Publications

Inaction on Artificial Intelligence Regulation in a Time of Upheaval.

JAMA health forum

Unemployment insurance generosity and child protective services involvement.

The Federal Unemployment Insurance (UI) program provides income support to unemployed workers but varies substantially across states in benefit levels and eligibility, raising concerns about economic equity. Unemployment and financial strain are linked to adverse family outcomes, including increased risk of child maltreatment and CPS involvement. While economic hardship is a well-documented risk factor for CPS involvement, research on the role of UI generosity-particularly benefit amounts-in mitigating these risks is limited and offers mixed findings.

Child abuse & neglect

Clinician perspectives on the multilevel impacts of Pediatric early warning systems (PEWS) in resource-variable hospitals.

Pediatric Early Warning Systems (PEWS) are evidence-based interventions that monitor hospitalized pediatric patients to improve outcomes and prevent complications, particularly in children with cancer. However, there is limited data on how clinicians perceive the impact of PEWS on patient care across healthcare centers in resource-variable settings. Understanding clinicians' perceptions of PEWS is crucial, as their recognition of its benefits can enhance adoption and sustainability across various healthcare settings.

Frontiers in oncology

Longitudinal associations between speech-in-noise deficits and cognitive function over 8 years: the role of hearing aid use and environmental noise exposure.

Hearing loss is a potentially modifiable risk factor for dementia, yet questions remain about its impact on cognitive trajectories. Hearing aid use has been proposed as a protective intervention, but findings are mixed. This study examined longitudinal associations between hearing loss, hearing aid use, and cognitive function, and explored the role of environmental noise exposure.

The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences

The Association Between Structural and Social Determinants of Health and Mood Disorder Symptoms Among Black Adults in the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area.

Black middle-aged and older adults face significantly higher risks of mood disorders compared to non-Hispanic Whites. However, these conditions are often underdiagnosed and undertreated among Black Americans. Prior evidence has underscored the importance of structural and social determinants of health (S/SDOH), estimated to contribute to 60-80% of all health outcomes. This study examined the relationship between mood disorder symptoms (depression and anxiety) and S/SDOH. We assessed 312 Black participants aged 45 and older living in the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan region, an area deeply affected by historic and contemporary racism. A S/SDOH composite index (S/SDOH-CI) was constructed based on a series of individual and household-level indicators to measure deprivation and unique risk factors among participants. We found a strong association between mood symptoms, their frequency, and S/SDOH deprivation. Furthermore, contribution to S/SDOH-CI revealed that a social factor encompassing hardship and daily stressors (17%) and discrimination (11%) were the primary factors exacerbating mood disorder symptoms. These surpassed the contribution of education (10.67% [years and quality]), particularly among Black men, highlighting structural racism as a formidable driver of health inequities and lending additional evidence that there may be diminishing returns on human capital investments among Black men. These findings emphasize the need for medical advancements to progress together with social justice initiatives. The use of the S/SDOH-CI uncovered within-group differences and identified unique risk and resilience factors for mood disorders in Black older adults.

Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities

Development of a cognitive behavioral therapy intervention among pregnant women in Pujehun District, Sierra Leone

In rural, poor, largely illiterate Pujehun District of Sierra Leone there were no interventions available for perinatal depression (PND). To address this need, Project Peanut Butter established a counseling service. This model serves as a replicable framework for similar initiatives in high illiteracy contexts.

Cogent Mental Health