Papers by April Schweinhart
BACKGROUND American Indian and Alaska Native people (AIANs) experience poor end-of-life care. Alt... more BACKGROUND American Indian and Alaska Native people (AIANs) experience poor end-of-life care. Although advanced care planning (ACP) can improve end-of-life care, ACP rates are disproportionately low among AIANs. As little work has been done to increase ACP opportunities for AIANs, we culturally tailored an ACP intervention for a specific AIAN community. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to take an existing, evidence-based program for ACP and tailor the delivery method and content to better meet the needs of one AIAN tribe. Once finalized, the tailored intervention was delivered, evaluated, and tested among participants representing geographically distinct members of the same AIAN community. We plan to test outcomes related to feasibility, acceptability, readiness, self-efficacy, and advanced care planning behavior. METHODS Cultural Tailoring took place in four phases. In each phase, the content and delivery methods of the ACP intervention were revised and tailored to the needs of the AIAN ...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Research conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed many unintended consequences of mand... more Research conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed many unintended consequences of mandated safety precautions, including increased perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV), increases in substance use, and worsening mental health conditions. We conducted a repeated, cross-sectional survey of survivors of IPV, a longitudinal survey of service providers working in an IPV shelter, and interviews with both. We conducted surveys at the beginning of the pandemic and nearly half a year later to assess mental health and, for clients, substance use. Results showed that two small samples of survivors living in the shelter in 2020 and 2021 experienced both mental health decline and increased use of substances. Qualitative data from in-depth interviews suggest that COVID-19-related restrictions mirrored survivors’ experiences of power and control in violent relationships. Further, IPV service providers—essential workers during COVID-19—experienced stress associated with reports...
Big Data in Cognitive Science, 2016
The goal of cognitive science is to understand human cognition in the real world, however, Bayesi... more The goal of cognitive science is to understand human cognition in the real world, however, Bayesian theories of cognition are often unable to account for anything beyond schematic situations whose simplicity is typical only of experiments in psychology labs. For example, teaching to others is commonplace, but under recent Bayesian accounts of human social learning, teaching is, in all but the simplest of scenarios, intractable because teaching requires considering all choices of data and how each choice of data will affect learners' inferences about each possible hypothesis. In practice, teaching often involves computing quantities that are either combinatorially implausible or that have no closed-form solution. In this chapter we integrate recent advances in Markov chain Monte Carlo approximation with recent computational work in teaching to develop a framework for tractable Bayesian teaching of arbitrary probabilistic models. We demonstrate the framework on two complex scenarios inspired by perceptual category learning: phonetic category models and visual scenes categorization. In both cases, we find that the predicted teaching data exhibit surprising behavior. In order to convey the number of categories, the data for teaching phonetic category models exhibit hypo-articulation and increased within-category variance. And in order to represent the range of scene categories, the optimal examples for teaching visual scenes are distant from the category means. This work offers the potential to scale computational models of teaching to situations that begin to approximate the richness of people's experience.
Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-heb-10.1177_10901981211011043 for Achieving Whole Health: A Prel... more Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-heb-10.1177_10901981211011043 for Achieving Whole Health: A Preliminary Study of TCMLH, a Group-Based Program Promoting Self-Care and Empowerment Among Veterans by Melissa Abadi, Bonnie Richard, Steve Shamblen, Connor Drake, April Schweinhart, Barbara Bokhour, Rachel Bauer and David Rychener in Health Education & Behavior
Health Education & Behavior, 2021
Objective An emerging literature suggests patients with chronic illnesses can benefit from integr... more Objective An emerging literature suggests patients with chronic illnesses can benefit from integrated, person-centric approaches to health care, including group-based programs. However, much of the research in this area is disease specific. The objective of this study was to collect preliminary evidence on the efficacy of Taking Charge of My Life and Health (TCMLH), a Whole Health group-based program that emphasizes self-care and empowerment on the overall health and well-being of veterans, a population burdened with high rates of multiple chronic conditions. Method Self-reported outcomes, including standardized survey measures, were collected at pretest, posttest, and 2-month follow-up from 77 participants across 15 groups at four VA sites. Random intercept mixed-model regressions were used to analyze data. Results Results from this initial study showed high satisfaction with the program and facilitators, and high attendance. There were significant pre–post gains in self-care attit...
In October 2013, the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), in partnership with Bi... more In October 2013, the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana (BBBS-KY), was funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to implement a mentoring research best practices project that explored whether three types of parent/guardian level variables (psychosocial parent/family characteristics, parent engagement in the mentoring match, and parenting style) influence match quality, match length, and youth outcomes. This study was designed to describe these factors, as well as investigate how these factors impact match length, match strength, and youth program outcomes. Data to inform both objectives was collected using a longitudinal multimode approach with youth, mentors and parents in the BBBS-KY program in the metro Louisville area. In addition, data from 16 local school districts provided measures of academic performance, school attendance, and disciplinary suspensions. Data were ...
F1000Research, 2012
ABSTRACT Background / Purpose: The purpose of this research was to compare the orientation conten... more ABSTRACT Background / Purpose: The purpose of this research was to compare the orientation content of natural scenes and artworks to the orientation processing of the human visual system. Main conclusion: Artists seem to over-regularize their paintings, including more horizontal and vertical content than is actually present in the natural world, perhaps echoing the horizontal effect of human visual processing.
The current study examines the effect of the race and weight of individuals within a couple on th... more The current study examines the effect of the race and weight of individuals within a couple on the perceived compatibility of that couple. Participants (N = 442) viewed 16 couples consisting of overweight or average-weight and Black or White individuals. Participants then rated the compatibility of the couples based on three questions about the likelihood of attraction between the individuals. Same race couples were found to be more compatible than interracial couples which was expected. Similarly, couples which consisted of same weight individuals were more compatible than those consisting of opposing weight individuals. In interracial couples, the Black male was found to be more compatible with an overweight female than was the White male. These findings indicate a prejudice against dissimilar individuals in relationships as well as a possible double standard for the weight of White vs. Black women. Weight, Ethnicity, & Compatibility, 3 Examining the Interaction of Weight and Ethn...
Health Promotion Practice, 2020
There is a lack of evidence as to how the subcomponents of motivation, innovation-specific capaci... more There is a lack of evidence as to how the subcomponents of motivation, innovation-specific capacity, and organizational capacity affect community readiness and the implementation of evidenced-based practices. The Strategic Prevention Framework-Partnerships for Success (SPF-PFS) Initiative in Ohio is guided by a collaboration between the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Ohio’s SPF-PFS Evaluation Team, Ohio’s Coaching and Mentoring Network, and community coalitions from 10 Appalachian and/or rural communities. To address the goals of the SPF-PFS, we paired an empowerment evaluation framework with a community-based participatory research approach that enabled communities to take complete ownership of local data and research processes. This approach yielded a pedagogical framework in which all 10 community coalitions were able to extend a quantitative needs assessment by examining local conditions contributing to substance use using qualitative research methods. ...
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 2021
Drug use rates among adults in Afghanistan are over twice as high as the global average which com... more Drug use rates among adults in Afghanistan are over twice as high as the global average which complicates an already challenging situation in the country. Although progress has been made toward improving availability of treatment and the rights and status of women, cultural norms and historical precedents have delayed advances, including in drug treatment. Female Afghan patients access treatment via home-based systems without the option of group in-patient treatment centers available to male patients. Using data from a new evaluation of Afghanistan's drug treatment system we report on updated differences in treatment outcomes for male and female patients in drug treatment centers in Afghanistan. A probability sample was used, selecting 32 centers to evaluate, and including baseline and follow-up data from 865 individuals who were officially admitted to drug treatment. Data collection included: (a) baseline and follow-up interviews; (b) baseline and follow-up urine drug tests; and (c) intake and treatment participation records. Random intercept generalized linear models were used to analyze change by regressing outcomes on a contrast representing time and a correction for selectivity biases. Male and female patients had similar, overall pre-treatment characteristics including low levels of education, though education levels were lower for women. At follow-up, there were significant differences between male and female patients' self-reports of substance use and related consequences, including criminal behavior. These findings represent mixed results; while some progress has been made in offsetting gender disparities in Afghanistan, remaining significant gender differences in posttreatment results suggest more positive outcomes for female than for male patients.
Patient Education and Counseling, 2020
An evaluation of the facilitator training to implement 'Taking Charge of My Life and Health', a p... more An evaluation of the facilitator training to implement 'Taking Charge of My Life and Health', a peer-led group program to promote self-care and patient empowerment in Veteran participants
International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 2020
Drug use remains a pervasive problem in Afghanistan, where high levels of opium production, pover... more Drug use remains a pervasive problem in Afghanistan, where high levels of opium production, poverty, and war have contributed to this problem. A probability sample of 32 Afghan drug treatment centers (DTC) trained in and implementing the Universal Treatment Curriculum (UTC; basic curriculum) were selected. The UTC basic curriculum consists of eight core training modules focusing on ensuring that treatment practitioners are using evidence-based treatment practices. Data were collected from 1022 individuals after detox, and follow-up data were collected 1 year later from 865 of these individuals. Examination of self-report and drug-test data suggested that the DTC were largely successful in decreasing both illicit substance use and related consequences, as well as criminal behavior at 1-year follow-up. Small effects suggested that risk and protective factors moderate these changes to some extent. The implications of these findings are discussed, as well as directions for future research.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2018
The United States (U.S.) is a leader and innovator in biomedicine, yet trails behind for many key... more The United States (U.S.) is a leader and innovator in biomedicine, yet trails behind for many key health indicators, especially for women. This paper highlights key evidence indicating that not only is the state of women’s health in the U.S. lagging, but it is at risk for falling off the curve. Women’s health care remains fragmented; research in the field can be disconnected and difficult to integrate across disciplines—silos prevail. Structural obstacles contribute to this lack of cohesion, and innovative, interdisciplinary research approaches which integrate the multidimensional aspects of sex and gender, and race and ethnicity, with a life course perspective are sorely needed. Such synergistic, scientific strategies have the potential to reverse the trend towards shorter life expectancy and poorer health for women in the U.S. The National Institute for Health (NIH) seeks to raise the bar for the health of all women by tackling these issues through enhancing the relevance of biome...
Journal of Community Psychology, 2019
Much evidence exists on whether an individual's perception of a match relationship impacts match ... more Much evidence exists on whether an individual's perception of a match relationship impacts match strength and length, but relatively less is known about whether parental perceptions of the match (i.e., whether the match is meeting their goals) impacts the length and strength of mentoring relationships. These relationships were examined in a sample of 350 newly formed youth-mentor matches who completed multiple measures of match strength and satisfaction with the match. Parents/guardians were also surveyed about their level of satisfaction with the match. The primary finding of this paper was that parent/guardian dissatisfaction with the match relationships meeting goals was the only significant predictor of a higher likelihood of match closure. Although youth and mentor self-reports of satisfaction with how match time was spent were the strongest predictors of volunteer and youth match strength ratings, parent/guardian satisfaction with the match relationship also remained a strong predictor of match strength. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Journal of Women's Health, 2019
Although the United States is often ahead in both research and health care fields, it lags behind... more Although the United States is often ahead in both research and health care fields, it lags behind peer countries in many population health indicators. To address these complex health problems that often reflect the intersection of many socioeconomic and health issues, it is essential that scientists work collaboratively across distinct disciplines. Women's health is but one area which can benefit from such an approach given the multifaceted and complex issues underlying the different aspects of women's health research. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH) and the Office of Women's Health of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cosponsored a preconference symposium at the Women's Health 2018 Conference, held in May in Arlington, VA, to highlight interdisciplinary approaches to research, how researchers can work collaboratively, and how to apply multifaceted approaches to complex real-world problems. Three speakers presented information on a range of subjects related to the health of women across the life course, including the distinction between multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary approaches; the science behind Team Science and how its findings apply to working collaboratively; and gender inequalities in the opioid epidemic. This article summarizes the major points of the presentations and the subsequent discussions.
Journal of Vision, 2017
Anisotropies in visual perception have often been presumed to reflect an evolutionary adaptation ... more Anisotropies in visual perception have often been presumed to reflect an evolutionary adaptation to an environment with a particular anisotropy. Here we adapt observers to globally-atypical environments presented in virtual reality to assess the malleability of this well-known perceptual anisotropy. Results showed that the typical bias in orientation perception was in fact altered as a result of recent experience. Application of Bayesian modeling indicates that these global changes of the recently-viewed environment implicate a Bayesian prior matched to the recently experienced environment. These results suggest that biases in orientation perception are fluid and predictable, and that humans adapt to orientation biases in their visual environment "on the fly" to optimize perceptual encoding of content in the recently-viewed visual world.
Perception, Jan 25, 2016
Measurements of psychophysical performance show that the visual system is biased in ways that cou... more Measurements of psychophysical performance show that the visual system is biased in ways that counteract statistical regularities of natural scenes thereby allowing efficient coding. Here we consider the perceptual effects of these encoding biases in a "holistic" way by measuring characteristics of the paintings produced by artists making perceptual matches to a natural scene image; 10 artists were asked to produce an exact copy of a single outdoor landscape scene. The structural content of the paintings produced and the "ground truth" image were compared in the frequency domain. The artists were found to over-regularize the orientation content in the paintings: The anisotropy existing only at the lowest spatial scales in the natural scene image was produced across all spatial scales in these commissioned paintings. These results were compared to those from two other methods of comparing paintings and natural scenes reported previously in a companion paper and al...
The relationship between the processing of orientations by the human visual system has been relat... more The relationship between the processing of orientations by the human visual system has been related to the orientation content of the natural environment; horizontal orientations, while predominant in natural environments, are perceived less well than vertical and oblique orientations are perceived best, though they are least prevalent in the natural world. This 'horizontal effect' has further extended the well-studied relationship between visual encoding and natural scene statistics as the differential perception of orientations in broadband scenes inversely matches their differential representation in the natural environment. However, the original hypothesis that this relationship may have evolved across millennia in order to make the visual system an efficient informationtransmitting system has been called into question by research showing the modification of orientation perception by exposure to altered environments and studies showing a later development of adult-like orientation processing. Recent work into the effects of adaptation on visual encoding of the natural environment have led me to the conclusion that the relationship between the statistics of the natural world and visual encoding is, in a way, much simpler than previously posited; rather than being adapted over millennia to whiten the typical natural scene anisotropy, the visual system adjusts processing v dynamically to match the current visual environment. The project presented here details how the statistics of the recently viewed environment affect the way that the visual brain processes information. To assess the effect of recent exposure on broadband orientation processing, the orientation content subjects viewed was modified via fast Fourier transform (FFT) filtering of their environment in near-real-time. Results show that experience in an altered environment modifies anisotropic processing: observers' orientation perception changes from matching the typical environmental distribution to matching that of the recently experienced atypical environment. The results of these experiments can be predicted by assuming that observers' biases of perception are probabilistic and rely on an internal model that matches the recently experienced environmental distribution. This change in perception indicates not only that orientation processing is plastic, but that it is related in a predictable way to an observer's recent visual environment. vi
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Papers by April Schweinhart