Kentucky BIRCWH Program: Training the Next Generation of Women's Health Scholars

摘要 在过去的20年里，肯塔基大学(英国)的BIRCWH项目一直非常 成功地创造了一个研究环境，为早期职业科学家培养必要的技能做好准备 成为美国国立卫生研究院支持的致力于改善女性健康的独立研究人员。这 行政副刊将增加第五位BIRCWH学者。康正熙博士目前是博士后 我们护理学院的英国学者，由黛布拉·莫泽博士指导。在莫泽博士的指导下， 康博士的研究重点是降低女性照顾者的心血管疾病(CVD)风险。 与男性相比，女性在非正式照顾者角色中的比例更高，处理的事务最多 具有挑战性和压力的护理任务。关注照顾者的健康对双方都具有重要的战略意义 患者和照顾者的身心健康。女性照顾者患癌症的风险增加 由于照顾亲人或朋友的压力和有限的时间而导致的心血管疾病 他们自己照顾自己，比如吃健康的饮食，锻炼身体，控制压力。抑郁症是一种 心血管疾病的主要风险因素；因为照顾者的责任会增加压力，抑郁和 照顾者的焦虑情绪很高。照顾者患抑郁症的风险比非照顾者高得多 照顾者。这里我们假设照顾者持续的心理压力会导致单调的 饮食、饮食质量下降和抑郁，从而增加心血管疾病的风险或进展。到目前为止，有 没有关于饮食质量和抑郁症状在照顾者压力之间的中介作用的研究 女性或男性照顾者的心血管疾病风险。数据来自一项完整的、为期12个月的前瞻性随机调查 对女性和男性照顾者(n=311)的对照试验将用于测试以下目标 BIRCWH博士后培训。完成试验的目的是测试干预措施(农村 对照顾者心脏健康的干预[RICHH])旨在改善心血管疾病风险因素的自我护理 护理人员和降低心血管疾病风险。对于这位BIRCWH博士后学者，提出了两个具体目标。Dr。 康的研究与英国BIRCWH的资助者NIDA直接相关，她的研究涵盖了两性 差异和女性的健康。目标1.确定饮食质量(包括物质使用)和 抑郁症状在女性和女性中的照顾者压力与心血管疾病危险因素之间的联系 男性非正式照顾者。目的2.评估RICHH对照顾者压力、饮食质量、 非正式照顾者的饮酒、抑郁症状和性心血管疾病风险。预期影响： 这项中介性研究将为未来饮食干预措施的发展提供信息，以降低心血管疾病风险并 通过确定有效干预所需的行动机制来提高照顾者的生活质量 发展。培训：他的行政副刊将通过 现有的英国BIRCWH职业发展和导师计划。

ABSTRACT Over the past 20 years, the BIRCWH Program at the University of Kentucky (UK) has been extremely successful in creating a research environment to prepare early career scientists to develop the necessary skills to become independent NIH-supported researchers dedicated to improving women’s health. This administrative supplement will add a 5th BIRCWH scholar. Dr. JungHee Kang is currently a Post Doctoral Scholar at UK in our College of Nursing and mentored by Dr. Debra Moser. Under the direction of Dr. Moser, Dr. Kang focuses her research on reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among women caregivers. Relative to men, women are disproportionately represented in informal caregiver roles and handle the most challenging and stressful caregiving tasks. A focus on the health of caregivers is strategically important for both the patient and caregiver’s physical and mental health. Women caregivers are at increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to the stress of caring for their loved ones or friends and limited time for their own self-care such as eating a healthy diet, getting exercise, and stress management. Depression is a major risk factor for CVD; because caregiver responsibilities can increase stress, the risk of depression and anxiety is high in caregivers. Caregivers have substantially higher risk of developing depression than non- caregivers. Here we hypothesize that persistent psychological stress in caregivers can result in a monotonous diet, decreased diet quality, and depression, thereby increasing CVD risk or progression. To date, there has been no investigation of the mediating role of diet quality and depressive symptoms between caregiver stress and CVD risk in female or male caregivers. Data from a completed, 12-month, prospective, randomized controlled trial of female and male caregivers (n=311) will be used to test the following aims during the BIRCWH Post-Doctoral training. The purpose of the completed trial was to test an intervention (Rural Intervention for Caregivers Heart Health [RICHH]) designed to improve self-care of CVD risk factors among caregivers and decrease CVD risk. For this BIRCWH Post Doctoral Scholar, 2 specific aims are posed. Dr. Kang’s research has direct relevance for NIDA, UK BIRCWH’s funder, and her research addresses both sex differences and women’s health. Aim 1. Determine whether diet quality (including substance use) and depressive symptoms mediate the association between caregiver stress and CVD risk factors among female and male informal caregivers. Aim 2. Evaluate the longitudinal effect of RICHH on caregiver stress, diet quality, alcohol consumption, depressive symptoms, and CVD risk by sex among informal caregivers. Expected Impact: This mediational research will inform future development of dietary interventions to reduce CVD risk and to improve quality of life in caregivers by identifying the mechanisms of actions needed for effective intervention development. Training: his Administrative Supplement will provide training for Dr. Kang through the existing UK BIRCWH career development and mentorship program.