Behavioral sicences/health communications -
Dr. Chalelas areas of expertise include social and behavioral sciences, health communications and promotion, and health disparities research. Her main research interests are in chronic disease prevention and control, particularly the role of epidemiological, environmental and individual psychosocial factors on health and disease, and on racial/ethnic disparities with emphasis on Latino populations.
Her research skills include the use of qualitative and quantitative research methods to study the impact of psychosocial, interpersonal, environmental, cultural and biological factors in the etiology and social consequences of public health problems. Her research studies involve applied research methods with multi-dimensional strategies comprised of theory-driven hypothesis development and testing, and the design, implementation and evaluation of theory-based interventions to promote healthy behaviors, improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities among underserved populations.
Dr. Chalela is currently a co-investigator on several studies that include increasing access of Latinas into breast cancer clinical trials, assessing the decision-making process of low-income Latinas towards genetic testing for breast cancer risk susceptibility, increasing participation of underserved population in cancer screening, studying barriers to accrual of minorities into early phase clinical trials, etc. |
Journal Article |
| Ramirez AG, Chalela P, Suarez L, Munoz E, Pollock BH, Weitman SD, Gallion KJ. Early Phase Clinial Trials: Referral Barriers and Promoters among Physicians Journal Community Medicine & Health Education 2012 Sep;.
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| Chalela P, Ramirez AG, Pagan J, Su D, Munoz E. Breast cancer genetic testing awareness, attitudes and intentions of Latina women living in the US-Mexico border: A qualitative study Journal Community Medicine & Health Education 2012 May;2(5):152-152.
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| Ramirez AG, Chalela P, Suarez L, & Gallion KJ. A Su Salud En Accin: Replicating a model to increase utilization of cancer screening among low income Latinas Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice 2011 Jan;.
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| Ramirez AG, Chalela P, Gallion K, Green LW, Ottoson J. Salud America! National Latino Childhood Obesity Research Agenda Health Education & Behavior 2011 Jan;38(3):251-260.
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| Ramirez AG, Miller, AR, Gallion, K, San Miguel, S. Chalela, P, Garcia, SG. Testing three different cancer genetics registry recruitment methods with Hispanic cancer patients and their family members previously registered in local cancer registries in Texas Community Genetics 2008 Jan;11(4):215-223.
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| Ramirez AG, Chalela P, Gallion K, Velez LF. Energy balance feasibility study for Latinas in Texas: a qualitative assessment Prev Chronic Dis 2007 Oct;4(4):98-98.
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| Stephenson MT, Velez LF, Chalela P, Ramirez A, Hoyle RH. The reliability and validity of the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS-8) with young adult Latino workers: implications for tobacco and alcohol disparity research Addiction 2007 Oct;102 S:79-91.
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Book Chapter |
| Velez LF, Chalela P, Ramirez AG. The Health of Latinos in the United States: an overview. In: Kline, MV & Huff, RM. Promoting Health in Multicultural Populations: A Handbook for Practitioners. SAGE Publications, 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320: SAGE Publications; 2008. |
| Ramirez AG, Velez LF, Chalela P, Gallion K, McAlister AL. Diffusion Acceleration: A Model for Behavior Change and Social Mobilization. In: Kline, MV & Huff, RM. Promoting Health in Multicultural Populations: A Handbook for Practitioners. SAGE Publications, 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320: SAGE Publications; 2008. |
Electronic/Web Publication |
| Chalela P, Velez LF, Edgar Muoz, Ramirez AG. Bexar County Breast Cancer Community Profile http://IHPR.uthscsa.edu: Susan G. Komen for the Cure; 2009 Jun. 89 p. |
Federal |
| Funding Agency |
NIH/NCI |
| Title |
Redes En Accion: The National Hispanic/Latino Cancer Research Network |
| Status |
Active |
| Period |
9/2010 - 8/2015 |
| Role |
Contributor |
| Grant Detail |
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| Funding Agency |
National Cancer Institute |
| Title |
UTPA - Cancer Center at UTHSCSA Border Partnership |
| Status |
Active |
| Period |
9/2008 - 12/2012 |
| Role |
Contributor |
| Grant Detail |
|
Private |
| Funding Agency |
Susan G. Komen Foundation |
| Title |
Increasing Access of Latinas into Breast Cancer Clinical Trials |
| Status |
Active |
| Period |
7/2008 - 4/2013 |
| Role |
Contributor |
| Grant Detail |
This project, funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure, hypothesizes that culturally appropriate methods and comprehensive approaches are necessary to increase the participation of Latinos in clinical trials. The experiment combines a patient-based intervention to reduce barriers to clinical trial participation and a provider-based intervention to reduce barriers for trial referrals. The study will test the effect of patient and provider strategies when used alone and together on the patients decision making process as follows: 1) a patient-based strategy, using tailored print and computerized resources and peer/family support, to increase awareness, reduce attitudinal barriers, and educate patients to help them develop decision-making skills to participate in breast cancer clinical trials; 2) a provider-based strategy, using training, automated online access to trial information, and automated matching of breast cancer patients with available trials, to reduce barriers for referring Latinas to breast cancer
clinical trials; and 3) combined patient- and provider-based strategies on recruitment and retention of Latinas into breast cancer clinical trials. |
| Funding Agency |
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation |
| Title |
SALUD AMERICA! The Latino Childhood Obesity Prevention Research Network |
| Status |
Active |
| Period |
8/2007 - 8/2012 |
| Role |
Contributor |
| Grant Detail |
This five-year program will expand the body of scientific data describing childhood obesity, and increase the number of scholars and researchers engaged in Latino childhood obesity. Our mechanism to achieve these objectives will be a newly-created national Latino Childhood Obesity Research Network (LCORN).
Through the network, we expect to fund up to 20 pilot projects that will study environmental factors and policies influencing obesity in Latino children. We will provide training opportunities for pilot investigators to gain critical research skills, and will convene annual conferences for investigators to present their research. We also plan to develop an alumni network to monitor the investigators career progression as they leverage their study results into larger grant applications and programs. As the pilot projects yield research outcomes, we will create communication channels to disseminate this information to stakeholders across the U.S., and to inform policy makers and the public about the benefits of reducing childhood obesity. |
