Combating Disparities in Hypertension: Barriers to Fixed-Dose Combination Utilization across the UC Health System
Gustavo Valbuena, Professor
Public Health
Open. Apprentices needed for the spring semester. Enter your application online beginning January 17th. The deadline to apply is Monday, January 27th, 4 p.m..
Uncontrolled hypertension (HTN) is a growing global public health crisis requiring novel interventions. As a major risk factor for ischemic heart disease, chronic kidney disease (CKD), heart failure, dementia, pregnancy complications like preeclampsia and stroke, hypertension is a leading cause of premature death and healthcare costs in the United States.
Dual therapies for HTN – administered either as two separate agents or through a combined, fixed-dose combination (FDCs) that incorporates two agents in one pill – are strongly associated with improved hypertension treatment and outcomes. FDCs, in particular, are prominently featured in guidelines, as they are associated with improved medication adherence and lower costs. However, FDC utilization remains low across UCH, averaging 6% across UC Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, and San Francisco.
This investigation aims to delineate barriers and develop strategies to improve FDC utilization as a dual therapeutic strategy for improving BP control and mitigating disparities in HTN treatment outcomes across the UCH System.. This investigation will utilize qualitative data collection methods, specifically semi-structured one-on-one interviews between a medical student and UCH-affiliated healthcare providers (e.g. primary care physicians, cardiologists, nephrologists, endocrinologists, geriatricians, obstetricians/gynecologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, clinical pharmacists, etc.) with expertise in treating and managing hypertension. These interviews aim to elicit insight into individual and systemic factors influencing FDC utilization as a dual therapy for hypertension across UCH.
Role: The role of the undergraduate Research Apprentice will be to 1) assist with qualitative coding and analysis of medical student interview transcripts using Dedoose; 2) meet with medical student & PIs routinely to discuss analysis and findings; and 3) support the development of a literature review.
Benefits: One-on-one mentorship and guidance from a medical student, faculty in the UC Berkeley - UC San Francisco Joint Medical Program, and faculty from the UC San Francisco, School of Medicine with extensive experience in research, writing, advocacy, and policy through weekly to regular meetings and guided mentorship on this project. Our team is passionate about mentoring students and eager to serve as a sounding board/guide for students navigating the medical school application process. The undergraduate researcher’s contributions may also warrant authorship and inclusion in future initiatives.
Qualifications: Seeking students majoring in public health and/or premed students with an interest in medicine and healthcare.
3rd & 4th year students strongly preferred.
Experience with qualitative software preferred, but not required.
Strong writing skills and attention to detail.
Demonstrated proficiency/experience with MS word and online library/journal search engine resources
Familiarity with research literature in the following areas: chronic disease, hypertension, disparities, antihypertensive agents, barriers and facilitators to medication prescribing.
Most importantly, seeking the support of a student eager to learn, willing to contribute to the analysis in a self-directed, rigorous manner.
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Pranay Narang, Medical Student UC Berkeley - UC San Francisco Joint Medical Program (MD/MS), Graduate Student
Hours: to be negotiated
Off-Campus Research Site: Remote work with virtual Zoom check-ins. The student should be comfortable working on their own on data analysis and able to prepare products to review/discuss every other week.
Biological & Health Sciences Social Sciences