Global Engagement Affinity Network Projects

Global Integrated Health Care Fall 2023 Conference

We are experiencing a global syndemic, defined as a synergistic interaction between biological and socioecological factors that adversely impact populations, especially those affected by health inequalities. The interaction of COVID-19, the rising prevalence of noncommunicable diseases, increasing unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, psychological distress and harmful substance use is a syndemic.

Global warming and air pollution are rising and are adversely impacting our health. There is a lack of evidence-based research on how to systematically address these interrelated problems with public health, integrated health care strategies and techniques.

This conference addressed this gap by answering the questions: What is the nature of interactions between COVID-19, NCD’s, lifestyle behaviors, psychological distress and harmful substance use? Which sub-populations are more adversely impacted by this syndemic? What can we do to improve noncommunicable diseases, lifestyle health behaviors, harmful substance use, global warming and pollution?

Dr. O’Donnell is delivering online education to social work internship students from CSIBER University School of Social Work in India. The education platform includes content on the five A’s (assess, advise, agree, assist and arrange), motivational interviewing, how to conduct a health risk assessment, behavioral activation for depression, habit change for unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, and mindfulness for stress. Doctor of Behavioral Health students Andrea Barnes, Elreacy Dock, Jessica Hernandez and Obonganwan Umanabh are using this project to complete their internship and doctoral thesis projects on this project.

Dr. O’Donnell is primary investigator on this ASU Institute for Social Science Research seed grant to develop a curriculum for social work students in at University of Labour and Social Affairs, School of Social Work in Hanoi, Vietnam. The curriculum includes the role of the social worker in integrated care, integrated health screening, assessment, and population health, behavioral interventions for unhealthy lifestyle problems, psychiatric and substance use disorders, follow up and documentation. Dr. O’Donnell led a team of DBH graduate Dr. Jessica Hogan and DBH student Elreacy Dock to write a companion textbook for the course that was published in Vietnam in fall 2023.

College of Health Solutions JumpStart Grant led by primary investigator Dr. O’Donnell focused on the validation of a measure of level of integrated care in a clinic, the Practice Integration Profile 2.0 (PIP 2.0) in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. The PIP is designed to measure five domains of integrated care is validated and widely used in the U.S. The U.S. PIP team consulted with global partners on the translation and adaptation of the PIP for each country. Each country evaluated PIP with experts and focus groups, then administered PIP in local clinics. Partners: University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Chiang Mai University Faculty of Nursing, Cambodia Ministry of Health.