CHHS Research

Mason: Health Starts Here study finds most college freshmen exceed U.S. dietary guidelines for added sugar, refined grains, sodium, and saturated fat.

Mason’s Alison Cuellar and Leah Adams have received a $54,918 grant from the National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation for their study on health equity and the impact of Medicaid telehealth policy.

Innovate for Good is a new ongoing series that examines how faculty in the College of Health and Human Services are improving health outcomes using technology such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and personal apps. Part I explores two social work faculty who are using apps and virtual reality to improve the lives and health of those they work with.

A new study led by Dr. Alicia Hong, professor of Health Administration and Policy, suggests that American participation in clinical trials remains low and a significant disparity exists. People who have used eHealth tools are more likely to participate in clinical trials, and doctors who practice patient-centered communication can facilitate such participation.

A new study from Priyanka Anand, associate professor in the Department of Health Administration and Policy, found that notifications of debt related to work-related overpayment discourage work among SSDI beneficiaries.

Rosemary Higgins, senior associate dean for Research in the College of Health and Human Services, provided commentary for The Lancet on the first stepped-wedge trial conducted for safety education in the neonatal intensive care (NICU) setting.

Youth smoking remains a significant public health problem in the U.S. and in Virginia. Hong Xue, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Health Administration and Policy, is conducting a study of youth smoking and prevention on the effects of policy and prevention strategies on the use of conventional and e-cigarettes in Virginia adolescents.

Farrokh Alemi, professor of Health Administration and Policy, is working on a new study to identify a connection between COVID-19 and suicide among essential workers. The study aims to offer evidence-based policy recommendations for improving mental health and preventing suicide in essential workers.

A team of #MasonCHHS researchers designed an app to combat the growing mental health concerns affecting undergraduate students due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers created a predictive health app that detects when undergraduate students are exhibiting behavioral, emotional, and academic concerns and connects the students to appropriate resources, such as Mason's Counseling and Psychological Services.

Research Manager Tammie M. Jones and Chair of the Health Administration and Policy Department P.J. Maddox published a new study about the relationship between Community Health Worker (CHW) state regulations and the adoption of standard roles, skills, and qualities. States with CHW certification programs were found to have a higher number of employers who adopt occupational standards.