Dr. Carolyn M. Tucker and her two research teams are currently conducting two grant-funded research projects. The two teams are:

BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE RESEARCH (BMED) TEAM
Patient-Centered Culturally Sensitive Health Care and Health Promotion Project -- funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Dr. Carolyn Tucker and her team have undertaken the challenge of promoting patient-centered culturally sensitive health care as a means of reducing health disparities among low-income adults who use community health clinics for their primary health care.  Patient-centered culturally sensitive health care involves (a) changing the physical environment so that patients feel that they belong there, (b) training all providers and office staff in the behaviors and attitudes that make patients feel comfortable, trusting, and respected, and (c) training patients in behaviors and skills to inspire the behaviors they desire from their healthcare providers and office staff.  As a result, patients enjoy high levels of health care satisfaction, are more likely to adhere to treatment plans, and are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors.

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HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY (HP) TEAM
Family Health Self-Empowerment Project -- funded by the PepsiCo Foundation

The Family Health Self-Empowerment (FHSE) Model Based Training Program involves (a) training children and adolescents and their parents or caregivers who are overweight or obese to engage in health promoting behaviors (such as reducing face intake and overcoming stress), (b) training community members to be “Health Promotion Coaches,” (c) implementing the FHSE Training Program at churches and community centers (“Health Promotion Centers”) in low-income African American, Hispanic, and White communities, and (d) evaluating the effects of the Training Program on the health promoting behaviors, weight, physical health, and psychological well-being of participants.