to elucidate the central themes and distill the essence of the participants' experience. All of the couples felt their post-operative success was due to a joint effort on both members of the couples' part. The participant couples described the following five emerging thematic experiences: (a) changes in physical health, (b) changes in emotional health, (c) cha...
Qualitative health research, Jul 23, 2015
Patients who present with medically unexplained illnesses or medically unexplained symptoms (MUI/... more Patients who present with medically unexplained illnesses or medically unexplained symptoms (MUI/S) tend to be higher utilizers of health care services and have significantly greater health care costs than other patients, which add stress and strain for both the patient and provider. Although MUI/S are commonly seen in primary care, there is not sufficient information available regarding how providers can increase their level of confidence and decrease their level of frustration when working with patients who present with MUI/S. The goal of this article is to present findings from a qualitative phenomenology study, which highlights medical residents' experiences of caring for patients with MUI/S and the personal and professional factors that contributed to their clinical approaches. Results from these studies indicate that residents often experience a lack of confidence in their ability to effectively treat patients with MUI/S, as well as frustration surrounding their encounters...