Supplement: Stage II Efficacy Trial of a Culturally Informed Brief Intervention to Reduce Alcohol Related Health Disparities and Treatment Inequities among Latinxs

University Of Texas El Paso, El Paso TX

Investigators

Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract (Diversity Supplement) Rebeca Fierro Perez-Martinez, a PhD student under the mentorship of Dr. Craig Field, is a Hispanic female from a lower socioeconomic background and first-generation college student interested in an independent research career investigating health disparities among the Hispanic population. Under the Diversity Supplement, Rebeca plans to 1) conduct a large-scale systematic review that compares theories and research on cultural adaptations targeting alcohol related health disparities. This large-scale systematic review combines two literature reviews: one pertaining to theories of cultural adaptations and the second on current research evaluating cultural adaptations. Comparing and contrasting these two reviews will allow for identification of gaps in current research and advancement in the science of cultural adaptations to reduce health disparities and treatment inequities. In addition, Rebeca will 2) validate a measure of behavior change based on SDT from the parent study. This measure has not been validated in the context of alcohol use. More importantly, the group invariance of this measure has not been established in English and Spanish speaking Hispanics. Under the mentorship of Dr. Field, Rebeca will participate in journal club, research team meetings, and individual meetings (guided by an individual development plan) that will ensure progress of both academic and research related goals. Rebeca will also benefit from collaboration with the co-investigator, Dr. Castro, on the parent study who is a female of Hispanic descent. She will also pursue outside training opportunities which will be supplemented with directed reading related to conducting systematic reviews and confirmatory factor analysis. To further enhance her professional development, she will present at and attend professional conferences related to research on alcohol. Mrs. Perez-Martinez intends to pursue a post-doctoral fellowship (i.e., F32 or T32) or tenure track faculty position allowing her to pursue an independent research career (K01 or R01/03/21 or 34) to assess the effectiveness of positive psychology-based interventions to reduce alcohol use and related problems including mental health outcomes.