Dr. Marianne Miserandino, chair and professor of Psychology, co-authored the paper “‘Listen and Learn:’ participant input in program planning for a low-income urban population at cardiovascular risk,” which was published by the BMC Public Health journal.

The study, co-authored by Assistant Professor of Social Work at Stockton University Rachel S. Kirzner, Atlanticare Health Services cardiologist Dr. Inga Robbins, and AVANZAR social worker Meghan Privitello, was published on March 15. 

“Poverty increases the risk of cardiac disease, while diminishing the resources available to mitigate that risk,” the study noted. “The aim of this study is to obtain participant input in order to understand the health-related goals, barriers, and strengths as part of planning a program to reduce cardiovascular risk.”

Using both written surveys and focus groups, the authors utilized Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and it’s core constructs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, as the framework for their analysis. The authors determine that substantial disparities exist that need to be addressed to design an intervention that would be effective for a low-income population at cardiac risk. 

Read the open access paper