The overall research goal of the Allen Behavioral Lab is to investigate and alleviate disparities in tobacco-related disease for minoritized populations using technology interventions. Your innovative ideas on how best to reach this goal would be most welcomed and appreciated.
The overarching conceptual framework guiding the lab’s research is the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH). SDoH has emerged as a comprehensive way to understand health disparities; and is defined as the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, age, worship. Additionally, SDoH are defined by political, social, and economic forces characterized by inequitable distribution of power, income, goods, and services.
The primary research questions that the lab seeks to answer are:
- What factors influence the impact of mobile health (mHealth) technology among African American adults who smoke and use Quitline services?
- What social determinants of health are associated with lower engagement (program initiation/completion) and lower quit rates among African American adults who smoke an use Quitline text messaging services compared with non-African American adults who smoke and use the same services?
The techniques commonly used in the lab are qualitative and mixed methods. We use the services of the Penn State Qualitative and Mixed Methods Core (QMMC) and the Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) for study design/consultation, education/training, preparation for grant applications, and other qualitative aspects for our research. If you are interested in joining our lab, please contact Dr. Allen at sia3@psu.edu.
Take a look at this news article for more information about our lab research!