The Healthy Communities Research Institute (HCRI) was launched as part of Kent State University's strategic roadmap. HCRI promotes transdisciplinary research and endeavors to build connections between researchers at Kent State University and beyond to tackle some of today's most pressing health issues. The Healthy Communities Research Institute Collection highlights research that has been conducted by HCRI members.
Browse the Healthy Communities Research Institute (HCRI) scholarly publications Collections
A new model explaining number-line estimation performance across development: An adversarial collaboration
12/2025While performance on number-line estimation tasks strongly predicts mathematical achievement, the underlying reasons for this connection are heavily debated. The current research represents an adversarial collaboration, whereby researchers on opposite sides of the number-line estimation debate present a new model, nlFit, that predicts number-line estimates by building from ordinality toward linearity. It incorporates the ability to differentiate number labels (number sensitivity), knowledge of the ordinal relation between those number labels (ordinality), and knowledge of the magnitude of the difference between numbers (linearity). To test the nlFit model, we reanalyzed published data from two labs on either side of the number-line estimation debate. The nlFit model accurately predicted (a) targets estimated across various numerical ranges, (b) participants who estimate numbers on bounded and unbounded number lines, (c) to-be-estimated numbers that are sampled equally across the numerical range versus smaller numbers that are oversampled, and (d) estimates made after participants received feedback about the location of a subjective reference point on the number line (e.g., 500 is the midpoint of the 0–1,000 range). The model fits the responses of children of various ages and adults. We are calling to action members of the math cognition community to test the boundaries of the nlFit model.
State of Ohio Adversity and Resilience (SOAR) study protocol: A comprehensive, multimodal, family-based, longitudinal observational investigation of risk and resilience in mental health and substance use disorders
11/19/2025Introduction
Deaths related to drug overdose and suicide in the USA have increased 500% and 35%, respectively, over the last two decades. The human and economic costs to society associated with these ‘deaths of despair’ are immense. Great efforts and substantial investments have been made in treatment and prevention, yet these efforts have not abated these increasing trajectories of deaths over time. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated and highlighted these problems. Notably, some geographical areas (eg, Appalachia, farmland) and some communities (eg, low-income persons, ‘essential workers’, minoritised populations) have been disproportionately affected. Risk factors have been identified for substance use and suicide deaths: forms of adversity, neglect, opportunity indexes and trauma. Yet, the biological, psychological and social mechanisms driving risk are not uniform. Notably, most people exposed to risk factors do not become symptomatic and could broadly be considered resilient. Achieving a better understanding of biological, psychological and social mechanisms underlying both pathology and resilience will be crucial for improving approaches for prevention and treatment and creating precision medicine approaches for more efficient and effective treatment.Methods and analysis
The State of Ohio Adversity and Resilience (SOAR) study is a prospective, longitudinal, multimodal, integrated familial study designed to identify biological, psychological and social risk and resilience factors and processes leading to mental health disorders, substance use disorders, substance overdose, suicide and associated psychological/medical comorbidities which reduce life expectancy and quality of life. It includes two nested longitudinal samples: (1) WD Survey: an address-based random population epidemiological sample of 15 000 individuals (unique households) representative of the state of Ohio assessed for psychosocial, psychiatric, behavioural health and substance use factors and (2) Brain Health Study: a family-based, multimodal, deep-phenotyping study conducted in 1200 families (up to 3600 persons aged 12–72 years) including MRI, electroencephalography, blood biomarkers and psychiatric diagnostic interviews, as well as neuropsychological, psychosocial functioning and family/community history, dynamics and support assessments. SOAR is designed to discover, develop and deploy advanced predictive analytics and interventions to transform mental health prevention, diagnosis, treatment and recovery.Ethics and dissemination
All participants will provide written informed consent (or parental permission and assent for minors). The study was approved by The Ohio State University Institutional Review Board (study numbers 2023H0316 (Brain Health) and 2023H0350 (Wellness Survey). The Brain Health study was also approved by institutional review boards at each partnering institution involved in conducting participant assessments. Findings will be disseminated to academic peers, clinicians and healthcare consumers, policymakers and the general public, using local and international academic channels (academic journals, evidence briefs and conferences) and outreach (workshops and seminars).Consensus Statement on the Virtual and Remote Delivery of Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Their Components
11/2025The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) convened a writing group to define virtual and remote delivery of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation (CR-PR) services and their components. Virtual CR-PR is delivered using synchronous real-time audiovisual communication, while remotely delivered CR-PR is delivered asynchronously. In many cases, a hybrid of these approaches may be optimal, including a mix of in-person, virtually, and remotely delivered sessions. Regardless of the delivery method, CR-PR must include all core components listed in the most recent scientific statements and relevant guidelines from AACVPR. The metrics to assess the performance and quality of CR-PR remain the same, irrespective of the delivery methods. CR-PR programs should consistently track patient outcomes and care quality, which can be standardized by the use of the AACVPR registries (https://www.aacvpr.org/Registries) to monitor program and patient outcomes. Patient selection is critical to optimizing and utilizing appropriate CR-PR resources to ensure the CR-PR model fits the patient’s medical status and preferences. A comprehensive assessment, preferably in-person, if possible, should precede program initiation. The exercise prescription used for virtual/remote CR-PR models should not differ from in-person CR-PR but should be adapted to the patient’s environment, needs, and existing resources. Emergency and safety protocols, and education of the patient and caregivers regarding such protocols, should be established for virtual/remote CR-PR programs. In-person delivery of CR-PR is the most evidence-based model for delivering the service and remains the consensus recommendation for all eligible patients willing to attend; however, alternative models of CR-PR (virtual, remote, and hybrid) can be implemented to increase the number of patients benefiting from CR-PR programs.
An Evaluation of VR Games and Haptic Feedback for Upper Limb Rehabilitation for Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease
10/09/2025Three-dimensional virtual reality (VR) games incorporating haptic feedback were developed to support upper-limb rehabilitation in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Three interactive games: fishing, archery, and mining, were designed to simulate resistance, tension, and vibration using a haptic device, thereby encouraging motor tasks such as pulling, lifting, and lateral maneuvers. Both individuals with PD and healthy participants completed structured sessions, with performance measured through task completion time, scores, and movement trajectories, alongside perceived workload via the NASA-TLX. Results showed that higher haptic resistance levels reduced tremor amplitude by up to 10.55% in participants with PD and improved task completion efficiency by an average of 12.4% across games. These findings demonstrate the potential of personalized haptic feedback to stabilize motor control and enhance performance in VR-based rehabilitation. Importantly, individuals with PD demonstrated improved motor control under moderate haptic resistance, indicating the potential of adjustable haptic feedback for tailoring rehabilitation. These findings underscore the value of VR-haptic games as engaging and adaptable rehabilitation tools, supporting personalized interventions for individuals with PD.
Redefining Interruptions: Events, Causes, and Impacts in Trauma Rooms
10/2025Objectives:
Trauma rooms, as fast-paced and demanding health care environments, are highly susceptible to interruptions that can negatively impact workflow efficiency and patient safety. These interruptions often arise from human or environmental factors. This study investigates the role of the physical environment in influencing workflow interruptions by identifying key interruptive events in a trauma room, their primary sources, and outcomes using a pilot method of observational coding.Methods:
This pilot study utilized video observations of 6 trauma cases in an urban level 1 trauma center. Using Noldus Observer XT 16 software, medical staff roles, interruptive events, their causes, and associated impacts were systematically coded and analyzed.Results:
A total of 114 events were observed. The most common events included “movement restrictions” (39%), “throwing objects” (17%), and “cleaning/clearing the floor” (13%). Key causes were “clutter/untidiness” (32%) and “mobile fixture/furniture location” (21%). Frequently observed impacts included “unnecessary task additions” (21%) and “hindered task completion” (20%). The results also revealed frequent associations between causes, events, and impacts. Movement restrictions caused by clutter/untidiness often led to disentangling cables and tubing (13.2%). Similarly, movement restrictions due to mobile fixture placement required equipment repositioning in 13.2% of cases. Throwing objects, often linked to behavioral habits, contributed to clutter (16%), whereas floor clearing/cleaning due to clutter added unnecessary tasks (13%).Conclusion:
The findings underscored the significant role of physical-environmental factors in workflow interruptions in trauma rooms. These insights can inform evidence-based design improvements and operational strategies for future enhancements, ultimately improving staff and patient outcomes in high-pressure health care settings.The Impact of Hypothetical Lottery Structures on Vaccine-Hesitant Adults' Flu Vaccination Intentions: A Conceptual Replication of Taber et al. (2023)
09/29/2025Objective: Vaccine hesitancy threatens global health, but vaccination rates for the seasonal flu are often suboptimal. Thus, it is important to develop and optimize interventions to reduce flu vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine lotteries-where chosen winners must be vaccinated to collect a monetary payout-could encourage vaccination through people's perceived likelihood of winning the lottery and anticipated regret. Antecedents of vaccination may also impact vaccine intentions.
Method: Adults from the United States who were unvaccinated for the flu (n = 598) were randomly assigned to read one of 12 scenarios regarding flu vaccine lotteries differing in structure (payout amount and number of winners).
Results: Adjusting for baseline flu vaccination willingness, structures with more money to fewer winners and $100 each to 50,000 winners led to greater vaccination intentions. Structures with larger payouts to fewer winners also generally resulted in lower perceived likelihood of winning and greater anticipated regret. Regression results showed that greater perceived likelihood and anticipated regret, as well as antecedents of greater confidence, less preference for deliberation, and greater collective responsibility about the flu vaccine, were associated with greater postscenario intentions. Secondary analyses found that antecedents of COVID-19 vaccination differed from those of the flu.
Conclusion: Results suggest that vaccine lotteries structured to award greater payout to fewer winners would be most likely to increase flu vaccine uptake, in contrast to a similar study conducted for COVID-19 in which lottery structure did not influence vaccination intentions (Taber et al., 2023). Results have implications for policy-makers designing financial incentive interventions.