2024
Applying a community‐engaged participatory machine learning model
Asabor E, Aneni K, Weerakoon S, Opara I. Applying a community‐engaged participatory machine learning model. American Journal Of Community Psychology 2024 PMID: 39279135, DOI: 10.1002/ajcp.12765.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHealth researchCommunity psychologistsPublic health researchExperiences of peopleStructural humilityHealth inequalitiesHealth careCommunity stakeholdersPriority settingMachine learning techniquesTarget populationCommunity contextHealthLived experienceImprove outcomesCommunity insightsLearning techniquesProblem formationPsychologistsPositive membersStage of machine learningMachine learning researchCommunityDecision-makingCareRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INCREASED POLYSUBSTANCE USE, ANXIETY, AND STRESS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: RESULTS FROM THE COVID-19 CANNABIS HEALTH STUDY
Weerakoon S, Diggs B, Messiah S, Weiner M, Vidot D. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INCREASED POLYSUBSTANCE USE, ANXIETY, AND STRESS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: RESULTS FROM THE COVID-19 CANNABIS HEALTH STUDY. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2024, 260: 110077. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110077.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchT129 Prevalence of Psilocybin and Cannabis Concurrent Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of the COVID-19 Cannabis Health Study
Vidot D, Baral A, Diggs B, Weerakoon S, Baquai M, Iyi R, Weiner M, Messiah S. T129 Prevalence of Psilocybin and Cannabis Concurrent Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of the COVID-19 Cannabis Health Study. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2024, 260: 110578. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110578.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchS11 Cannabis Use and Mental Health Coping Behavior Among Minority Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results From the COVID-19 Cannabis Health Study
Diggs B, Fellah R, Lebron C, Weerakoon S, Messiah S, Vidot D. S11 Cannabis Use and Mental Health Coping Behavior Among Minority Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results From the COVID-19 Cannabis Health Study. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2024, 260: 110122. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110122.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchT126 High Blood Pressure Among Psilocybin and Cannabis Consumers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of the COVID-19 Cannabis Health Study
Vidot D, Diggs B, Baral A, Larson M, Weerakoon S, Baquai M, Iyi R, Weiner M, Camacho-Rivera M, Messiah S. T126 High Blood Pressure Among Psilocybin and Cannabis Consumers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of the COVID-19 Cannabis Health Study. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2024, 260: 110575. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110575.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA Qualitative Exploration on Risk and Protective Factors of Substance Use Among Black Adolescent Girls
Opara I, Brooks-Stephens J, Aneni K, Asabor E, Weerakoon S, Duran-Becerra B. A Qualitative Exploration on Risk and Protective Factors of Substance Use Among Black Adolescent Girls. Journal Of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology 2024, ahead-of-print: 1-14. PMID: 38748661, DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2024.2344171.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBlack adolescent girlsSubstance useAdolescent girlsFactors of substance useProtective factorsAbuse prevention programsSubstance abuse prevention programsPrevention programsEcological systems theoretical frameworkSystems theoretical frameworkParticipants' narrativesLived experienceGender-specificSocial environmentDrug useUnique risk factorsCoping mechanismsQualitative explorationFocus groupsThematic analysisTheoretical frameworkStudy findingsIntervention developmentSub-themesGirls
2023
Assessing the Prevalence Rates of Internalizing Symptomatology Among Multiracial Adolescents in the United States: A Systematic Review
Henson-García M, Weerakoon S, Duncan C, Choe T, Opara I, A. Baker K, L. Sterling K, Messiah S. Assessing the Prevalence Rates of Internalizing Symptomatology Among Multiracial Adolescents in the United States: A Systematic Review. Child Psychiatry & Human Development 2023, 1-14. PMID: 38042957, DOI: 10.1007/s10578-023-01636-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchInternalizing symptomsMultiracial adolescentsPrevalence of anxiety symptomsInternalizing symptomatologyAnxiety symptomsDepressive symptomatologySymptomatologyPrevalence estimatesMethodological inconsistenciesAdolescentsSystematic reviewSymptomsPrevalence ratesPeer-reviewed studiesAPA PsycInfoOvid MEDLINEComprehensive searchPrevalenceStudy selectionUnited StatesEpidemiological researchRelationship between suicide ideation and attempts, bully victimization, dating violence, and depressive symptoms among Black and Hispanic youth
Opara I, Weerakoon S, Stephens J, Choe T, Gunn J, Thrasher S. Relationship between suicide ideation and attempts, bully victimization, dating violence, and depressive symptoms among Black and Hispanic youth. Suicide And Life-Threatening Behavior 2023 PMID: 37933468, PMCID: PMC11074240, DOI: 10.1111/sltb.13015.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPersistent symptoms and conditions among children and adolescents hospitalised with COVID-19 illness: a qualitative study
Messiah S, Francis J, Weerakoon S, Mathew M, Shaikh S, Veeraswamy A, Lozano A, He W, Xie L, Polavarapu D, Ahmed N, Kahn J. Persistent symptoms and conditions among children and adolescents hospitalised with COVID-19 illness: a qualitative study. BMJ Open 2023, 13: e069073. PMID: 37734886, PMCID: PMC10514629, DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069073.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCOVID-19 illnessIn-depth interviewsQualitative studyPaediatric healthcare systemHealth information sourcesLack of insurance coverageMental health impactsPrevalence of long COVIDPersistent symptomsPost-COVID-19 symptomsPost-traumatic stress disorderPersistent COVID-19 symptomsHealthcare systemCOVID-19 experiencePre-existing conditionsQualitative interviewsInsurance coverageCOVID-19Support strategiesWorsening pre-existing conditionsHealth impactsIllnessSupport systemInterviewsLong COVIDAdolescent Polysubstance Use and Co-Occurring Weapon Carrying, Bullying Victimization, and Depressive Symptomology: Patterns and Differences in the United States
Weerakoon S, Henson-Garcia M, Abraham A, Vidot D, Messiah S, Opara I. Adolescent Polysubstance Use and Co-Occurring Weapon Carrying, Bullying Victimization, and Depressive Symptomology: Patterns and Differences in the United States. Child Psychiatry & Human Development 2023, 1-12. PMID: 37477824, PMCID: PMC11229529, DOI: 10.1007/s10578-023-01573-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBullying victimizationPolysubstance useUnited StatesPrevalence of polysubstance useWeapon-carryingMultiracial youthVictimsBullyingYouthWeaponsPolysubstance combinationsAdolescent substanceFrequent useRisky behaviorsNational prevalenceNon-Hispanic whitesMental healthLogistic regressionHigh school studentsPoor mental healthPolysubstanceViolenceDepressive symptomsDemographic characteristicsOddsNeighborhood Characteristics and the Burden of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use-Associated Lung Injury: An Ecological Comparison Study
Lee H, Weerakoon S, Harrell M, Messiah S, Rao D. Neighborhood Characteristics and the Burden of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use-Associated Lung Injury: An Ecological Comparison Study. Pediatric Allergy Immunology And Pulmonology 2023, 36: 16-22. PMID: 36930825, DOI: 10.1089/ped.2022.0133.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSocioeconomic statusZip codesHealth insuranceE-cigarettesEVALI casesNeighborhood-level characteristicsPatient's zip codeElectronic medical recordsTargeted prevention programsProduct use-associated lung injuryHigh school educationUse-associated lung injuryAt-risk communitiesPrivate health insuranceData of adolescentsAmerican Community SurveySES characteristicsChildren's Medical Center DallasNeighborhood characteristicsPrevention programsInvestigate associationsCommunity SurveyNinety-five percentMedical recordsVaping productsRacial and ethnic disparities in chronic disease risk in adolescence after prenatal polydrug exposure: Examination of the Hispanic paradox
Weerakoon S, Chen B, Harrell M, Vidot D, Messiah S. Racial and ethnic disparities in chronic disease risk in adolescence after prenatal polydrug exposure: Examination of the Hispanic paradox. Journal Of Ethnicity In Substance Abuse 2023, 23: 1062-1079. PMID: 36840527, DOI: 10.1080/15332640.2023.2181257.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchChronic disease riskDisease risk factorsSystolic blood pressureHispanic paradoxElevated systolic blood pressureChronic disease risk factorsRisk of elevated systolic blood pressureSubstance useLifestyle Study cohortCardiovascular disease risk factorsDisease riskRisk factorsHispanic adolescentsHigher systolic blood pressureMaternal substance useDevelopment of chronic diseasesPrevent substance useOffspring heightPrenatal careEthnic disparitiesMaternal drug useHispanic womenRacial disparitiesChronic diseasesLowered systolic blood pressureRace, Ethnicity, and Language of Patients Screened for Violence against Persons at a Safety-Net Hospital
Beauchamp, A. M., Weerakoon, S. M., Nagaraj, M. B., Scroggins, H., Pahl, B., Pitt, A., ... & Jetelina, K. K. (2023). Race, Ethnicity, and Language of Patients Screened for Violence against Persons at a Safety-Net Hospital. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 32(6), 837-851.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2022
Clinical manifestations of EVALI in adolescents before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Abdallah B, Lee H, Weerakoon S, Messiah S, Harrell M, Rao D. Clinical manifestations of EVALI in adolescents before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Pediatric Pulmonology 2022, 58: 949-958. PMID: 36530031, PMCID: PMC9878061, DOI: 10.1002/ppul.26283.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHome oxygenGastrointestinal symptomsEVALI casesPatients treated with corticosteroidsProduct use-associated lung injuryHospital course of patientsUse-associated lung injuryDischarged with home oxygenSARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test resultsCourse of patientsE-cigarettesPositive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test resultsPulmonary function improvementReview of adolescentsPulmonary function testsShorter median lengthRT-PCR test resultsClinical presentationClinical improvementClinical characteristicsHospital courseClinical manifestationsLung injuryMechanical ventilationMedian lengthComparison of Long-Term Complications of COVID-19 Illness among a Diverse Sample of Children by MIS-C Status
Messiah S, Xie L, Mathew M, Shaikh S, Veeraswamy A, Rabi A, Francis J, Lozano A, Ronquillo C, Sanchez V, He W, Weerakoon S, Srikanth N, Borel M, Kapera O, Kahn J. Comparison of Long-Term Complications of COVID-19 Illness among a Diverse Sample of Children by MIS-C Status. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health 2022, 19: 13382. PMID: 36293968, PMCID: PMC9603408, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013382.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMIS-CCOVID-19 illnessSevere COVID illnessMultisystem inflammatory syndromeLong symptomsPediatric COVID-19 casesAssociated with SARS-CoV-2 infectionPediatric healthcare systemLong COVIDSARS-CoV-2 infectionRetrospective EHR reviewFollow-up surveyInflammatory syndromePersistent symptomsEthnically diverse childrenPediatric professionalsPresence of long COVIDHealthcare systemVulnerable populationsPost-COVID-19 recovery effortsGovernment insurancePrivate insuranceSymptomsCOVID illnessIllnessRace, Ethnicity, and Language of Patients Screened for Violence against Persons at a Safety-Net Hospital
Beauchamp A, Weerakoon S, Nagaraj M, Scroggins H, Pahl B, Pitt A, Skaliks A, Jetelina K. Race, Ethnicity, and Language of Patients Screened for Violence against Persons at a Safety-Net Hospital. Journal Of Aggression Maltreatment & Trauma 2022, 32: 837-851. DOI: 10.1080/10926771.2022.2133659.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSpanish-speaking patientsSafety-net patient populationHealth disparity gapElectronic health recordsSafety-net hospitalEmergency department visitsViolent victimizationVictim servicesScreening ratesNursing staffScreening implementationLanguage of patientsDisparity gapService utilizationHealth recordsPersons of colorNon-HispanicDepartment visitsHealthcare settingsVictimsPositive screenHigher oddsUnique adultsSafety-netImprove accessIMPACT OF PERSISTENT COVID-19 SYMPTOMS ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND CARDIORESPIRATORY PERFORMANCE IN VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
BOZKANAT K, XIE L, MATHEW M, SHAIKH S, FRANCIS J, VEERASWAMY A, RABL A, LOZANO A, HE W, WEERAKOON S, SRIKANTH N, MESSIAH S. IMPACT OF PERSISTENT COVID-19 SYMPTOMS ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND CARDIORESPIRATORY PERFORMANCE IN VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS. CHEST Journal 2022, 162: a2658-a2659. PMCID: PMC9548774, DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2022.08.2170.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEffect of in-utero polysubstance exposure on adolescent cardiovascular disease risk: Results from the Maternal Lifestyle Study
Weerakoon S, Chen B, Harrell M, Vidot D, Messiah S. Effect of in-utero polysubstance exposure on adolescent cardiovascular disease risk: Results from the Maternal Lifestyle Study. Progress In Pediatric Cardiology 2022, 66: 101528. DOI: 10.1016/j.ppedcard.2022.101528.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCardiovascular disease riskMaternal substance useMaternal Lifestyle StudySystolic blood pressureDisease riskLifestyle StudySubstance useBlood pressureRates of polysubstance usePolysubstance useCardiovascular disease preventionExposed to tobaccoCombination of tobaccoPregnancy rangeNational Institute on Drug AbuseNormal birthweightPolysubstance exposureDisease preventionPregnancyCardiovascular diseaseHighest prevalenceTobaccoDrug abusePregnancy statusIllicit substancesHuman Papillomavirus Vaccination Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Francis J, Weerakoon S, Lucas S, Mathew M, Durante J, Kelly N, Tiro J. Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Network Open 2022, 5: e2234000. PMID: 36121657, PMCID: PMC9486449, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.34000.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRelationship Between Dating Violence and Contraceptive Use Among Texas Adolescents
Srikanth N, Weerakoon S, Mathew M, Xie L, Messiah S. Relationship Between Dating Violence and Contraceptive Use Among Texas Adolescents. Journal Of Interpersonal Violence 2022, 38: 4852-4876. PMID: 36000420, DOI: 10.1177/08862605221119519.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDating violenceTexas adolescentsContraceptive useUnplanned pregnancyYouth Risk Behavior Surveillance System dataSexual dating violenceSexually transmitted infectionsDating violence preventionImpact reproductive healthLogistic regression analysisNoncontraceptive useAntiabortion lawsHormonal contraceptionViolence preventionSurveillance System dataViolenceCondom useReproductive outcomesMultinomial logistic regression analysisReproductive healthAge groupsLawPregnancyContraceptionRegression analysis