Kenzie A. Cameron, PhD, MPH

Kenzie A. CameronKenzie A. Cameron, PhD, MPH, is a Research Associate Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She received her PhD in Communication from Michigan State University and her MPH from Northwestern University.

Her background in persuasion and social influence provides the foundation for her research, which focuses on message design, the reduction of health disparities, health communication and health promotion. Her primary areas of research have an underlying focus on racial and ethnic health disparities and are informed by her background in health literacy. She received a Career Development Award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and is the principal investigator on grants from the National Institute of Aging and the National Cancer Institute. Her research currently focuses on the development, evaluation, and implementation of theoretically based multimedia messages addressing preventive health issues such as colorectal cancer screening and influenza vaccination.

Dr. Cameron conducts her research with both academic and community partners which allows her to elicit the vital voice of the communities, bringing a critical perspective to her research. She is a core member of the REACH Practice Based Research Network, which is affiliated with the Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences (NUCATS) Institute and is comprised of 17 clinical sites including private practices and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) with more than 200 member physicians and over 200,000 patients.

Dr. Cameron teaches in the Master of Public Health Degree Program coordinated by the Department of Preventive Medicine, where she holds a secondary appointment. She is on the Editorial Board of Health Communication and Communication Yearbook and has been a Guest Editor for Patient Education and Counseling for a Special Issue in Theories in Health Communication Research.

Current Research Projects

1R01 CA140177-01 (Cameron) 09/04/09-07/31/13
NIH/NCI
Low-Literacy Physician-Patient Intervention Promoting Colorectal Cancer Screening
The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of integrating physician and patient interventions designed to promote colorectal cancer screening and using a low literacy approach.
Role: PI

1R21 AG031470-01 (Cameron) 08/01/09 – 07/31/10 NIH/NIA
The Effect of Fact versus Myth Messages on Receipt of Influenza Vaccination
Many public health messages use a “Facts & Myths” format to refute false information. However, researchers disagree as to the wisdom of this approach: some are concerned that individuals, particularly as they age, misremember myths as facts; others suggest that a well-crafted message that includes a refutation of any myths presented can be effective. The proposed research will test these competing claims on individuals 50 and older through a randomized trial using messages about influenza and influenza vaccination
Role: PI

(Evans) 08/01/09-09/30/10
Department of Veterans Affairs
IPA: Development and testing of MRSA educational materials for SCI veterans
To develop Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) educational materials for spinal cord injury (SCI) patients and caregivers and test their effect on knowledge and behavior using a randomized control trial (RCT) design.
Role: Co-Investigator

RC1 HG005468-01 (Smith/Wolf) 09/30/09 - 09/29/11
NIH/NHGRI
Impact of Data Access Policies on Biobank Participation
The major goal of this project is to investigate the impact of data access policies on willingness to participate in hospital-based biobanks. This study includes participant preferences for broad consent versus opt-out approaches and will develop recommendations to help patients better understand GWAS and data access policies.
Role: Co-Investigator

American Cancer Society (Makoul) 07/01/08 – 06/30/11
Tools for Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates: Multimedia vs. Print
This study compares the effectiveness of multimedia and print tools in providing patients at safety-net clinics with comprehensible information about colorectal cancer screening and motivating them to be screened.
Role: Co-Investigator

K23AG28439 (Lindquist) 04/01/07-03/31/12
NIH/NIA
Health Literacy and Discharge Safety of Hospitalized Seniors
This is a Career Development Award focused on health literacy and patient safety in the senior population, specifically aimed at improving the safety of seniors as they transition home from an acute hospital stay.
Role: Co-Investigator

R01 HL088589 (McDermott) 04/01/08 – 05/30/12 NIH/NHLBI
Increasing Activity in Peripheral Arterial Disease
The primary aim of this study is to determine if an intervention designed to increase home-based walking exercise significantly improves 6-minute walk performance in men and women with peripheral arterial disease.
Role: Co-Investigator

(Chikahisa & Lau, Co-PIs) 08/31/09 – 12/31/10
Northwestern University, Alliance for Research in Chicagoland Communities Seed Grants Round 2
Colorectal Cancer Screening in Japanese American Elders in Chicagoland
This study is a collaborative study between the Japanese American Service Committee (JASC) and Northwestern University to: (1) describe intergenerational communication about health issues in Nikkei families, (2) explore target recipient(s) of educational materials in Nikkei families to increase CRC screening among Nikkei elders, and (3)assess potential attitude change of adult-offspring caregivers toward CRC screening.
Role: Co-I.

Highlighted Articles

Witte, K., Cameron, K.A., McKeon, J.K., & Berkowitz, J.M. (1996). Predicting risk behaviors: Development and validation of a diagnostic scale. Journal of Health Communication, 1, 317-341.

Boster, F.J., Cameron, K.A., Campo, S.L., Liu, W., Lillie, J.K.M., Baker, E.M., & Ah Yun, K. (2000). The persuasive effects of statistical evidence in the presence of exemplars. Communication Studies, 51, 296-306.

Cameron, K.A., Campo, S., & Brossard, D. (2003). Advocating for controversial issues: The effect of activism on compliance-gaining strategy selection. Communication Studies, 54, 265-281.

Campo, S., Cameron, K.A., Brossard, D., & Frazer, M.S. (2004). Social norms and expectancy violation theories: Assessing the effectiveness of health communication campaigns. Communication Monographs, 71, 127-149.

Baker, D.W., Cameron, K.A., Feinglass, J., Georgas, P., Foster, S., Pierce, D., Thompson, J., Hasnain-Wynia, R. (2005). Patients’ attitudes toward health care providers collecting information about their race and ethnicity. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 20, 895-900.

Baker, D.W., Cameron, K.A., Feinglass, J., Thompson, J., Georgas, P., Foster, S., Pierce, D., Hasnain-Wynia, R. (2006). A system for rapidly and accurately collecting patients’ race and ethnicity. American Journal of Public Health, 96, 532-537.

Cameron, K.A., Campo, S. (2006). Stepping back from social norms campaigns: Comparing normative influences to other predictors of health behaviors. Health Communication, 20, 277-288.

LaVela, S.L., Cameron, K.A., Priebe, M., Weaver, F.M. (2008). Development and testing of a vaccination message targeted to persons with spinal cord injuries and disorders. The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 31, 44-52.

Tanabe, P., Gisondi, M.A., Barnard, C., Lucenti, M.J., Cameron, K.A. (2009). Can education and staff based participatory research change nursing practice in an era of ED overcrowding? A focus group study. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 35, 290-298.

Brannen, M.L., Cameron, K.A., Adler, M, Goodman, D, Holl, J.L. (2009). Admission handoff communications: Clinician’s shared understanding of patient severity of illness and problems. Journal of Patient Safety, 5, 237-242.

Cameron, K.A. (2009). A practitioner’s guide to persuasion: An overview of 15 selected persuasion theories, models and frameworks. Patient Education and Counseling (Special Issue on Theories in Health Communication Research), 74, 309-317.

Cameron, K.A., Rintamaki, L.S., Kamanda-Kosseh, M., Noskin, G.A., Baker, D.B., & Makoul, G. (2009). Using theoretical constructs to identify key issues for targeted message design: African American seniors’ perceptions about influenza and influenza vaccination. Health Communication, 24, 316-326.

Cameron, K.A., Francis, L., Wolf, M.S., Baker, D.W., Makoul, G. (2007). Investigating Hispanic/Latino perceptions about colorectal cancer screening: a community-based approach to effective message design. Patient Education and Counseling, 68, 145-152.

Makoul, G., Cameron, K.A., Baker, D.W., Francis, L., Scholtens, D., Wolf, M.S. (2009). A multimedia patient education program on colorectal cancer screening increases knowledge and willingness to consider screening among Hispanic/Latino patients. Patient Education and Counseling, 76, 220-226.

Clayman, M.L., Webb, J., Zick, A., Cameron, K.A., Rintamaki, L., Makoul, G. (2009) Videoreview: an alternative to coding transcripts of focus groups. Communication Methods and Measures, 3, 216-222.

Persell, S.D., Zei, C., Cameron, K.A., Zielinski, M., Lloyd-Jones, D.L. (2010). Potential use of 10-year and lifetime coronary risk information for preventive cardiology prescribing decisions: a primary care physician survey. Archives of Internal Medicine, 170, 470 – 477.

Cameron, K.A., Engel, K.G., McCarthy, D.M., Buckley, B.A., Kollar, L.M.M., Donlan, S.D., Pang, P.S., Makoul, G., Tanabe, P., Gisondi, M.A., Adams, J.G. (2010). Examining emergency department communication through a staff-based participatory research method: Identifying barriers and solutions to meaningful change. Annals of Emergency Medicine, 56, 614-622. PMID: 20382446

Cameron, K.A., Song, J., Manheim, L.M., Dunlop, D.D. (2010). Not accounting for underlying health needs may understate gender disparities in health and medical utilization among older adults. Journal of Women’s Health, 19: 1643-50.

Clayman M.L, Pandit A.U., Bergeron A.R., Cameron K.A., Ross E., Wolf, M.S. (2010). Ask, understand, remember: A brief measure of patient communication self-efficacy within clinical encounters. Journal of Health Communication, 15:72-29.

Cameron, K.A., Ross, E., Clayman, M.L., Bergeron, A.R., Federman, A.D., Cooper Bailey, S., Davis, T.C., Wolf, M.S. (2010). Measuring patients’ self-efficacy in understanding and using prescription medication. Patient Education and Counseling, 80, 372-376(invited submission for Special Issue of International Conference on Communication in Healthcare 2009).

Wilson, E.A.H., Wolf, M.S., Curtis, L.M.,Clayman, M.L., Cameron, K.A., Vom Eigen, K., Makoul, G. (2010). Literacy, cognitive ability, and the retention of health-related information about colorectal cancer screening. Journal of Health Communication, 15:116-125.

Wilson, E.A.H., Park, D.C., Curtis, L., Cameron, K.A., Clayman, M., Makoul, G., vom Eigen, K., Wolf, M.S. (2010). Media and memory: The efficacy of video and print materials for promoting patient education about asthma. Patient Education and Counseling, 80, 393-398. (invited submission for Special Issue of International Conference on Communication in Healthcare 2009).

Cameron, K.A., Persell, S.D., Brown, T., Thompson, J.A., Baker, D.W. (2011) A randomized controlled trial of patient outreach to promote colorectal cancer screening among patients with an expired order for colonoscopy. Archives of Internal Medicine, 171, 642-646.