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Aurelia Macabasco-O’Connell, PhD, RN, ACNP, FAHA, MSN
Aurelia Macabasco-O’Connell, PhD, RN, ACNP, FAHA, MSN, is the Department Chair, Department of Doctoral Studies and Associate Professor
School of Nursing, Azusa Pacific University, received a Doctorate of Philosophy in Nursing from the University of California San Francisco and a Master of Science in Nursing from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. Dr. Macabasco-O’Connell is interested in the self-care, disease management and gender and racial differences in various psychosocial variables, such as depression, self-efficacy, social support and quality of life of low-literacy, minority, heart-failure (HF) patients, and new methods for screening for HF using biomarkers.
COHORT
2011-12
Project
“Testing the effectiveness of an intensive dietary sodium intervention in elderly Latinos with chronic health failure.”Dr. Macabasco-O’Connell’s RCMAR/CHIME- and UCLA CTSI-funded project was to design and test a culturally- and low-literacy sensitive, intensive Low- Sodium Diet Intervention (LSDI) with elderly Latino heart failure (HF) patients using the principles of participatory-action research wherein all those involved, i.e. patients and families, healthcare provider, and members of the healthcare community, contributed to the creative thinking and planning that went into the research project and intervention. Dr. Macabasco-O’Connell conducted a randomized controlled trial Latino patients with Heart Failure (HF) with the intent to evaluate the effects of a culturally-sensitive dietary sodium intervention (intensive counseling) compared to usual care (basic counseling)that was based on her formative work with the assistance of an established Community Advisory Board.