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June 28, 2021 by Benjamin Olea

What is the Influence of the Indoor Environment on Children’s Health?

This question is being answered by a transdisciplinary team of researchers from engineering, nursing, medicine, and biological sciences. While the past year has been unusual, even in “normal times” most human beings spend between 70% – 90% of their day inside built environments, thus making their homes, offices/workplaces, and schools the most common source of environmental exposures to allergens, dust, viruses, bacteria and molds. Because of their smaller physical size and less mature pulmonary systems, young children are particularly vulnerable to pollution in the air they breathe: This vulnerability is worse for children who have asthma. Drs. Kerry Kinney and Juan Pedro Maestre (Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering) have developed a novel means for measuring indoor air pollutants by using filters placed in central heat and air conditioning (AC) systems to collect samples from indoor air – a technique they call “Filter Forensics.” With funding from the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), and collaborating with Dr. Sharon Horner (Nursing) long-time researcher of childhood asthma, they tested this ‘filter forensics’ approach in a rural central Texas community in the homes of families who have school-aged children: Half of the families had a child with asthma and half did not. The researchers found differences in the AC filter samples taken from homes of children who had asthma when compared to those who did not have asthma. In general, the microorganisms recovered from the AC filters in the homes of children without asthma were consistent with other studies that have started to identify protective biological exposures, whereas the AC filters in homes of children with asthma yielded more biological factors that are known to trigger or stimulate asthma symptoms.

Drs. Kinney, Maestre, Horner have expanded this work through a second HUD grant and are working with Drs. Matsui (Medicine), Rivera-Mariani (Biomedical Sciences), and Thomaz (Electrical & Computer Engineering) to expand this approach across Texas cities. Starting in Austin in the first year, they tested their remote data collection procedures that they will use in homes across Texas. Notably, this work occurred in the year before the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of the current Healthy Homes-Texas study is to evaluate the relationships between environmental contaminants in AC filter dust, home characteristics (type of flooring, cleaning practices, home ventilation practices), and asthma severity and asthma control factors in school-aged children. Understanding the microorganisms and chemicals present in homes is an essential step toward understanding the effects these exposures have on the prevalence and severity of asthma and allergy in children. The Healthy Homes-Texas study is currently recruiting for its second phase and looking for 100 families with school-aged children who have asthma and a comparison group of children who do not have asthma.

If you know someone who would be interested in participating in this study, contact the team through their webpage by clicking the following button:

Authors:

Kerry Kinney, Ph.D., holds the L.P. Gilvin Centennial Professorship in Civil Engineering in The University of Texas at Austin Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering and is a courtesy professor in the Department of Population Health. Dr. Kinney’s cross-disciplinary research in environmental engineering and molecular biology centers on the investigation of microorganisms and contaminants in engineered systems including buildings, residential water systems and municipal wastewater systems.
For more information on Dr. Kinney press the following button:

Juan Pedro Maestre, Ph.D., is a research associate and lecturer in Environmental Engineering and Microbiology at The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Maestre specialized in microbiology of the Built Environment, COVID19, and Indoor Air Quality, using molecular biology tools and low-cost sensors for solving problems in natural and human-made systems.
For more information on Dr. Maestre press the following button:

Sharon Horner, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, is a professor and researcher in School of Nursing at The University of Texas at Austin and holds the Dolores V. Sands Chair in Nursing Research and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. Dr. Horner’s research is focused on improving health of families with children.
For more information on Dr. Maestre press the following button:

Filed Under: Newsletter, Summer Newsletter 2021

June 10, 2021 by Benjamin Olea

Precision Health Intervention Methodology Summer Boot Camp, Occurred August 16th- 20th, 2021

The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing hosted a virtual 5-day precision health methodology boot camp designated to present state-of-the-art precision health research intervention methodology and strategies that incorporate individual information to construct precise health interventions in managing multiple chronic conditions (MCC). 

Registrants heard from UT Austin faculty and nationally recognized research experts in the field of genetics & genomics, consumer digital health, big data science, intelligent sensors and wearables, and artificial intelligence and machine learning. They discussed innovative design methodology to construct and evaluate precision interventions.

We will share the learnings and highlights about the week-long event in the coming days. You can view the latest events and news at our UT at Austin School of Nursing News Center: https://nursing.utexas.edu/news-center

23 Top Nurse Scientist Speakers, 22 Sessions on Precision Health Methodology

Please access the line-up of speakers and the topics covered here:

Filed Under: EVENTS

April 5, 2021 by Benjamin Olea

Precision Health (T32) Training Program – Information Session

We are recruiting our next cohort of fellows. We will invite two new fellows to join our training program that will begin Fall semester 2021. We invited 1st year (incoming students) and 2nd year students to join Dr. Kim and fellow co-investigators on March 5th to learn more about the Precision Health T32 Training program. You can find the recorded session and application process here: https://nursing.utexas.edu/academics/graduate/degree-offered/phd/precision-health-intervention-methodology-training-self-management-multiple-chronic-conditions-mcc

Full title: Precision Health Intervention Methodology Training in Self-Management of Multiple Chronic Conditions (MCC) – Information Session 

Filed Under: EVENTS

March 10, 2021 by Benjamin Olea

Let’s Improve Community Immunity!

Miyong T. KimWelcome to the first edition of our newly formatted HER newsletter. The shared goal of our center and our many community partnerships is to enhance widespread community immunity. We approach this goal by first listening to the community and identifying their health needs. We then work together to build on this knowledge to both enhance and provide quality care, while at the same time empowering individuals to better manage aspects of their health that are within their control.

When working with underserved communities, we must aim to better understand their specific needs and how they are both coping and suffering. With COVID-19 many people may experience serious physical and mental health consequences from social isolation and the disruption of daily routines. Although the COVID-19 pandemic will cease in time, this crisis highlights potential problems in our community health infrastructure and persistent inequalities in the US health care system.

Assisting community members to find solutions they can implement on their own and strategies to navigate our complex healthcare system can make a huge difference—a term we call “self-management.” For the past six years, our team at the Center for Health Equity Research (HER) at the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing has been working on multiple projects to find effective solutions for people with multiple chronic conditions who also struggle with complex social determinants of health. For example, our African American Mental Health and Wellness Project (AMEN) partners with churches to provide education and access to mental health resources and services. Our Community Health Worker Institute trains non-medical people in their community—people who share the same culture and language–to serve as advocates, educators, resource navigators, and bridges to health care in underprivileged populations.

In addition, we are working on incorporating technological innovations and big data science to propel self-management science forward. Focusing on the development of personalized solutions informed by data from individuals, systems, and populations will help us find solutions that fit individuals—whatever their respective resources.

Stay tuned for stories from the researchers, clinicians, clients, and community members that highlight our vision.

Miyong Kim, PhD, RN, FAAN
Director, Center for Health Equity Research

Return to the full newsletter here>

Filed Under: Newsletter, Summer Newsletter 2021

February 12, 2021 by Benjamin Olea

AMEN Program Q&A

Keeping the Faith, Pastor Daryl Horton of Mt. Zion

Pastor Horton and his wife, Shalonda are an integral part of the AMEN team. Pastor Horton has served as assistant pastor and youth ministry director and recently transitioned to the pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist church, while Shalonda Horton, PhD, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing and co-investigator of the AMEN program serves as the health ministry leader at Mt. Zion Baptist church, and both have joined forces to increase mental health awareness and services to their congregants. Pastor Horton believes that civic engagement and community advocacy are a vital part of his role as a leader in his church and community.

Q: Our community and the world at large have been in deep in physical, emotional, and social justice crises that seem to continuously evolve. What role does a faith community play in weathering these storms?

A: In moments of challenge and crisis, I believe that faith can provide a sense of peace, comfort, and calm—it can help people feel less vulnerable in situations where they feel they have little control. It offers an opportunity to embrace the idea that there is a greater being who is watching and aware—even if the world does not seem invested in righteousness and social justice, there is always a presence who is.

This has been a very interesting period of time. The death of Mr. George Floyd, as well as a global pandemic, have motivated people in our community—congregants and clergy–to reach out to each other and express how much they care and are thinking of them. I believe these crises have given all of us an opportunity to appreciate the importance of family.

Q: What impact has the AMEN project had on the community during these difficult times?

A: We have a number of lay health workers who have been under a tremendous amount of stress in the past weeks and months—understandably, as they support the health of the community. AMEN has provided them a safe place of release, where they can safely express what they’re experiencing and feeling, where others understand what they’re going through and are willing to listen. We have a faith community to serve our congregants’ spiritual needs, and the School of Nursing has provided programs for physical health. The AMEN project is the piece that allows us to serve the whole person—physically, mentally, and spiritually. For a community, the church is a very sacred place; inviting people in who are not a part of it gives both groups the opportunity to appreciate the others’ perspective, and to foster a sense of mutual trust.

  1. As a pastor and community leader, you wear many hats. You’re a spiritual leader, mentor, educator, counselor, and advocate for social justice. You care for so many people—how do you take care of yourself?

A. I do make an effort to take care of myself. Despite my public roles, I’m really an introvert at heart—I really enjoy reading, video games, listening to music. I enjoy peace and solitude.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AMEN PROGRAM VISIT:
https://nursing.utexas.edu/research/amen

Filed Under: Newsletter, Summer Newsletter 2021

February 12, 2021 by Benjamin Olea

Virtual Group Hug

Poor social support during pregnancy and early motherhood is a risk factor for postpartum depression. Mama Sana Vibrant Woman (MSVW), a community organization that facilitates access to quality and culturally appropriate prenatal and postnatal care for women of color in Austin and Travis County teamed up with HER to provide maternal justice programming, and is now heeding the call with programs that provide virtual kinship and conversation during COVID and beyond. During this time of physical distancing, the program is providing Virtual Prenatal and Post-Partum Circles in both English and Spanish. In 2016 HER and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation joined forces to create HER’s Community Health Worker Institute. The institute focuses on workforce research to explore the impact and needs of these health care heroes, which will inform trainings across the state that include the latest evidence-based practice and technology.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MSVW AND ITS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, VISIT msvwatx.com

Filed Under: Newsletter, Summer Newsletter 2021

February 11, 2021 by Benjamin Olea

Introducing HER’s Community Health Worker Institute

Canva-Two-Women-Sitting-on-Black-SofaFor 50 years, the American Public Health Association has been the driving force in highlighting the vital role of the community health worker (CHW) in underserved communities. CHWs are trained, non-medical professionals who live in the communities they serve—they are experts in their respective languages, cultures, values, and perceptions of interacting with health care personnel. They also assist community members in navigating our complex health care system, making medical information understandable, and advocating for vulnerable populations who do not have a voice of their own. Both state and the federal government have recognized their invaluable contributions to public health. However, to maximize their abilities and impact, CHWs require high quality training informed by valid research.

In 2016 HER and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation joined forces to create HER’s Community Health Worker Institute. The institute focuses on workforce research to explore the impact and needs of these health care heroes, which will inform trainings across the state that include the latest evidence-based practice and technology.

FOR UPDATES AND RESEARCH FINDINGS VISIT
https://nursing.utexas.edu/research/chw

Filed Under: Newsletter, Summer Newsletter 2021

February 2, 2021 by Benjamin Olea

Collaboration is key to ensuring healthy communities


The School of Nursing is working along-side community partners Mama Sana/Vibrant Woman (MSV W) and the Alliance for African American Health in Central Texas (A A AHCT) to ensure that Austin neighborhoods are able to access the care and resources they need. The projects they are collaborating on are addressing health care inequities, thanks to two six-year grants totaling more than $3 million from the City of Austin. The health equity grants, the first ever awarded by the city, will address health disparities in under-served populations.

The collaboration is an outgrowth of efforts by the School of Nursing’s new Center for Transdisciplinary Collaborative Research in Self-Management Science (TCRSS) and several local organizations to bring attention to a pressing health care crisis among the city’s low-income populations and develop community-driven solutions.

“As Austin has grown and prospered, not all of its residents have benefited,” said Miyong Kim, a professor in the School of Nursing, director of TCRSS and university associate vice president for Community Health Engagement. “Although several community organizations have long been involved in this struggle to right the wrong of health disparities, funding has always been a challenge. We are grateful to the Austin City Council for recognizing the barriers that many low-income individuals encounter as they try to obtain the health care they need and for providing the funds to help us help them overcome those barriers.” The project with MSVW will afford an opportunity to demonstrate that directly addressing social determinants affects pregnant women’s and families’ overall health in a fundamental and more sustainable manner. For African Americans in Travis County, who continue to have higher rates of mortality from cancer, heart disease and diabetes, the AAAHCT project addresses chronic disease among African Americans by providing a wellness program in which participants identify specific health goals they want to achieve and then receive individual and group coaching and connections to resources to assist them.

According to Dr. Kim, the School of Nursing will continue to work with various grassroots community organizations and partners to implement community-driven solutions to underserved communities in Austin to reduce health disparity gaps.

This article appears in Longhorn Nursing Magazine page 9 (pdf 11/24)
Article from Longhorn Nursing Magazine >

Filed Under: Summer Newsletter 2021

February 2, 2021 by Benjamin Olea

Summer 2021 SoNStar Recipient The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing

The SoNStar for the Summer 2021 session is Angela Bigham, a Lay Health Worker for the AMEN program and a Community Health Network Leader for The Alliance for African American Health in Central Texas. Congratulations Angela Bigham!

Angela received several nominations. She has a contagious sweet spirit, is outgoing, caring, ready to jump in and support others in any way they can at all times, and serves with a genuine heart. She takes the time to communicate ideas and opportunities to UTSON faculty/staff on how to engage with the community to ensure that individuals being served are supported based on their needs. She follows up with people in need, ensures that the solutions provided are maintained, and works to offer practical, sustainable solutions when more support is needed.

Angela works tirelessly to support the community both within and beyond the AMEN program – VaxNow and VAMOS initiatives. She has dedicated numerous hours each day calling community members to schedule their COVID vaccination appointments, assists at the mobile clinics to ensure that people have a positive experience, and offers education and reassurance to those who are uncertain or fearful about getting vaccinated.

Angela has gone above and beyond her duties, such as driving to congregant’s homes to drop off supplies, assisting with home care needs, and ensuring that individuals have access to healthcare providers. She has gone to great lengths to ensure congregants receive calls, education, and have access to local resources. Angela also runs a community garden, offer healthy cooking classes for the community, and delivers fresh produce to homebound adults. She spearheaded an event during COVID to cook greens from the garden and deliver a warm meal to homeless residents in the community.

Angela readily steps up to do needed tasks, works hard to learn the designed system, streamlines it, makes it more achievable, and constantly adapts to the work that needs to be accomplished. Her energy and willingness to serve is infectious and inspires other team and community members to join her efforts. She inspires us all when we get weary.

Filed Under: Newsletter, Summer Newsletter 2021

December 22, 2020 by Benjamin Olea

Faculty Spotlight

We talked to Gayle M. Timmerman, a researcher at the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing about her latest research and how she contributes to the mission of HER.

Gayle M. Timmerman, PhD, CNS, FNAP, FAAN is a professor and associate dean at the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing. She is also a lead researcher for HER. We talked to her about her latest research and how she contributes to the mission of HER.

Until recently, Gayle Timmerman didn’t really think of herself as a self-management scientist. She is best known in the academic community and popular press for her seminal research on mindful restaurant eating in perimenopausal women who wanted to lose weight. “This research is really about guiding people through a process of behavior change. In this case, we helped study subjects learn to slow down and think about what they were eating and why they were eating it. For example, are you finishing the French fries on your plate because they taste good and you want them, or just because they happen to be sitting there?” explains Dr. Timmerman. Then, she was approached by Miyong Kim, PhD, director of HER, to pilot a study on dietary self-management in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. “I’d never studied kidney disease—I’d always thought of myself as a food and behavior change researcher. But it occurred to me that implementing an intervention that provides study participants with tools and information they can use to make better decisions about managing their disease is about behavior change—and ultimately, a part of self-management science.” Her article appeared in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine; click the image to access the article.

Chronic kidney disease affects 31,000,000 Americans. In its early stages, it is often without symptoms, so many people are diagnosed when the disease has already caused end organ damage. It often occurs with other chronic illnesses–obesity, hypertension, and Type 2 diabetes—all of which negatively impact kidney function. “Dietary adjustments are often aimed at better managing chronic diseases that contribute to CKD. Common changes are reducing sodium and adjusting protein intake. Some patients may need to watch their potassium intake—others may not, so recommendations are not going to be the same for all,” says Dr. Timmerman. Another goal of dietary change in renal disease is to reduce wear and tear on the kidneys by limiting amount of filtered waste. For example, altering protein intake to fit body size and kidney function reduces the amount of waste processed through the renal (kidney) system. Decreasing sodium intake also lessens renal workload. It may also lower hypertension, which strains the renal vascular system.

But changing habits—dietary or otherwise—is never a straightforward process. That’s where self-management and mindfulness come in. The purpose of self-management in chronic illness is not only to educate patients, but to provide them with a sense of control and empowerment that allows them to implement changes on their own. Mindfulness is the practice of bringing one’s attention to the present moment; for the purpose ofthis study, its aim was to assist clients in dietary decision making. The two concepts naturally support each other—mindfulness supports the patient in making beneficial self-management decisions.

Dr. Timmerman collaborated with local providers and colleagues from the University of Texas at Austin’s schools of pharmacy and nutrition to devise a six-session nutritional education intervention designed for 19 early stage CKD patients. Outcome measures included weight, body mass index (BMI), eGFR (a measure of kidney function), and serum carotenoid levels (a measure of fruit and vegetable intake). The intervention had several components: information and problem-solving strategies on how to improve dietary practices, behavioral change strategies to improve self-management activities, such as reading food labels, as well as mindful eating and mindful eating meditations.

Dr. Timmerman developed the education modules and conducted the sessions herself. “Participants really seemed to enjoy the sessions—only 10 percent left the study. And the outcome measures demonstrated some positive change, particularly in terms of weight and body mass index (BMI). Nearly half of participants lost an average of 8.4 pounds, and plasma carotenoid levels reflected a significant increase in fruit and vegetable consumption.” More research is needed to determine the generalizability of the intervention, but this study is paving the way for further exploration in helping people with CKD to help themselves.

To learn more about Dr.Timerman’s research visit:

Filed Under: Newsletter, Summer Newsletter 2021

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  • What is the Influence of the Indoor Environment on Children’s Health?
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