Center projects
Project Director: Suzanne Ameringer, PhD, RN
Title: Biobehavioral Factors and Fatigue in Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)
Project Description: Research on fatigue in AYA with SCD is limited, inhibiting early recognition and treatment. The primary aims of this cross-sectional project are to describe fatigue and examine the relationships of biobehavioral factors (inflammation, oxygenation, pain, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, and sleep quality) on fatigue in 50 AYA (ages 15-30) with SCD. The secondary aims of this project are to examine the the relationship between fatigue and quality of life, explore the relationship of fatigue to sickle cell crisis, and identify the strategies used to manage fatigue, and conduct a preliminary analysis of semi-structured interview data to develop and pilot test an intervention aimed at improving self-management of fatigue and associated symptoms in AYA with SCD.
Project Director: Nancy Jallo, PhD, RNC, FNP-BC, CNS
Title: Guided Imagery (GI) Effects on Pregnancy Symptoms and Outcomes
Project Description: Preterm birth (PTB), the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, disproportionately affects African American women. There is growing evidence to suggest that PTB may be the end point of pathophysiological changes that occur before clinical symptoms of preterm labor are present and that psychosocial factors are associated with negative birth outcomes. The specific aims of this 12-week randomized clinical trial are: (1) to test the effects of a GI intervention on maternal stress and related symptoms, neuroendocrine and immunological mediators and birth outcomes in 72 pregnant African American women between 14-17 weeks gestation; and (2) to test the proposed theoretical model by examining predicted relationships among stress, fatigue, anxiety, depression, unhappiness, patterns of neuroendocrine and immunologic factors, and birth outcomes.
Project Director: Victoria Menzies, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC
Title: Self-efficacy, Stress, Immunity, and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia (FM)
Project Description: Symptoms of FM may be worsened by stress and negative psychological processes, suggesting that mind-body modalities may positively influence the neuroendocrine and immunological mediators of FM symptoms. The specific aims of this 10-week randomized clinical trial are to: (1) test the effects of a guided imagery intervention on the primary outcomes of self-efficacy for managing symptoms and perceived stress and the secondary outcomes of symptoms of fatigue, pain, distressed mood, and depressive symptoms and markers of immune function in 72 women diagnosed with FM; and (2) to examine the relationships among self-efficacy for managing symptoms, perceived stress, symptoms of fatigue, pain, distressed mood, and depressive symptoms and markers of immune function.
Project Director: Jo Lynne W. Robins, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, CHTP
Title: Exploring the Effects of Tai Chi on Cardiometabolic Risk in Women (CMR)
Project Description: Historically, cardiovascular disease (CVD has been under diagnosed and inadequately treated in women related to issues of gender bias, lack of public and medical awareness of its prevalence, and its unique presenting symptomatology. A tai chi intervention may lead to relaxation and could potentially reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The specific aims of this 16-week randomized clinical trial are to: (1) determine feasibility and acceptability and identify potential indicators of effectiveness of a tai chi intervention designed for women with cardiometabolic risk in 66 premenopausal women with abdominal adiposity and a family history of CVD; and (2) refine a PNI-based model of fatigue and CMR.
Project Director: Jeanne Walter, PhD, RN, FAAMA and Angela Starkweather, PhD, RN
Title: Neurocognitive Impairment (NI) in Women with Early Stage Breast Cancer (BC)
Project Description: Adjuvant chemotherapy regimens are often associated with complaints of cognitive changes that may persist in some women long after chemotherapy has ended. The specific aims of this prospective, longitudinal project are to: (1) examine the relationships among fatigue, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms and NI; and (2) explore the relationships among key behavioral and biological markers that may explain underlying mechanisms for development of NI. The study sample will include 60 women with Stage I or II BC who have undergone surgical treatment (biopsy, lumpectomy or mastectomy) half of whom will be receiving adjuvant chemotherapy and a comparison group of 30 healthy education- and age-matched women without cancer.
Other Supported Projects
Project Director: Sandra Barker, PhD, NCC, LPC
Title: A preliminary study of the effect of animal-assisted-therapy (AAT) on stress in adults undergoing hemodialysis
Project Description: The proposed pilot study will use a PNI model to test a structured psychobehavioral intervention (AAT) with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients undergoing acute hemodialysis to assess the potential effects of AAT on stress reduction and mood.
Project Director: Kirk Brown, PhD
Title: Individual Differences in Mindfulness and Cortisol Response
Project Description: The present study is part of an ongoing program of research designed to assess the importance of mindfulness for psychological well-being. Mindfulness can be defined as an attention to, and awareness of, moment-to-moment events and experiences. Past research has shown that mindfulness, as assessed via the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS; Brown & Ryan, 2003), is related to better affect regulation, as assessed via self-report. The present study will extend this research by examining the effect of mindfulness on affect regulation, and specifically, stress reactivity and recovery, in a laboratory setting. Specifically we wish to determine whether mindfulness predicts less reactivity to, and quicker recovery from, a stress task. We will use cortisol, alpha-amylase, immune, cardiovascular, genetic, coded videotape, and self-report questionnaire measures to assess stress response.
Project Director: Pamela L. Parsons, PhD, NP
Title: Pilot testing a battery of instruments on a population of African American elders with low-health literacy
Project Description: The purpose of this project is to pilot test a battery of instruments on a population of African American elders with low-health literacy in order to assess the appropriateness of using these tools for future grant funding endeavors. Public housing will provide the contextual environment in which individual’s experience day- to day- living. To date, evidence supports a high percentage of African American elders residing within these settings, with known increased risk of nursing home admission and rates of disability for community dwelling African Americans versus Whites.
Project Director: Jo Lynne W. Robins, PhD, RN
Title: Exploring the Feasibility and Acceptability of a Novel Tai Chi Program as a Stress Management Strategy in Women
Project Description: The purpose of this project is to assess feasibility and acceptability of tai chi as a self-care stress management strategy. A tai chi program will be offered to women with increased CHD risk living in the Fulton Hill neighborhoods of Richmond, VA in order to establish a desirable, viable program in an existing community organization whose mission is to empower at risk individuals to improve their lives and the lives of others in the community. Additionally, tai chi program evaluations and focus groups will be used to refine the tai chi program for future research in women with increased CHD risk. PNI provides the theoretical and scientific foundational framework for this evolving program of research.
Project Director: Jeanne Salyer, PhD, RN
Title: Symptom clusters in heart failure
Project Description: The goal of this research is to contribute to the developing knowledge of how co-occurring symptoms influence clinically relevant outcomes in the HF patient population and provide direction for symptom management strategies. The aims of this pilot study are to: (1) examine the inter-relationships among symptoms commonly experienced by patients with HF, (2) identify those symptoms that cluster, and (3) evaluate the impact of these symptom clusters on clinically important outcomes such as quality of life and functional status. Understanding the complex symptom experience of patients with HF may broaden the foundation of clinical assessment by demonstrating patterns of association and the additive effects of symptoms on clinical outcomes.
Project Director: Linda Haddad, PhD, RN
Title: Trends in Tobacco Cigarette and Water Pipe Use among Arab Americans in Richmond Metropolitan area
Project Description: The specific aims of this study are to: 1) Estimate the prevalence of tobacco cigarette and water pipe smoking use among Arab Americans in Richmond Metropolitan area: 2) Compare these prevalence to national and other Arab American data, and 3) Estimate the prevalence of smoking cessation from cigarettes and water pipe among Richmond Arab American residents, and the influence of acculturation, social factors, home tobacco policies and demographic and contextual variables on cessation history.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) 2010 Summer Scholar: Sarah Williamson
Title: Comparison of Biomarkers in Blood and Saliva
Project Description: The 10-week HHMI program provides talented VCU undergraduates with hands-on research experience, including coursework and multidisciplinary training from VCU faculty in addition to rigorous training in their mentor’s laboratory. During this time, summer scholars conduct their own IRB-approved research project, under their mentor’s guidance, and present their findings at a research symposium.
