Jennifer McClure, PhD,
Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute Director of Research, Faculty, & Development
From decisions about diet and exercise to medication use and smoking, your behavior influences your health. Indeed, if you’re like most people, your health depends more on what you do every day than on what your health care provider can do for you.
But changing behavior can be challenging, especially in the long run. That’s why Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) researchers are helping providers support people in making healthy lifestyle choices.
“Changing unhealthy habits or breaking an addiction can be very difficult,” says Jennifer B. McClure, PhD, KPWHRI senior investigator and director of research, faculty, & development. “Our goal is to make these changes easier for people, so they can live longer and healthier lives. As scientists and clinicians, we want to empower people to take control of their health and well-being. We also want to change the health care system to better support patients’ needs. Ultimately, our aim is to prevent disease, not just treat it.”
KPWHRI’s behavioral medicine research includes:
”Historically our work has tested new forms of counseling, phone-based coaching, and self-help materials,” says Dr. McClure. “With the rise in use of smartphones, we are focusing more on developing mobile Health (mHealth) tools, like smartphone apps, and other technology-based strategies to help people set and achieve their health goals. It’s an exciting time to be a researcher in this field.”
“Our goal in behavioral medicine research is to help patients develop lifelong habits that keep them healthy,” says Senior Investigator Katharine A. Bradley, MD, MPH, who studies alcohol misuse.
Frost MC, Matson TE, Tsui JI, Williams EC. Influence of comorbid drug use disorder on receipt of evidence-based treatment for alcohol use disorder among VA patients with alcohol use disorder and hepatitis C and/or HIV. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2018 Oct 30;194:288-295. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.10.008. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
Heffner JL, Mull KE, Watson NL, McClure JB, Bricker JB. Smokers with bipolar disorder, other affective disorders, and no mental health conditions: comparison of baseline characteristics and success at quitting in a large 12-month behavioral intervention randomized trial. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2018 Oct 10;193:35-41. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.08.034. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
Watson NL, Mull KE, Heffner JL, McClure JB, Bricker JB. Participant Recruitment and Retention in Remote eHealth Intervention Trials: Methods and Lessons Learned From a Large Randomized Controlled Trial of Two Web-Based Smoking Interventions. J Med Internet Res. 2018;20(8):e10351. doi: 10.2196/10351. PubMed
Williams EC, McGinnis KA, Bobb JF, Rubinsky AD, Lapham GT, Skanderson M, Catz SL, Bensley KM, Richards JE, Bryant KJ, Edelman EJ, Satre DD, Marshall BDL, Kraemer KL, Blosnich JR, Crystal S, Gordon AJ, Fiellin DA, Justice AC, Bradley KA. Changes in alcohol use associated with changes in HIV disease severity over time: a national longitudinal study in the Veterans Aging Cohort. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2018 May 24;189:21-29. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.04.022.[Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
McClure JB, Bush T, Anderson ML, Blasi P, Thompson E, Nelson J, Catz SL. Oral Health Promotion and Smoking Cessation Program Delivered via Tobacco Quitlines: The Oral Health 4 Life Trial. Am J Public Health. 2018;108(5):689-695. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2017.304279. Epub 2018 Mar 22. PubMed
 Katharine A. Bradley, MD, MPHSenior Investigator |
 Paula Lozano, MD, MPHSr Investigator, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute; Associate Medical Director for Research and Translation & Physician, Pediatrics, Washington Permanente Medical Group |
 Jennifer B. McClure, PhDDirector of Research, Faculty, & Development; Senior Investigator |
 Dori E. Rosenberg, PhD, MPHAssociate Investigator |
 Elizabeth H. Lin, MD, MPHAdjunct Researcher, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute; Physician, Washington Permanente Medical Group |
 James D. Ralston, MD, MPHSenior Investigator |
 Michael R. Von Korff, ScDSenior Investigator |
 Nora Henrikson, PhD, MPHAssistant Investigator |
 Judith Schaefer, MPHResearch Associate |
 Ben Balderson, PhDResearch Associate |
 Gwen Lapham, PhD, MPH, MSWAssistant Investigator |
 Melissa L. Anderson, MSSenior Biostatistician |
 Paula R. Blasi, MPHResearch Associate |
 Leah Tuzzio, MPHResearch Associate |
 Cara C. Lewis, PhD, HSPPAssociate Investigator |
 Joseph E. Glass, PhDAssistant Scientific Investigator |
 Amy K. Lee, MPHResearch Associate |
 Beverly B. Green, MD, MPHSenior Investigator |
 Julie E. Richards, MPHResearch Associate II |
 Lynn DeBar, PhDSenior Investigator |
Sheryl L. Catz, PhD
Professor, Health Care Innovation and Technology, Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing
University of California–Davis
Elizabeth Lin, MD, MPH
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington Family Practice;
Kaiser Permanente Washington Research Institute
Sue McCurry, PhD
University of Washington (UW) Department of Psychosocial and Community Health
Emily Williams, PhD, MPH
UW Department of Health Services; VA Health Services Research & Development Center of Excellence
Dr. Jennifer McClure reflects on using personalized genetic knowledge to improve health and health care.
Read about it in Healthy Findings.
Clinicians and staff at Tacoma South describe the many ways Behavioral Health Integration is making a difference for patients
Read it in News and Events.
Dr. Jennifer McClure partnered with the leading quitline provider to see what happens when smokers are counseled about oral health and tobacco.
Read it in Healthy Findings.
Routinely asking about cannabis use can better serve patients by helping clinicians start conversations about risks and benefits.
Read it in News and Events.
Washington News Service, Nov. 16, 2017
Dr. Joe Glass wants to make treatment more comfortable for patients and providers—possibly with digital tools.
Read about it in News and Events.
A science journalist living with addiction says it may be a learning disorder. Virginia Immanuel reviews Maia Szalavitz’ book about comprehensive addiction solutions.
Read it in Healthy Findings.
