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Month: December 2024

2024 Research Highlights

2024 Research Highlights

Klein Buendel scientists and staff continued to pursue rigorous behavioral science research with multiple national and international collaborators to positively impact the health and safety of people’s lives. Our creative team designed and engineered engaging web-based programs for many of the projects.

In 2024, we started two new large research projects with current collaborators. We co-authored 11 papers published in peer-reviewed journals or published online ahead of print, including one in the American Journal of Public Health. We presented study results at five national or international conferences, including the 6th International Conference on UV and Skin Cancer Prevention in Brisbane, Australia, where we were awarded the Best Poster prize along with our research collaborator, Emory University.

In February, Dr. Gill Woodall gave a presentation at the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center entitled, “Randomized Trials of HPV Vaccine Uptake Improvement in New Mexico: Web Apps for Parents and Young Adolescent Girls and Boys.”

In May, Dr. David Buller gave a presentation for the ACCORDS Dissemination and Implementation Science Program at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. His presentation was entitled, “Novel Adaptation of an Evidence-based Occupational Sun Safety Program for Today’s Outdoor Worker.”

In October, Dr. David Buller was an invited presenter on a panel discussion on increasing scale-up research in cancer control, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. His presentation was entitled “Using Technology to Scale-up and Occupational Sun Protection Program.” 

  1. “Emotion Regulation Intervention to Prevent Substance Use Among Youth in the Child Welfare System.” An R61 award to Klein Buendel from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA059785; Dr. Chris Houck, Principal Investigator, Rhode Island Hospital). The primary Co-Investigator from Klein Buendel is Ms. Julia Berteletti.
  2. “Hybrid Delivery to Increase Access and Sustainability: Evaluating ezParent Implementation.” A Fast Track STTR grant to Klein Buendel from the National Institute (HD116627; Dr. Susan Breitenstein, Principal Investigator, Ohio State University). The primary Co-Investigator from Klein Buendel is Ms. Julia Berteletti.
  1. Woodall WG, Buller DB, Saltz R, Martinez L. Professional development to improve responsible beverage service training: formative research results and protocol for a randomized controlled trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2024 Jan 24:13:e49680. doi: 10.2196/49680.
  2. Breitenstein SM, Berteletti J, Smoske S, Barger C, Tipps K, Helsabeck NP. Administrative dashboard for monitoring use of a web-Based parent training intervention: usability study. JMIR Form Res. 2024 Jan 30:8:e53439. doi: 10.2196/53439.
  3. Buller DB, Sussman AL, Thomson CA, Kepka D, Taren D, Henry KL, Warner EL, Walkosz BJ, Woodall GW, Nuss K, Blair CK, Guest DD, Borrayo EA, Gordon JS, Hatcher J, Wetter DW, Kinsey A, Jones CF, Yung AK, Christini K, Berteletti J, Torres JA, Perez EYB, Small A. #4Corners4Health social media cancer prevention campaign for emerging adults: protocol for a randomized stepped-wedge trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2024 Feb 22:13:e50392. doi: 10.2196/50392.
  4. Wu YP, Stump TK, Hay JL, Buller DB, Jensen JD, Grossman D, Shen J, Haaland BA, Jones J, Tercyak KP. Protocol for a cluster-randomized trial of a school-based skin cancer preventive intervention for adolescents. Contemp Clin Trials. 2024 May:140:107494. doi: 10.1016/ j.cct.2024.107494.
  5. Hay JL, Wu Y, Schofield E, Kaphingst K, Sussman AL, Guest DD, Hunley K, Li Y, Buller DB, Berwick M. Exploring the role of cancer fatalism and engagement with skin cancer genetic information in diverse primary care patients. Psychooncology. 2024 Apr;33(4):e6331. doi: 10.1002/pon.6331.
  6. Buller DB, Woodall WG, Saltz R, Martinez L, Small A, Chirico N, Cutter GR. Sales to apparently intoxicated customers in three states with different histories of responsible beverage service training. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2024 May;85(3):312-321. doi: 10.15288/jsad.23-00258
  7. Kitt-Lewis E, Loeb SJ, Walkosz BJ, Olanreqaju SA, Herbeck B, Fullmer S. Just Care: usability testing of e-learning modules for peer caregivers living in prison. J Offender Rehabil. 2024 Jul;63(6):387-400. Doi: 10.1080/10509674.2024.2370289.
  8. Buller DB, Buller MK, Meenan R, Cutter GR, Berteletti J, Henry KL, Kinsey A, Adjei I, Chirico N. Implementation of an occupational sun safety intervention: comparison of two scalability strategies. J Occup Environ Med. 2024 Oct 10. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003248. Online ahead of print.
  9. Wu YP, Brunsgaard EK, Siniscalchi N, Stump T, Smith H, Grossman D, Jensen J, Buller DB, Hay JL, Shen J, Haaland BA, Tercyak KP. Challenges and lessons learned in recruiting participants for school-based disease prevention programs during COVID-19. Contemp Clin Trials Commun. 2024 Nov 24:42:101399. doi: 10.1016/j.conctc.2024.101399. eCollection 2024 Dec.
  10. McCrady BS, Woodall WG, Berteletti J, Starling R, Martinez L, Westerberg V, Brooks M, Starke T. Developing a smartphone web app to help DWI offenders and their families. J Subst Use Addict Treat. 2025 Jan:168:209565. doi: 10.1016/j.josat.2024.209565. Online ahead of print.
  11. Buller DB, Berteletti J, Heckman C, Schroth K, Geller AC, Stapleton JL, Adjei I, Mitarotondo A, Guild SR, Gershenwald JE, Dellavalle R, Pagoto S. Bills to Restrict Access to and Harm from Indoor Tanning Facilities in US State Legislatures, 1992–2023. Am J Public Health. Online ahead of print 10.2105/AJPH.2024.307894.

*KB investigators and staff are indicated in bold type

Several presentations on research progress, procedures, analyses, and outcomes were given by Klein Buendel scientists, staff, and their collaborators at the following national and international conferences:

  • 45th Annual Meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine (March)
  • 36th Annual Scientific Sessions of the Eastern Nursing Research Society (April)
  • 47th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Research Society on Alcohol (June)
  • 6th International Conference on UV and Skin Cancer Prevention (September)
  • 36th International Papillomavirus Conference (November)

Klein Buendel and Emory University won Best Poster at the UV Conference in Australia for “Narrative Synthesis of Skin Cancer Prevention Interventions for Samples with High Proportions of Participants with Skin of Color in a Systematic Review.” The poster was presented by Ms. Irene Adjei from Klein Buendel.

Smartphone Web App for DWI Offenders and Families

Smartphone Web App for DWI Offenders and Families

Driving while intoxicated (DWI) results in significant morbidity and mortality. The use of vehicle ignition interlock devices decreases the risk of drinking and driving while installed, but DWI rates increase after the devices are removed. Dr. W. Gill Woodall, Klein Buendel Senior Scientist, and his research collaborators have developed and tested the B-SMART smartphone web app to continue to support offenders and their concerned family members after their ignition interlock devices have been removed. They have published their methods and results of usability testing online in the Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment.

Formative data collection for app development occurred in two phases. Phase 1 included key informant interviews with DWI offenders and concerned family members, development of one app module, and usability testing. Phase 2 included focus groups with DWI offenders and concerned family members, development of three more app modules, and usability testing. The Bangor System Usability Scale was used to rate app usability and satisfaction.

Results of key informant interviews and focus groups indicated that offenders and family members lacked information and were frustrated by the ignition interlock device, experienced financial burden from the DWI and the device, viewed supportive communication and positive shared activities as important, and were positive about the app. The four modules developed were Life with Interlock, Supporting Changes in Drinking, Doing Things Together, and Effective Communication. Each module included an introduction, at least one interactive activity, a video, and text to summarize what was presented. The content of the app modules was written primarily for the concerned family members. Usability testing indicated that the B-SMART modules were easy to use and informative.

The paper published online in the Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment details the research measures, methods, analyses. A diagram describes the flow for the features and design of the app. This careful formative work resulted in an app responsive to the concerns of DWI offenders with ignition interlock devices and their concerned family members.

The authors believe that harnessing the power of the family to help the offender maintain a pattern of driving when not impaired may yield longer, successful outcomes initiated by the ignition interlock device. A future paper will report the efficacy of the B-SMART app after its implementation and testing in a rigorous randomized trial.

This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (AA022850; Dr. W. Gill Woodall, Principal Investigator). Collaborators included Dr. Barbara McCrady, Dr. Randall Starling, and Dr. Vern Westerberg from the University of New Mexico; Mr. Thomas Starke from Impact DWI in Sante Fe, New Mexico; and Ms. Julia Berteletti, Ms. Marita Brooks, and Ms. Lila Martinez from Klein Buendel. The B-SMART app was developed by the Creative Team at Klein Buendel.