Research

If You Have Diabetes, Education is Essential for Optimal Health

Nov 28, 2017

This article appeared in the Kentucky Herald-Leader on November 22, 2017. Do you have diabetes. Diabetes is one of the most common chronic conditions, affecting more than 30 million people in the United States. About 5 percent of people with diabetes have type 1. Type 2 is more common and occurs in about 95 percent of those with diabetes. If you are a woman with a history of gestational diabetes during pregnancy, your risk of developing type 2 as you age is 40 percent to 60 percent, and the risk increases to 50 percent to 75 percent if you are obese.

PATHways Program Demonstrates Success of Evidence-based, Collaborative Approaches to Perinatal Opioid Treatment

Apr 20, 2017

After years outside of Kentucky, Dr. Agatha Critchfield returned to her home state to find a patient population inundated with opioid use disorders.

UK Nursing Researchers Use ‘Familismo’ to Engage Hispanics in Healthy Behaviors

Apr 3, 2017

In Hispanic culture, “familismo” is an expression of family loyalty. Members of traditional Hispanic households prioritize the well-being of the family over individual wellness and self-care. Health interventions empower individuals to change behaviors, which requires putting personal wellness first. Hispanics experience a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes as they age and acculturate to the American diet. Both diseases are associated with lifestyle factors, but intervention researchers have found lifestyle changes are difficult to sustain long-term.

Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) Are Safe, Effective Option

Dec 22, 2016

Long-acting reversible contraceptives are the most effective form of reversible birth control but not the most commonly used. Misconceptions and outdated misinformation prevent many people from realizing the benefits of intrauterine devices (IUDs), contraceptive implants and the birth control shot. While use of these contraceptives has increased over time, they are still very underutilized.

A Genetic Marker Indicates a Desire for Salty Foods But People Can Still Control ‘Salt-Tooth’

Dec 13, 2016

By Elizabeth Adams A sprinkle over a baked potato or a teaspoon to flavor a pot of chili might seem innocent to the average dieter, but salt is a major culprit of cardiovascular disease in America. Some people have a proclivity for sweet foods, such as candy, confectionery treats or ice cream. Others, however, need salty foods to satiate their palattes, often snacking on potato chips, making meals of foods high in preservatives or supplementing recipes with extra doses of salt.

Are Kentucky Cigarette Prices to Blame for Smoking Rates?

Oct 13, 2016

The following appeared on 89.3 WFPL, Louisville's NPR News Station, on October 11, 2016. By Lisa Gillespie Ten months after completing a smoking cessation class, Terrence Silver started smoking cigarettes again. It was his first attempt at quitting after smoking for 40 years. His biggest motivation to quit: cost. “That was the primary reason I was going to quit, the money,” Silver said. “It wasn’t health, wasn’t that I didn’t like it. It was the money.”

Assistant Professor Works with Patients with Mental Illness to Create Tailored Tobacco Treatment Program

Sep 29, 2016

Assistant Professor Chizimuzo (Zim) Okoli, PhD, MPH, MSN, RN, picked up his first and last cigarette when he was just six years old – a mistake that landed him in the emergency room but inspired his life’s work to study mental illness and substance use among marginalized and underrepresented populations.

E-Cigarettes Not Safe During Pregnancy

Sep 26, 2016

E-cigarettes are increasingly popular, and adult women of childbearing age are the most common users. This is especially true in Kentucky, which has the country's second highest rate of smoking during pregnancy. Many women try to quit or reduce their smoking while pregnant, and may turn to e-cigs under the belief that they are safer or harmless during pregnancy. But are e-cigs and other electronic smoking products safe for an unborn child?

BREATHE Nursing Researchers Collaborate with Geologists to Map Radon Risks in Kentucky

Aug 15, 2016

By Elizabeth Adams A blending of ideas, expertise and perspective allows research teams to consider every angle of a public health problem, leaving no stone unturned in the search for a solution.

Nurse Researcher Designs Community-Based Farm Theater Dinners to Spark Conversations About Occupational Safety and Health

Aug 8, 2016

By Elizabeth Adams Third-generation farmer Marjorie Hunter never fretted about sunscreen or covered up with long sleeves while picking blueberries or moving Angus beef cattle on her 240 acres of farmland.

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