Jeanne-Marie R. Stacciarini

Review: Community-based participatory research approach to address mental health in minority populations

In this review, a synthesis of studies employing community-based participatory research (CBPR) to address mental health problems of minorities, strengths and challenges of the CBPR approach with minority populations are highlighted. Despite the fact that minority community members voiced a need for innovative approaches to address culturally unique issues, findings revealed that most researchers continued to use the traditional methods in which they were trained. Moreover, researchers continued to view mental health treatment from a health service perspective.

Strategies to promote success on the NCLEX-RN for students with English as a second language.

Faced with an increasingly diverse population and a shortage of nurses, US schools of nursing need to educate nurses from diverse backgrounds. These students may use English as a second language (ESL), leading to challenges that can place them at risk for not passing the NCLEX-RN. The authors present several challenges for ESL students preparing for the NCLEX-RN and successful strategies to coach them. These preparation issues and strategies may also help foreign-educated nurses prepare for the NCLEX-RN.

Group therapy as treatment for depressed Latino women: a review of the literature.

Group therapy has been recommended as a treatment for depression among Latino women. Thus, the literature published between 1980 and 2004 was systematically reviewed to explore cultural and therapeutic factors relevant to group therapy for depressed Latino women. The specific aims were to: (1) determine the type of studies on this topic, (2) identify successful forms of group therapy for this population, (3) identify therapeutic factors to consider while dealing with this population in group therapy, and (4) explore guidelines for conducting culturally sensitive groups for this population. Cognitive behavioral group therapy is recommended, yet few experimental studies have explored culturally relevant variations of this treatment. Culturally relevant therapeutic factors were mentioned in all studies.

A Review of Community-Based Participatory Research: A Promising Approach to Address Depression Among Latinos?

US Latinos are almost twice as likely as Whites to experience depression in a given year, and to date, there is a gap in understanding how to effectively address depression in this population. This study reviews community-based participatory research (CBPR) publications involving Latinos and depression. The specific aims were to: (1) describe studies using CBPR for addressing depression among Latinos, and (2) identify challenges and lessons learned when using CBPR for addressing depression among Latinos. Electronic databases and the grey literature were reviewed for publications that included CBPR, Latinos, and depression, published between 1990 and 2008. Although few studies were identified, this review provides a baseline synopsis that can serve mental health researchers when developing studies to test/validate CBPR with this underserved population.

I Didn’t Ask to Come to this Country…I was a Child: The Mental Health Implications of Growing Up Undocumented

Growing up as an undocumented immigrant and transitioning to “illegal” adulthood can expose the person to adverse social determinants, which can detrimentally affect mental health by acting as chronic stressors. Although there have been several attempts to reform immigration, none have been entirely successful. Recently, the Dream Act and the path toward citizenship may be important steps for reducing mental health disparities among the undocumented, immigrant population. This case report will describe the experiences of one Latino “dreamer”, reveal the effects of an undocumented status on mental health, and posit future directions for mental health promotion in this vulnerable population.

Rural Latinos’ Mental Wellbeing: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study of Family, Environment and Social Isolation Factors

Upon immigration to the rural areas in the US, Latino families may experience cultural, geographic, linguistic and social isolation, which can detrimentally affect their wellbeing by acting as chronic stressors. Using a community engagement approach, this is a pilot mixed-method study with an embedded design using concurrent qualitative and quantitative data. The purpose of this study is to evaluate family and social environments in terms of protective factors and modifiable risks associated with mental well-being in Latino immigrants living in rural areas of Florida. Latino immigrant mother and adolescent dyads were interviewed by using in-depth ethnographic semistructured interviews and subsequent quantitative assessments, including a demographic questionnaire and three structured instruments: the Family Environment Scale Real Form, the SF-12v2™ Health Survey and the short version (eight items) of PROMIS Health Organization Social Isolation. This mixed-method pilot study highlighted how family, rural, and social environments can protect or impair wellbeing in rural Latino immigrant mother and adolescent dyads.

CBPR: Building Partnerships with Latinos in a Rural Area for a Wellness Approach to Mental Health

Using Community-Based Participatory Research, this study describes the ongoing collaboration between Latino community leaders and academic partners to develop a mental health promotion intervention for rural Latinos in Florida. Two strategies were used: (1) Community Advisory Board (CAB) members completed a Latino Community Partners Survey (LCPS) and (2) scribe notes were taken during CAB meetings. The LCPS demonstrated not only the CABs knowledge about the community but the readiness of leaders to get involved in the community-academic partnership. Thematic analysis of scribe notes revealed four main categories: caring, knowledges, interpersonal dynamics, and future impact in the community. CAB members greatly enhanced academic partners’ understanding of the communitys needs as well as of their own culturally-specific knowledge.

Focus Groups: Examining a Community-Based Group Intervention for Depressed Puerto Rican Women

Puerto Ricans manifest high rates of depression but avoid seeking treatment. The purpose of this pilot was to learn directly from Puerto Rican women how culturally appropriate they would consider a proposed community-based intervention for treating depression. Interactive activities were reviewed by two focus groups of women (N = 16), all working in community-based health programs. All activities (e.g., writing, role playing, and music) except individual drawing were deemed appropriate. Categories that emerged were family/community values, mainland/non-mainland cultural variances, communication style, religion, education/occupational variances, health beliefs, Puerto Rican traditions/customs, emotions, and coping skills. Categories provided guidance for refining a community-based intervention for treating depression in Puerto Rican women.

Perspectives of Linkage to Care Among People Diagnosed With HIV

&NA; Timely linkage to HIV care and treatment has led to improved individual and population benefits; however, 25%–31% of people diagnosed with HIV do not engage in care. Most linkage to care research has focused on larger metropolitan areas, but smaller metropolitan and rural areas encounter unique challenges to linkage to care. Our purpose was to examine factors influencing the decision to seek care by 27 people infected with HIV living in smaller metropolitan and rural areas of Florida. We used grounded theory methods to develop a theoretical model describing the decision‐making process and participant recommendations within the context of stigma. Participants described support, defining care, activating care, conflicting messages of care, and pivotal events influencing the care decision. Findings highlight the complexities of HIV care and suggest a client‐centered approach to address the multifaceted social and structural challenges people with HIV face in the journey from infection to care.

Review of the Literature: A Rural-Urban Comparison of Social Networks of Older Adults Living With HIV

Globally, aging populations and older persons living with HIV (OPLWH) are emerging socioeconomic and health care concerns. Aging adults living in rural communities have less access to and lower utilization of health care services; they rely heavily on available peer and family networks. Although social networks have been linked to positive mental and physical health outcomes, there is a lack of understanding about social networks in rural‐dwelling OPLWH. The purpose of this integrative literature review was to compare emerging themes in the social network components of rural versus urban‐dwelling OPLWH and network benefits and barriers. Overarching themes include: limited and/or fragile networks, social inclusion versus social isolation, social capital, and health outcomes. Results demonstrate an overall lack of rural‐focused research on OPLWH and a universal lack of informal and formal networks due to isolation, lack of health care services, and omnipresent HIV stigma.