Areas of Study

Behavioral Interventions

JHARC focuses on the adaptation and evaluation of behavioral interventions to promote adherence and preventive health behaviors, including:

  • Motivational Interviewing;
  • Problem-solving.

Relevant Projects:

  • BALANCE: Motivating Improved Self-Management Among Older Teens and Adults with Cystic Fibrosis
  • BEST: Motivating Asthma Adherence in Urban Teens
  • PRIDE: A+ Head Start Intervention for Smoke Free Homes

Relevant Publications:

Health Disparities

JHARC has a long-standing partnership with Baltimore City Head Start to design and implement community based interventions to address health disparities. Family and community research activities include:

  • Health surveillance and screening of preventive health and risk behaviors;
  • Head Start staff training and education programs;
  • Home-based psycho-educational interventions designed for low-income populations;
  • Understanding multi-level influences on self-management and health outcomes.

Relevant Projects:

  • A Multifaceted Prompting Intervention for Urban Children with Asthma

  • A+ Asthma Early Intervention for Asthma Management

  • A+ Asthma Rural Partnership

  • ABC Head Start

  • ABC: Adherence Intervention for Minority Children with Asthma

  • BEST: Motivating Asthma Adherence in Urban Teens

  • Breathmobile: Improving Asthma Care for Minority Children in Head Start

  • Center for Childhood Asthma in the Urban Environment

  • Directly Administered HIV Therapy in Methadone Clinics

  • Early Intervention in Pulmonary Exacerbation in CF

  • Eliminating Asthma Disparities: A Pediatric Asthma Community-Based Program

  • Hydroxyurea to Prevent CNS Complications of Sickle Cell Disease in Children

  • Improving Asthma Communication in Minority Families

  • Mechanisms of Asthma-Dietary Interventions Against Environmental Triggers

  • Nebulizer Intervention in Minority Children with Asthma

  • PRIDE: A+ Head Start Intervention for Smoke Free Homes

  • TEAM: Adherence Intervention for Minority Children with Asthma

Relevant Publications:

Health Information Technology

Historically, JHARC has been on the forefront of adopting technologies to measure and promote adherence. We are currently involved in:

  • Evaluating the use of mHealth technologies;
  • Using technology to enhance the reach of evidence-based interventions.

Relevant Projects:

  • PATIENT: Promoting Adherence to Improve the Effectiveness of Cardiovascular Therapies Provider Behavior and Quality of Care

  • Telecommunications Enhanced Asthma Management

  • Use of Automated Phone Calls to Promoted Adherence with Inhaled Corticosteroids

Relevant Publications:

Measurement

JHARC is committed to the development and evaluation of state-of-the-art measurement strategies and tools related to adherence and outcomes, including:

  • Illness-specific health beliefs and behaviors;
  • Standardization of the use of pharmacy records as a measure of adherence;
  • Development of quality control procedures for electronic monitors.

Relevant Projects:

  • Adherence with Oral Montelukast Sodium or Fluticasone Propionate

  • Assessment Mode and Validity of Self-Report in Adults

Relevant Publications:

Patient-Provider Communication

JHARC emphasizes the central role of patient-provider communication in health management, including:

  • Triadic (adolescent-parent-provider) communication in pediatric chronic conditions;
  • Socio-cultural influences on healthcare interactions;
  • Interventions to improve patient-provider communication.

Relevant Projects:

  • ACCI: Howard/Hopkins Center for Reducing Asthma Disparities

  • Breathmobile: Improving Asthma Care for Minority Children in Head Start

  • CHAT: Doctor-Teen Communication and Antihypertensive Adherence in Chronic Kidney Disease

Relevant Publications:

Provider Behavior and Quality of Care

JHARC investigates the critical role of provider behavior in optimizing patient safety and quality of care. Partnering with the Armstrong Institute of Patient Safety and Quality, JHARC is leading the field by:

  • Examining associations between safety culture and provider behavior;
  • Understanding provider perceptions of safety culture;
  • Developing frameworks of provider safety behavior to guide clinical investigation and practice.

Relevant Projects:

  • ACCI: Howard/Hopkins Center for Reducing Asthma Disparities

  • The Aliki Initiative

  • iCARE: I Change Adherence and Raise Expectations

  • Preventing Nosocomial Respiratory Infections: Patient Safety in the ICU

Relevant Publications:

Psychosocial Issues in Adherence

JHARC prioritizes the study of psychological, social, and behavioral processes that impact adherence and health. Our research interests span the following topics:

  • The impact of emotional functioning;
  • The role of cultural experiences;
  • The influence of family structure and shared experiences;
  • Community and neighborhood factors.

Relevant Projects:

  • Adherence and Psychosocial Factors Among Adults with Cystic Fibrosis

  • Depression, Adherence and Health Outcomes in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Patients Measurement

Relevant Publications: