Active Projects

Touch to Screen - Tailored Touchscreen Colorectal Cancer Prevention in Urban Core Clinics
K. Allen Greiner, MD, MPH

The goal of this project is to access the efficacy of a novel tailored touch screen computer intervention, utilizing an "implementation intentions" approach for improving colo-rectal cancer screening in safety net clinics. To date 460 patients have began the project and been offered free colon cancer screening.

NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship - University of Kansas Primary Care Research Development Program (KPCRD)
K. Allen Greiner, MD, MPH
Sponsor: Health Resources and Services Administration

The overall goal of this program is to prepare postdoctoral trainees in Family Medicine research to become full-time faculty members in a department of family medicine and to develop the skills that will allow them to perform research that will improve the health of underserved populations.

A Population-based Approach to Oral Health Workforce Planning in Kansas
Kim Kimminau, PhD

Workforce issues are often studied in the context of counties, but in rural communities especially, having to leave a person's home county to work, shop, and access health care services is often the norm.   This study will focus on drawing more realistic and evidence-driven parameters around population density centers to better understand where rural Kansans currently "commute" for services, especially where they access oral health and other health care services.  The goal of this analysis is to have a more evidence-based approach to retention and recruitment of oral health care professionals that is driven from the realities of population needs and current patterns that are not bound by county borders.

Evaluation of the Community HPV Initiative
Kim Kimminau, PhD
Sponsor: Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City and the REACH Healthcare Foundation

The Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, with additional funding from the REACH Healthcare Foundation has invested 2.5 million dollars into providing free HPV vaccine to girls, youth and women in their service area.  The project is describing the utilization of the program by eligible participants by race, ethnicity, age, and site where they received vaccination.  Completion rates as well as a qualitative description of the challenges, barriers and successes faced by the participating local community clinics and public health departments are outcomes planned for the study.

Argentine Healthy Food Initiative
Kim Kimminau, PhD
Sponsor: Argentine Neighborhood Development Association / Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City

Argentine is a low income, diverse community without a community-based resource that provides access to healthy foods.  This community-based participatory research project engages neighborhood level organizations to collect household data and citizen input on what possible options would improve access to healthy food.  The result of the project will be an informed business plan, shared with the community, to achieve a community-driven solution or solutions.

Communicating Healthy Behavior from the Pulpit - A Qualitative Study of Pastor perspectives on Promoting Cancer Screening in the Church (Supplement to Tailored Touch screen Colorectal Cancer Prevention in the Urban Core Clinic).
Crystal Lumpkins, PhD

The purpose of this project was to investigate urban pastors' perceptions about cancer screening promotion in the church. The results of this study suggest that pastors of urban churches see themselves as health promoters of cancer and other health screenings in the church.  Future studies should investigate how the role of the pastor (and spirituality and religiosity factors) influences cancer screening prevention behavior among underserved and minority populations.

Mapping Deterrents to Healthy Living in Rural Communities
Anthony Wellever
Sponsor: United Methodist Health Ministry Fund

The project is designed to approach the problems of overweight, obesity, in activity by inventorying the built environment/community resources, and food choices available and informing the residents and community leaders of our findings. 

Medical Legal Partnership Evaluation
Anthony Wellever
Sponsor: Sunflower Foundation

Conduct process and outcome evaluations of Medical-Legal Partnerships sponsored by two safety-net clinics (one urban and one rural) funded by grants from the Sunflower Foundation.

Kindle Study
Mugur Geana, MD

This study is testing messages on Kindle readers, cell phones, and paper to test patient preference for health Education.

American Cancer Society Wyandotte County Latino Colorectal Cancer awareness Campaign
K. Allen Greiner, MD, MPH and Mugur Geana, MD

This small grant is supporting a radio novella on the Spanish language Super X radio station along with a print campaign, and promoter activities.