Current Research Projects

“Diabetes Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Care in Vietnamese Americans of Texas: Data from the 2015 – 2019 Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System” (2021-2022). Funder: Baylor University Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Achievement Program. Awarded: $5,000. Principal Investigators: Lina Nguyen and Thy Khong.

This study uses a cross-sectional study design to conduct secondary analysis of data gathered in Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System surveys between 2015 to 2019. The purpose of this study is to compare Vietnamese Americans, non-Hispanic Whites, and the aggregate Asian population of Texas with regards to: (1) estimated prevalence of diabetes and frequency of diabetes care and (2) risk factors and other associated factors of diabetes. Vietnamese Americans comprise the second largest ethnic group among the Asian population in Texas. Given the evidence of higher diabetes prevalence in this population, it is important to learn more about their health status and needs.

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“Dementia: Determining the Capacity Necessary to Designate a Surrogate.” (2020-2021). Funder: Texas Academy of Family Physicians Foundation. Awarded: $13,865. Principal Investigators: Devan Stahl, Lauren Barron, Sally Weaver.

The purpose of this project is to validate an innovative instrument that will assess patients’ capacity to designate a surrogate. We are testing the reliability and validity of the Capacity Necessary to Designate a Surrogate (CDS) instrument, assess the usability and practicality of the CDS instrument, and assess physicians’ planned behavior for using a CDS instrument, including the identification of barriers to uptake of this tool.

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“Vietnamese Translations for the Tripartite Model of Risk Perception (TRIRISK), Acculturation Scale for Southeast Asians, and Spiritual Perspective Scale (SPS).” (2020-2021). Funder: Baylor University Research Committee. Awarded: $7,000. Principal Investigator: Angelina Nguyen.

The purpose of this grant is to culturally adapt (including Vietnamese language translations) instruments measuring the concepts of: (1) risk perception related to diabetes, (2) acculturation, and (3) spirituality. This project will provide valid and reliable tools to be used in measuring diabetes risk perception, acculturation level, and spirituality in Vietnamese Americans who are either monolingual or bilingual but with reading preference for the Vietnamese language.

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“Bioenhancement Technologies and the Vulnerable Body.” (2019-2021). Funder: Issachar Fund. Awarded: $81,444. Principal Investigator: Devan Stahl

The aim of this project is to address the current lack of engagement in bioenhancement technologies and transhumanism from Christian scholars who work within minority communities. This project will assemble a working group of approximately twelve scholars who will collectively develop foundational insights for articulating a theology of human flourishing in light of biomedical enhancement technologies, which can be communicated to the public through an academic volume and a Christian adult education series.