Our Research
Access to Better Cancer Screening (ABCS)
Principal Investigator: Sandra Japuntich
Co-Investigator: Andrew M. Busch
Lung cancer is the third most common cancer and the most common cancer death. Lung cancer is particularly common and particularly deadly among Black smokers. A validated screening test for lung cancer exists for high risk smokers: an annual low-dose CT scan of the chest. However, most eligible patients are not receiving this test. This mixed-method study will survey and interview patients and providers in Minnesota and Rhode Island to determine rates of screening, barriers and facilitators of screening, real world experiences with screening, and whether there are disparities in screening by race.
Granting agency/sponsor: American Cancer Society
Development of an Integrated Depression and Behavioral Risk Factor Reduction Intervention for Secondary Prevention Following Acute Coronary Syndrome (Healthy Heart Habits Study)
Principal Investigators: Andrew M. Busch
Co-Investigator: Katherine Diaz Vickery
The overall goal of this study is to develop an intervention to help people who have had a cardiac event and are depressed to improve their depression and increase heart healthy behaviors.
Bupropion for the Prevention of Postpartum Smoking Relapse (BurPPP) Study
Principal Investigator: Sharon Allen
Site PI: Sandra Japuntich
This two-arm, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial will enroll pregnant women who quit smoking after learning they were pregnant and are motivated to stay abstinent postpartum. Participants will be randomized to receive extended-release bupropion (active 300mg or placebo once daily beginning 4 to 10 days postpartum to 12 weeks post-randomization). All participants will complete the same data collection procedures (e.g., biological sample collection for hormone and cotinine analysis and completion of validated questionnaires) at baseline (gestational week 36), weekly from 4 to 10 days postpartum through 12 weeks post-randomization and at weeks 12, 24, 36 and 52 post-randomization.
This study is ongoing, however we are no longer a recruitment site.
Improving Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Pain and Depression: Pain and Sadness Study (PASS)
Co-Principal Investigators: Michael Stein and Lisa Uebelacker (Butler Hospital)
Site Principal Investigator: Andrew M. Busch
The study is testing a chronic pain management treatment program for patients living with chronic disease and depression. Participants receive six sessions of counseling, which focus on life values and goal setting or health education. The counselor works closely with the participant’s primary care provider to best understand how the counseling can fit into and support their existing care. The goal of this study is to better understand how people can live better lives while coping with chronic illnesses. Paper forthcoming.
Treating Tobacco Dependence Among Those with Serious Mental Illness
Co-Principal Investigators: Harry Lando (University of Minnesota) and Andrew M. Busch
This is a smoking cessation study that will enroll smokers who have been diagnosed with a severe mental illness. The study will use a combination of intensive tobacco treatment counseling and nicotine replacement therapy to assist smokers in cutting back on and quitting smoking over the course of six months.
Granting agency/sponsor: Clearway Minnesota
Smoking Cessation Post-Incarceration (JUST)
Co-Principal Investigators: Tyler Winkelman and Andrew M. Busch
This study examines the impact of a smoking cessation intervention that enrolls participants in a county jail and provides 3 weeks of counseling support post-release. Participants will be randomized to either 1) guideline-based smoking cessation counseling plus nicotine replacement, or 2) enhanced treatment as usual. Paper forthcoming.
Granting agency/sponsor: Clearway Minnesota
Exploring the Effects of Strength Training on Depression and Cardiovascular Risk in Black Men
Co-Principal Investigators: Joseph Ciccolo (Columbia University) and Andrew M. Busch
This study is the first randomized controlled trial of strength training (i.e., weight lifting) exercise as a intervention for depression symptoms and CVD risk reduction for Black men. Participants were randomized to 24 sessions of strength training or 24 sessions of health and wellness education over 3 months.
Integrated Smoking Cessation and Mood Management for Cardiac Patients
Principal Investigator: Andrew M. Busch
The overall aim of this study was to test a treatment manual that integrated smoking cessation and behavioral activation based mood management after a cardiac event. We conducted an RCT of 59 patients comparing 6 sessions this integrated treatment to standard care. Our results suggest that out integrated treatment is promising and deserves further testing.
QuitBet
Site PI: Sandra Japuntich
In collaboration with WayBetter Inc., we are testing a digital social game for cigarette smoking cessation called QuitBet. In QuitBet, players bet $30 that they can quit smoking for 4 weeks. Half of the players get access to a digital social feed where they can get advise from a tobacco treatment specialist and get support from other players. Players verify abstinence using daily CO readings from a portable CO monitor that connects to their smart phone. The study tests the effectiveness of the digital social feed on tobacco abstinence 6 months following the start of the first game.
Implementation of Cessation Treatment in Community Based Mental Health Centers (POST)
Principal Investigator: Sandra Japuntich
This study has 3 aims: (1) Adapt an evidence-based implementation strategy to CMHCs. (2) Pilot test the implementation strategy. (3) Conduct a pilot trial to assess the feasibility, acceptability and initial effectiveness of the implementation strategy.
The study intervention combines provider intervention about tobacco (asking patients if they use tobacco, advising patients to quit, assessing willingness to quit, assisting with quitting via counseling or medication or referral for treatment, and arranging for follow-up), and proactive outreach (calling smokers in the health system and offering treatment).