The University of Chicago

Trainee Projects

Understanding the COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: Is Medical Mistrust a Factor?

Lian’s study

Vaccine hesitancy is important to examine to understand disparities in vaccine uptake and improve public health in the U.S. Despite accessible vaccines for COVID-19, Black adults in the U.S. have some of the lowest vaccination rates, and medical mistrust may be a critical factor that drives this hesitancy within the Black population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between medical mistrust and hesitancy in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as examine whether identifying with the Black/African American culture correlated with medical mistrust and vaccine hesitancy. After conducting a literature review, a survey was developed to understand factors associated with vaccine hesitancy within the Black community. 

Race/Ethnicity of People Receiving a COVID-19 Vaccine in the U.S. as of June 28, 2021

Image from: “COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Still Lagging for Blacks, Hispanics” by Dena Bunis. AARP.

Lian Nicholson

Lian Nicholson, Research Assistant

Lian is a MAPSS student at the University of Chicago and received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Wellesley College in 2020. 

Specific Aims

  1. To understand the extent to which medical mistrust impacts Black/AA’s vaccine hesitancy.
  2. To reframe medical mistrust as a natural outcome of living in an unjust society.
  3. To look at other factors that could also drive vaccine hesitancy.  

Tobacco Knowledge, Attitudes, and Services Among Spanish-speaking Community Health Workers 

Enrique’s study

This research project aims to explore the tobacco-related services, attitudes, knowledge, and needs of Spanish-speaking Community Health Workers (CHWs). Results from this study will shed light on the needs CHWs face when helping individuals who use tobacco and provide a baseline of knowledge about tobacco for future development of smoke cessation training for CHWs.

Lian Nicholson

Enrique Villacis, Research Assistant

Enrique is a Master’s student in the Social Sciences program who has an undergraduate background in psychology and anthropology. 

Specific Aims

  1. To understand the individual needs of Spanish-speaking CHWs.
  2. To understand the differences in needs between Spanish and English-speaking samples to better inform future training development efforts.

Knowledge Assessment Survey of Multiple Domains of Cancer Prevention, Care and Research in the Hispanic and Latino Community on the South Side of Chicago

Dario’s study

Communities of color are historically and consistently underrepresented in cancer clinical trials. Data from our previous screener survey of experiences and attitudes of cancer and cancer research studies suggest that while respondents express variable familiarity with cancer clinical trials, most view them as helpful and indicated willingness to participate if offered. Our knowledge assessment is a follow up survey with the goal of defining the extent of knowledge in the Hispanic/Latino community about the following domains of cancer care: 1) cancer risk factors, 2) screening and early detection, 3) treatment, 4) supportive care and services, and 5) clinical trials. Findings from this knowledge assessment will identify areas of need for targeted and effective community-driven interventions to increase participation in cancer clinical trials in the Hispanic and Latino populations.

Attitudes and Opinions on Clinical Trials

Respondents rated their opinions on clinical trials (helpful, not helpful, no opinion but interested to learn more, and no opinion and not interested to learn more). They were then asked if they would consider participation in a cancer clinical trial.

Lian Nicholson

Dario Villamar, Research Fellow

Dario is a clinical fellow in Hematology-Oncology. He received his undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Chicago and completed medical school at Weill Cornell Medicine followed by residency in internal medicine at New York Presbyterian Hospital – Cornell.

Specific Aims

  1. To develop a comprehensive knowledge assessment of cancer across different domains of cancer prevention, care, survivorship and research in the Hispanic/Latino population. 
  2. To distinguish between patient-specific and system-specific barriers to cancer clinical trial participation in the Hispanic/Latino population.