Our research projects span many different health topics and address health disparities across multiple diverse communities. We partner with researchers across the University of Kentucky and beyond to advance health communication scholarship.
Here are the current projects our faculty members are engaged in:
Beyond Rationality: The Unsettling Presence of Embodied Trauma and Grief After High Reliability Organization (HRO) Failure. Amber Lynn Scott (PI), Communication; Jessica Ford, Baylor University
Building Bridges of Trust: Strengthening Relationships Between People with Disabilities and Emergency Management in Kentucky. Sarah A. Geegen (PI), Integrated Strategic Communication; Erin B. Hester, Integrated Strategic Communication; Laura Butler, UK Human Development Institute
Burning Brightly or Burning Out: How Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Employees Communicatively Construct Burnout. Jennifer Scarduzio (PI), Communication; Amber Lynn Scott, Communication; Lisa Huddleston, Communication; Yolanda Jackson, Communication; Joshua Santiago, Communication
Communicating Corporate Social Responsibility Without Leaving the Community Behind. Erin B. Hester (PI), Integrated Strategic Communication; Ariel Arthur, Center for Health Equity Transformation; Laura Butler, UK Human Development Institute; Janie Cambron, College of Public Health; Sarah A. Geegan, Integrated Strategic Communication; Jason Jones, UK Human Development Institute; Ketrell McWhorter, College of Public Health; Lindsey C. Mullis, Human Development Institute
Developing Team-Based Training to Support Healthcare Professionals in Managing Mental Health Challenges. Xun Zhu (Co-I), Communication; Amber Lynn Scott (Co-I), Communication
Development and Pilot Randomized Control Trial of a Text Message Intervention to Facilitate Secure Storage and Disposal of Prescription Opioids to Prevent Diversion and Misuse. Kate Egan (PI), Wake Forest University; Don Helme, Communication
Engaging Underserved Communities in End-of-Life Conversations: a Cluster, Randomized Controlled Trial. Lauren J. Van Scoy (PI), Pennsylvania State University; Allison Scott Gordon, Communication
Enhancing the Public Health Benefits of Mammography Screening by Informing Women of Both Breast Cancer and Breast Arterial Calcification Results: A Randomized Trial to Promote Cardiovascular Health. Guy H. Montgomery (PI), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; Nancy Grant Harrington, Communication.
Evaluation of a Persuasive Health Communication Intervention Designed to Increase HIV/HCV Screening among Emergency Departments Patients Who Currently, Formerly or Never Injected Drugs. Roland C. Merchant (PI), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; Nancy Grant Harrington, Communication
Exploring Patient Perceptions of Cost-of-Care Conversations with Clinicians in Cancer Care Settings. Allison Scott Gordon (PI), Communication; Nancy Grant Harrington, Communication
Investigating Stigmatizing Language in Clinical Records and its Impacts on Healthcare Outcomes. Taylor Rives (PI), Medicine; Mariel Becker, Medicine; Xun Zhu, Communication
Social Marketing to Increase Lung Cancer Screening in Kentucky. Erin B. Hester (PI), Integrated Strategic Communication
Testing Revisions to the Protection Motivation Theory: Can Compassion-based Messages Elicit Other-Protection? Erin B. Hester (PI), Integrated Strategic Communication; Adriane Grumbein, Integrated Strategic Communication
The Potential for Inoculation Messages to Influence Vaccine Uptake among Underrepresented Populations. Kimberly Parker (PI), Integrated Strategic Communication; Bobi Ivanov, Integrated Strategic Communication
Young Adult Females' Responses to Image-Based Sexual Harrassment. Jennifer Scarduzio (PI), Communication; Kimberly Parker, Integrated Strategic Communication; Christal Balfour, Psychology.
University of Kentucky: Connecting and Networking for Suicide Prevention (UK-CAN). Julie Cerel (PI), Social Work; Mary Bolin, Counseling Center; Aurora Occa, Communication; Lee Walmsley; Corrine Williams, Public Health
Using Strategic Messaging to Improve Adoption of Integrated Pest Management. Kiersten Wise (PI), Plant Pathology; Erin B. Hester, Integrated Strategic Communication; Carl Bradley, Plant Pathology; Paul Vincelli, Plant Pathology; Nicole Gauthier, Plant Pathology