Sheela Raja | University of Illinois at Chicago (original) (raw)
Books by Sheela Raja
Papers by Sheela Raja
Journal of the American Dental Association, Mar 1, 2014
PubMed, Sep 15, 2021
Purpose: Treatment for early childhood caries may include advanced behavior management modalities... more Purpose: Treatment for early childhood caries may include advanced behavior management modalities, such as moderate sedation (MS) or general anesthesia (GA). The purpose of this study was to determine which factors are important to parents when considering MS or GA for their child.
Methods: Parents completed a cross-sectional survey to determine which factors they considered in their decision between MS or GA for dental treatment. The relative importance of social, financial, and patient-level factors, the importance of dentists' recommendations, and the reported knowledge levels and sources of information regarding treatment modality were also assessed.
Results: The majority of 130 parents surveyed reported at least a moderate amount of knowledge about GA and MS. Although most identified their dentist as the primary source of information (45 percent for GA, 51 percent for MS), many reported having no source of information about either (23 percent for GA, 16 percent for MS). For both groups, the dentist's recommendation for MS or GA was more influential than cost, risk profile, and the number of missed work and school days (P <0.001). Being well-informed about the treatment modality was more influential than the dentist's recommendation only for the parents who chose MS (P <0.001).
Conclusion: Parents' self-reported knowledge regarding their treatment modality was relatively low. The choice of treatment modality for pediatric dental care relied mostly on the dentist's recommendation.
Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 2017
Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, Feb 2, 2015
Journal of the American Dental Association, 2020
The Review of Higher Education, 1997
Although women have entered higher education in large numbers in recent years, they are still und... more Although women have entered higher education in large numbers in recent years, they are still underrepresented as faculty in most colleges and universities, making up only 27% of the faculty of institutions of higher education in the United States. Minority female faculty are even ...
Women & Therapy, Nov 24, 1998
ABSTRACT. Clinicians have largely based conceptions of mental health on male experiences and indi... more ABSTRACT. Clinicians have largely based conceptions of mental health on male experiences and individual level factors. Based on the principles of the feminist Consciousness Raising groups of the 1970s, feminist therapy underscores the importance of attending to minority ...
International journal of recent technology and engineering, Sep 30, 2019
Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Feb 1, 2002
Many studies of violence against women focus on the impact of abuse on the victim's emotional... more Many studies of violence against women focus on the impact of abuse on the victim's emotional and physical well-being. Here the authors expand the conceptualization of the impact of violence to include other aspects of the victim's life as well as the lives of those in her social world. Analyses of life narrative interviews with women 1 year after their stay in battered women's shelters indicates that violence affects not only women who are abused but also those who are not directly victimized yet who nonetheless suffer consequences of violence. The authors discuss the implications of this conceptualization of violence for both research and policy
Springer eBooks, Jun 14, 2018
Pediatric Dentistry, May 1, 2021
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore caregivers' comfort levels and preferences ... more Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore caregivers' comfort levels and preferences for answering sensitive questions about themselves and their children in a pediatric dental setting. Methods: An electronically delivered survey was completed by 206 caregivers in the waiting area of a dental school's pediatric clinic. The survey items assessed were demographic, general health, behavioral health, oral health, and living conditions. A factor analysis was conducted for each set of questions, and a mean comfort level was calculated for each factor. Comfort levels were assessed on a five-point Likert scale, with one being least comfortable and five being most comfortable. Results: The questions caregivers were less comfortable answering about themselves were concerning traumatic events, stress, coping (mean equals 3.39), and living conditions (mean equals 3.24) versus demographics (mean equals 3.84) and physical and oral health (mean equals 3.99; P<0.001). They were also less comfortable answering questions about their children's trauma, stress, coping (mean equals 3.65), and experiences with violence and sexual activity (mean equals 3.13) than about demographics/general health (mean equals 4.11) and oral health (mean equals 4.21; P<0.001). The main reasons for the discomfort were the questions' sensitive nature and their belief that they had any relationship to their children's oral health. Conclusion: This study provides knowledge of caregivers' lower comfort levels discussing sensitive topics in a dental setting and provides context for interventions focused on how dentists can better communicate with caregivers about their own adverse experiences as well as their children's.
Purpose: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the association between women's depression risk a... more Purpose: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the association between women's depression risk and their children's return for dental treatment. Methods: A total of 175 female caregivers of children presenting for an initial dental examination between May and October 2019 at a university clinic answered demographic questions and a validated survey on depression risk. An analysis of caregiver's depression risk relative to children's attendance at the next treatment appointment was made. Results: One hundred and eight female caregivers were included in the analysis. Average age was 33 years (standard deviation ± 6.5 years), and 52 percent were Hispanic. The rate of risk for depression was 17.5 percent. Most women at risk lived at least 20 miles away, had an income of less than $29,999, were unemployed or employed part-time, and had no help with childcare. White caregivers were more likely to fail to attend their child's appointment (chi-square [X²] = 7.80, P=0.02) while Hispanic women were more likely to return (X² = 4.10, P=0.04). Caregivers with low depression risk were more likely to return for the child's scheduled appointment (X² = 13.37, P<0.001). Thus, there was a positive association between high depression risk and failed appointments (r=0.474, P<0.01). Conclusion: Children of women at risk for depression are more likely to fail to attend their dental appointment.
Journal of Dental Education, Oct 1, 2015
Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jun 17, 2022
Distressing or traumatic perinatal experiences and adverse health outcomes can lead to particular... more Distressing or traumatic perinatal experiences and adverse health outcomes can lead to particularly challenging postpartum experiences for patients and families. By adopting a trauma-informed care approach, the health care team can provide much-needed support, prevent additional harm, and promote healing. We propose practical communication, behavioral, and procedural considerations for integrating trauma-informed care principles into routine postpartum care, with attention to populations that have been marginalized. We see postpartum care as a critical component of holistic patient recovery and an opportunity to facilitate posttraumatic growth so that all families can thrive.
Translational behavioral medicine, Feb 21, 2018
Journal of Dental Education, 2015
Journal of communication in healthcare, Dec 5, 2022
Journal of the American Dental Association, Mar 1, 2014
PubMed, Sep 15, 2021
Purpose: Treatment for early childhood caries may include advanced behavior management modalities... more Purpose: Treatment for early childhood caries may include advanced behavior management modalities, such as moderate sedation (MS) or general anesthesia (GA). The purpose of this study was to determine which factors are important to parents when considering MS or GA for their child.
Methods: Parents completed a cross-sectional survey to determine which factors they considered in their decision between MS or GA for dental treatment. The relative importance of social, financial, and patient-level factors, the importance of dentists' recommendations, and the reported knowledge levels and sources of information regarding treatment modality were also assessed.
Results: The majority of 130 parents surveyed reported at least a moderate amount of knowledge about GA and MS. Although most identified their dentist as the primary source of information (45 percent for GA, 51 percent for MS), many reported having no source of information about either (23 percent for GA, 16 percent for MS). For both groups, the dentist's recommendation for MS or GA was more influential than cost, risk profile, and the number of missed work and school days (P <0.001). Being well-informed about the treatment modality was more influential than the dentist's recommendation only for the parents who chose MS (P <0.001).
Conclusion: Parents' self-reported knowledge regarding their treatment modality was relatively low. The choice of treatment modality for pediatric dental care relied mostly on the dentist's recommendation.
Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 2017
Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, Feb 2, 2015
Journal of the American Dental Association, 2020
The Review of Higher Education, 1997
Although women have entered higher education in large numbers in recent years, they are still und... more Although women have entered higher education in large numbers in recent years, they are still underrepresented as faculty in most colleges and universities, making up only 27% of the faculty of institutions of higher education in the United States. Minority female faculty are even ...
Women & Therapy, Nov 24, 1998
ABSTRACT. Clinicians have largely based conceptions of mental health on male experiences and indi... more ABSTRACT. Clinicians have largely based conceptions of mental health on male experiences and individual level factors. Based on the principles of the feminist Consciousness Raising groups of the 1970s, feminist therapy underscores the importance of attending to minority ...
International journal of recent technology and engineering, Sep 30, 2019
Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Feb 1, 2002
Many studies of violence against women focus on the impact of abuse on the victim's emotional... more Many studies of violence against women focus on the impact of abuse on the victim's emotional and physical well-being. Here the authors expand the conceptualization of the impact of violence to include other aspects of the victim's life as well as the lives of those in her social world. Analyses of life narrative interviews with women 1 year after their stay in battered women's shelters indicates that violence affects not only women who are abused but also those who are not directly victimized yet who nonetheless suffer consequences of violence. The authors discuss the implications of this conceptualization of violence for both research and policy
Springer eBooks, Jun 14, 2018
Pediatric Dentistry, May 1, 2021
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore caregivers' comfort levels and preferences ... more Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore caregivers' comfort levels and preferences for answering sensitive questions about themselves and their children in a pediatric dental setting. Methods: An electronically delivered survey was completed by 206 caregivers in the waiting area of a dental school's pediatric clinic. The survey items assessed were demographic, general health, behavioral health, oral health, and living conditions. A factor analysis was conducted for each set of questions, and a mean comfort level was calculated for each factor. Comfort levels were assessed on a five-point Likert scale, with one being least comfortable and five being most comfortable. Results: The questions caregivers were less comfortable answering about themselves were concerning traumatic events, stress, coping (mean equals 3.39), and living conditions (mean equals 3.24) versus demographics (mean equals 3.84) and physical and oral health (mean equals 3.99; P<0.001). They were also less comfortable answering questions about their children's trauma, stress, coping (mean equals 3.65), and experiences with violence and sexual activity (mean equals 3.13) than about demographics/general health (mean equals 4.11) and oral health (mean equals 4.21; P<0.001). The main reasons for the discomfort were the questions' sensitive nature and their belief that they had any relationship to their children's oral health. Conclusion: This study provides knowledge of caregivers' lower comfort levels discussing sensitive topics in a dental setting and provides context for interventions focused on how dentists can better communicate with caregivers about their own adverse experiences as well as their children's.
Purpose: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the association between women's depression risk a... more Purpose: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the association between women's depression risk and their children's return for dental treatment. Methods: A total of 175 female caregivers of children presenting for an initial dental examination between May and October 2019 at a university clinic answered demographic questions and a validated survey on depression risk. An analysis of caregiver's depression risk relative to children's attendance at the next treatment appointment was made. Results: One hundred and eight female caregivers were included in the analysis. Average age was 33 years (standard deviation ± 6.5 years), and 52 percent were Hispanic. The rate of risk for depression was 17.5 percent. Most women at risk lived at least 20 miles away, had an income of less than $29,999, were unemployed or employed part-time, and had no help with childcare. White caregivers were more likely to fail to attend their child's appointment (chi-square [X²] = 7.80, P=0.02) while Hispanic women were more likely to return (X² = 4.10, P=0.04). Caregivers with low depression risk were more likely to return for the child's scheduled appointment (X² = 13.37, P<0.001). Thus, there was a positive association between high depression risk and failed appointments (r=0.474, P<0.01). Conclusion: Children of women at risk for depression are more likely to fail to attend their dental appointment.
Journal of Dental Education, Oct 1, 2015
Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jun 17, 2022
Distressing or traumatic perinatal experiences and adverse health outcomes can lead to particular... more Distressing or traumatic perinatal experiences and adverse health outcomes can lead to particularly challenging postpartum experiences for patients and families. By adopting a trauma-informed care approach, the health care team can provide much-needed support, prevent additional harm, and promote healing. We propose practical communication, behavioral, and procedural considerations for integrating trauma-informed care principles into routine postpartum care, with attention to populations that have been marginalized. We see postpartum care as a critical component of holistic patient recovery and an opportunity to facilitate posttraumatic growth so that all families can thrive.
Translational behavioral medicine, Feb 21, 2018
Journal of Dental Education, 2015
Journal of communication in healthcare, Dec 5, 2022
Abstract available in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Families, Systems, & Health, Sep 1, 2021
There is a growing awareness of the prevalence and negative health effects associated with trauma... more There is a growing awareness of the prevalence and negative health effects associated with traumatic events, including childhood abuse and adversity, intimate partner violence, adult sexual assault, and exposure to combat and community violence. Health care systems have attempted to address this link by becoming trauma informed through universal trauma precautions and screening protocols. We review several clinical and methodological concerns associated with universal trauma screening in adult health care settings including: deciding which traumas to assess in which populations, integrating retrospective recall with current functioning to facilitate referrals, and guarding against adverse patient reactions and insurance discrimination. We outline potential implications for program development and future research including: adapting and refining screening tools, integrating patient preferences and privacy concerns into screening protocols, assessing resource limitations, and integrating public health advocacy into screening programs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).