Maria Pisu
Biographic Data
| ID | 5540813 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Maria Pisu |
| GIVEN NAMES | Maria |
| FAMILY NAME | Pisu |
| SIGNATURE | PISU M |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Alabama at Birmingham |
| VERIFIED | No |
| TOTAL WORKS | 12 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 14 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 12 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2007 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2024 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Racial differences in the incidence of mental health illness among ovarian cancer patients
Background: Ovarian cancer (OC) patients have an increased risk for a mental health illness (MHI) after their cancer diagnosis, but limited research exists on whether this risk differs by race/ethnicity. Hence, we used SEER-Medicare data to evaluate racial/ethnic differences in MHI incidence among OC patients aged 65+. Methods: Non-Hispanic (NH) Black, NH White, and Hispanic women diagnosed with OC in 2008-2015 without a mental health history 12 …
Electronic Health Record Adoption and Its Effects on Healthcare Staff
Adopting electronic health records (EHRs) offers improved communication and information sharing and reduces medical staff errors. Despite these potential benefits, EHR adoption often introduces new challenges for healthcare staff, including increased administrative burdens and workplace stress. This study examines the impact of EHR systems on the well-being and workplace stress of healthcare staff in a hospital setting. Using a qualitative multi-…
Using Mixed Methods Research to Optimize Healthy Lifestyle Intervention Adaptation for Web-Based Delivery
Intervention adaptation is a crucial step toward increasing intervention acceptability and translating evidence-based research into practice and broader use. This article describes a pragmatic approach to optimize intervention adaptation of AMPLIFY (AiM, Plan, and act on LIFestYles) web-based diet and exercise program for middle-aged and older cancer survivors by applying mixed methods research. A matrix with adaptation phases, elements, and meth…
Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity among Mostly Older, Overweight Black Women Living in the Rural Alabama Black Belt
Despite well-documented global declines in physical activity (PA) during the COVID-19 pandemic, little is known regarding the specific impact among underserved, rural Alabama counties. This is concerning as this region was already disproportionately burdened by inactivity and related chronic diseases and was among the hardest hit by COVID-19. Thus, the current study examined the effect of COVID-19 on PA in four rural Alabama counties. An ancillar…
Cancer-Related Financial Hardship Screening as Part of Practice Transformation
BACKGROUND: Data on financial hardship, an "adverse event" in individuals with cancer, are needed to inform policy and supportive care interventions and reduce adverse economic outcomes. METHODS: Lay navigator-led financial hardship screening was piloted among University of Alabama at Birmingham oncology patients initiating treatment in October 2020. Financial hardship screening, including reported financial distress and difficulty, was added to …
The Value of Social Network Analysis for Evaluating Academic-Community Partnerships and Collaborations for Social Determinants of Health Research
The increased frequency and level of collaboration among the Coalition network was accompanied by a higher level of collaboration among the coalition members as posited by social network and capital theories. As such, the community engagement fostered through the Coalition has increased and thus, to date, the Gulf States Health Policy Center has been effective in promoting partnerships and collaboration
Quality of Antiepileptic Treatment Among Older Medicare Beneficiaries With Epilepsy
BACKGROUND: Enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (EI-AEDs) are not recommended for older adults with epilepsy. Quality Indicator for Epilepsy Treatment 9 (QUIET-9) states that new patients should not receive EI-AEDs as first line of treatment. In light of reported racial/ethnic disparities in epilepsy care, we investigated EI-AED use and QUIET-9 concordance across major racial/ethnic groups of Medicare beneficiaries. RESEARCH DESIGN: Retrospective…
Diagnostic Tests and Neurology Care for Medicare Beneficiaries With Seizures
BACKGROUND: Seizures and epilepsy are common in older adults especially in some minorities. Despite the importance of medical care to maximize seizure control, little is known about its quality across racial groups. One indicator of quality care is the receipt of electroencephalograms (EEG), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) or computer tomography scans (CTs) after a first seizure. Neurologists' care is also important, given associated diagno…
Substance abuse treatment in an urban HIV clinic
Substance abuse treatment (SAT) is important for HIV medical care. Characteristics of those who choose SAT and effects of SAT on HIV clinical outcomes are not understood. We compared patients who enrolled and did not enroll in a SAT program offered within an HIV clinic, and evaluated the effect of SAT on CD4 T-cell counts and HIV plasma viral load (VL). Subjects were assessed and invited to enroll in SAT. Enrollees chose to receive psychological …
Increased Black–White Disparities in Mortality After the Introduction of Lifesaving Innovations
Objectives. We explored whether the introduction of 3 lifesaving innovations introduced between 1989 and 1996 increased, decreased, or had no effect on disparities in Black–White mortality in the United States through 2006. Methods. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data were used to assess disease-, age-, gender-, and race-specific changes in mortality after the introduction of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) for treatment…
Treatment for Older Prostate Cancer Patients
BACKGROUND: Black prostate cancer patients are less likely to receive aggressive therapy (AT) than Whites: reported rates for patients ≥ 65 years old are about 55% versus 65%. Little is known about treatment rates in socioeconomically deprived states with large Black populations like Alabama. STUDY DESIGN: Medicare claims and Alabama Statewide Cancer Registry records were linked for Alabamian men in Medicare fee-for-service diagnosed with loco-re…
The Impact of Cost on the Availability of Fruits and Vegetables in the Homes of Schoolchildren in Birmingham, Alabama
Objectives. Fruit and vegetable cost is a presumed barrier to intake. We sought to determine whether fruit and vegetable cost and consumers’ race and income would predict availability of fruits and vegetables in homes of schoolchildren in the Birmingham, Ala, area. Methods. Data on availability of 27 fruit and vegetable items were obtained from homes of 1355 children (32% African American) in the Birmingham area. Fruit and vegetable costs were ob…
Increased Black–White Disparities in Mortality After the Introduction of Lifesaving Innovations
Objectives. We explored whether the introduction of 3 lifesaving innovations introduced between 1989 and 1996 increased, decreased, or had no effect on disparities in Black–White mortality in the United States through 2006. Methods. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data were used to assess disease-, age-, gender-, and race-specific changes in mortality after the introduction of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) for treatment…
The Impact of Cost on the Availability of Fruits and Vegetables in the Homes of Schoolchildren in Birmingham, Alabama
Objectives. Fruit and vegetable cost is a presumed barrier to intake. We sought to determine whether fruit and vegetable cost and consumers’ race and income would predict availability of fruits and vegetables in homes of schoolchildren in the Birmingham, Ala, area. Methods. Data on availability of 27 fruit and vegetable items were obtained from homes of 1355 children (32% African American) in the Birmingham area. Fruit and vegetable costs were ob…
Using Mixed Methods Research to Optimize Healthy Lifestyle Intervention Adaptation for Web-Based Delivery
Intervention adaptation is a crucial step toward increasing intervention acceptability and translating evidence-based research into practice and broader use. This article describes a pragmatic approach to optimize intervention adaptation of AMPLIFY (AiM, Plan, and act on LIFestYles) web-based diet and exercise program for middle-aged and older cancer survivors by applying mixed methods research. A matrix with adaptation phases, elements, and meth…
The Impact of Cost on the Availability of Fruits and Vegetables in the Homes of Schoolchildren in Birmingham, Alabama
Objectives. Fruit and vegetable cost is a presumed barrier to intake. We sought to determine whether fruit and vegetable cost and consumers’ race and income would predict availability of fruits and vegetables in homes of schoolchildren in the Birmingham, Ala, area. Methods. Data on availability of 27 fruit and vegetable items were obtained from homes of 1355 children (32% African American) in the Birmingham area. Fruit and vegetable costs were ob…
Substance abuse treatment in an urban HIV clinic
Substance abuse treatment (SAT) is important for HIV medical care. Characteristics of those who choose SAT and effects of SAT on HIV clinical outcomes are not understood. We compared patients who enrolled and did not enroll in a SAT program offered within an HIV clinic, and evaluated the effect of SAT on CD4 T-cell counts and HIV plasma viral load (VL). Subjects were assessed and invited to enroll in SAT. Enrollees chose to receive psychological …
Increased Black–White Disparities in Mortality After the Introduction of Lifesaving Innovations
Objectives. We explored whether the introduction of 3 lifesaving innovations introduced between 1989 and 1996 increased, decreased, or had no effect on disparities in Black–White mortality in the United States through 2006. Methods. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data were used to assess disease-, age-, gender-, and race-specific changes in mortality after the introduction of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) for treatment…
Treatment for Older Prostate Cancer Patients
BACKGROUND: Black prostate cancer patients are less likely to receive aggressive therapy (AT) than Whites: reported rates for patients ≥ 65 years old are about 55% versus 65%. Little is known about treatment rates in socioeconomically deprived states with large Black populations like Alabama. STUDY DESIGN: Medicare claims and Alabama Statewide Cancer Registry records were linked for Alabamian men in Medicare fee-for-service diagnosed with loco-re…
Diagnostic Tests and Neurology Care for Medicare Beneficiaries With Seizures
BACKGROUND: Seizures and epilepsy are common in older adults especially in some minorities. Despite the importance of medical care to maximize seizure control, little is known about its quality across racial groups. One indicator of quality care is the receipt of electroencephalograms (EEG), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) or computer tomography scans (CTs) after a first seizure. Neurologists' care is also important, given associated diagno…
The Value of Social Network Analysis for Evaluating Academic-Community Partnerships and Collaborations for Social Determinants of Health Research
The increased frequency and level of collaboration among the Coalition network was accompanied by a higher level of collaboration among the coalition members as posited by social network and capital theories. As such, the community engagement fostered through the Coalition has increased and thus, to date, the Gulf States Health Policy Center has been effective in promoting partnerships and collaboration
Quality of Antiepileptic Treatment Among Older Medicare Beneficiaries With Epilepsy
BACKGROUND: Enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (EI-AEDs) are not recommended for older adults with epilepsy. Quality Indicator for Epilepsy Treatment 9 (QUIET-9) states that new patients should not receive EI-AEDs as first line of treatment. In light of reported racial/ethnic disparities in epilepsy care, we investigated EI-AED use and QUIET-9 concordance across major racial/ethnic groups of Medicare beneficiaries. RESEARCH DESIGN: Retrospective…
Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity among Mostly Older, Overweight Black Women Living in the Rural Alabama Black Belt
Despite well-documented global declines in physical activity (PA) during the COVID-19 pandemic, little is known regarding the specific impact among underserved, rural Alabama counties. This is concerning as this region was already disproportionately burdened by inactivity and related chronic diseases and was among the hardest hit by COVID-19. Thus, the current study examined the effect of COVID-19 on PA in four rural Alabama counties. An ancillar…
Cancer-Related Financial Hardship Screening as Part of Practice Transformation
BACKGROUND: Data on financial hardship, an "adverse event" in individuals with cancer, are needed to inform policy and supportive care interventions and reduce adverse economic outcomes. METHODS: Lay navigator-led financial hardship screening was piloted among University of Alabama at Birmingham oncology patients initiating treatment in October 2020. Financial hardship screening, including reported financial distress and difficulty, was added to …
Racial differences in the incidence of mental health illness among ovarian cancer patients
Background: Ovarian cancer (OC) patients have an increased risk for a mental health illness (MHI) after their cancer diagnosis, but limited research exists on whether this risk differs by race/ethnicity. Hence, we used SEER-Medicare data to evaluate racial/ethnic differences in MHI incidence among OC patients aged 65+. Methods: Non-Hispanic (NH) Black, NH White, and Hispanic women diagnosed with OC in 2008-2015 without a mental health history 12 …
Electronic Health Record Adoption and Its Effects on Healthcare Staff
Adopting electronic health records (EHRs) offers improved communication and information sharing and reduces medical staff errors. Despite these potential benefits, EHR adoption often introduces new challenges for healthcare staff, including increased administrative burdens and workplace stress. This study examines the impact of EHR systems on the well-being and workplace stress of healthcare staff in a hospital setting. Using a qualitative multi-…
Using Mixed Methods Research to Optimize Healthy Lifestyle Intervention Adaptation for Web-Based Delivery
Intervention adaptation is a crucial step toward increasing intervention acceptability and translating evidence-based research into practice and broader use. This article describes a pragmatic approach to optimize intervention adaptation of AMPLIFY (AiM, Plan, and act on LIFestYles) web-based diet and exercise program for middle-aged and older cancer survivors by applying mixed methods research. A matrix with adaptation phases, elements, and meth…
Medicine (11 works) · Psychiatry (5 works) · Demography (4 works) · Political science (4 works) · Internal Medicine (3 works) · Psychology (3 works) · Sociology (3 works) · Cancer (2 works) · Cancer survivorship and care (2 works) · Clinical Psychology (2 works)