1. After reading the article by Thomas et al., comment on where your research, or your research interests, fit into the generational framework for health disparities research. If your work is 1st or 2nd generation, comment on how your work could lead in the future to 3rd or 4th generation work. If your work is 3rd or 4th generation, comment on what 1st and 2nd generation work was necessary as a foundation for your current work (or current interests).
I think my research could be considered 4th generation work. I hope to understand how the work environment negatively impacts sleep and how, consequently, the worker displays disruptive behavior at work. The disruptive behaviors can be anything from falling asleep at work to multiple absences and being late to work. I see this as important work because sleep impacts our mood, social relationships and ability to heal from acute and chronic conditions. Furthermore, a person’s ability to maintain gainful employment gives them the financial resources to invest in theirself, their communities and their health. I am hoping that there will be a plethora of indirect benefits of coming to work well rested and going to a job that doesn’t make you emotionally or physically ill.
2. The barbershop hypertension intervention, while essentially a clinical services intervention operating at either the fence or safety-net level as described by Jones, has some engagement with the social determinants of health. What types of clinical interventions can you think of in your area of research that could similarly bridge levels of the socioecological model?
I would have a weekly event called “Massage Mondays”. It will take place every Monday at a worksite that employs low-wage workers who may also be shift workers or work multiple jobs. The program will be a 2 month long program where participants are given a task to find sustainable ways to incorporate specific health related behaviors, like getting better sleep, into their daily lives. The goal of the program would be to reach vulnerable populations and help them find ways to prioritize healthy behaviors in their life. Each week, they will receive a free 10-minute massage, and $10 gift card if they are able to verbalize how they are going to make sustainable changes and turn in there sleep-log for the week. The intermediate goal is to see the impact on sleep. The long term goal is that people create healthy behaviors.