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- Judy C. Chang, MD, MPH
Judy C. Chang, MD, MPH
Associate Professor Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, and Internal Medicine, Assistant Dean of Medical Student Research
I believe that the communication between patients and their clinicians is central to providing appropriate quality medical care and promoting wellness and healing. My research focuses on identifying how to improve this communication, particularly regarding addressing social determinants of health and sensitive topics such as substance use and domestic violence.
Judy C. Chang, MD, MPH
Research in Brief
The Chang research group focuses on the intersection between women in the context of their lives, sociocultural influences and interpersonal relationships and the health services used, offered, and needed. A key aspect of our research is patient-provider communication. In particular, we have been examining patient-provider communication in obstetric care. Our overall objective is to identify and promote communication styles, approaches and skills that facilitate positive behavioral change to improve the health of the pregnancy, mother and baby. For example, our recent work has focused on smoking cessation counseling and patient-provider screening and counseling communication regarding perinatal substance use.
Additionally, Dr. Chang has worked in the field of intimate partner violence (IPV) as a community advocate, educator, women’s health provider and researcher for over 20 years. While much of this work has focused on health care screening and interventions for intimate partner violence victims, she has expanded her scope in this field to explore interventions for both male and female perpetrators of IPV and develop primary prevention interventions for high risk children and youth.
Dr. Chang has developed expertise in qualitative research methods, behavioral interventions, methods of communication analyses, and patient-provider communication. She has numerous ongoing collaborations with community advocates; investigators in the fields of medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics, nursing, and public health; and faculty from fields such as anthropology, linguistics, and computer science. In addition to being a practicing clinician, Dr. Chang teaches and supervises numerous nurse practitioners, physician assistants, residents, and students. Her knowledge brings clinical relevance and legitimacy to all projects under her care. As an Assistant Dean of Medical Student Research, she assists medical students in learning about scientific inquiry and the various approaches used to answer research questions.
Current Projects
Enhancing Family Planning Provider Skills in IPV and Reproductive Coercion Assessments, National Institutes of Health
Understanding How to Help Women Using Marijuana During Pregnancy Make Healthy Decisions
Intimate Partner Violence: Understanding Interventions for Male Perpetrators
Communication Skills Training to Improve Patient-Provider Communication on Partner Violence
Selected Publications
- Scholle SH, Chang JC, Harman J, & McNeil M. Trends In women’s health services: Distinct patterns by physician specialty continues. Women’s Health Issues,12 (4):165-77, 2002. (Charles E. Gibbs Leadership Prize for the best manuscript published in Women’s Health Issues in 2002)
- Chang JC, Decker M, Moracco KE, Martin SL, Petersen R, & Frasier PY. When health providers ask about intimate partner violence: A description of outcomes from the perspective of female survivors. J Amer Med Women’s Assoc, 58(2):76-81, Spring 2003.
- Chang JC, Cluss PA, Ranieri L, Hawker L, Buranosky R, Dado D, McNeil M, & Scholle SH. Healthcare interventions for intimate partner violence: What women want. Women’s Health Issues, 15(1): 21-30, 2005. (among the top cited articles from Women’s Health Issues for 2007)
- Chang JC, Decker M, Moracco KE, Martin SL, Petersen R, & Frasier PY. Asking about intimate partner violence: Advice from female survivors to health care providers. Patient Education and Counseling, 59(2): pp 141-7, 2005.
- Chang JC, Dado D, Frankel RM, Rodriguez KL, Zickmund S, Ling B, & Arnold RM. When pregnant patients disclose substance use: Missed opportunities for behavioral change counseling. Patient Education and Counseling, 7(3): 394-401, Sep. 2008.
- Chang JC, Buranosky R, Dado D, Cluss PA, Hawker L, Rothe E, McNeil M, & Scholle SH. Helping women victims of intimate partner violence: Comparing the approaches of two healthcare settings. Violence and Victims, 24(2): 198-208, Apr. 2009.
- Chang JC, Dado D, Hawker L, Cluss PA, Buranosky R, Slagel L, McNeil MA, & Scholle SH. Understanding turning points in intimate partner violence: Factors and circumstances leading women victims toward change. J Women’s Health, 19(2): 251-9, 2010.
- Akers A, Yonas M, Burke J, & Chang JC. “Do you want somebody treating your sister like that?”: How African American families discuss and promote healthy teen dating relationships. J Interper Viol, Oct. 1, 2010. Epub ahead of print.
- Meiksin R, Zickmund S, Bhargava T, Arnold R, Dado D, Frankel R, Rodriguez KL, Ling B, & Chang JC. Now is the chance: Patient-provider communication about unplanned pregnancy during the first prenatal visit. Patient Education and Counseling, 81(3):462-7, 2010.
- Chang JC, Cluss PA, Burke JG, Hawker L, Dado D, Goldstrohm S, & Scholle SH. Intimate partner violence prevalence and screening in mental health settings. Accepted for publication, General Hospital Psychiatry.
For additional publications, visit Pubmed.