Welcome to the Health Communication and Risk Perception (HCRP) Laboratory
The Health Communication and Risk Perception (HCRP) Laboratory within the School of Pharmacy at the University of Texas at El Paso explores health care from the perspectives of psychology, statistics, epidemiology, and educational research. Ongoing research in the lab primarily focuses on three research areas: 1) Hispanic health disparities, 2) health communication, and 3) risk perceptions. These research areas translate into several research topics including diabetes (prevention, early detection, and management), cancer prevention, infectious diseases, vaccine acceptance/uptake, and drug use. To understand the multi-faceted nature of health disparities in Hispanics (primarily of Mexican Origin), we use the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Research Framework, the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) model, and the Health Belief Model (HBM). Studies in the HCRP lab seek to contribute to the development and testing of culturally-tailored behavioral interventions and mass-media public health messages to reduce Hispanic health disparities.
The HCRP Lab is led by Dr. Gabriel Frietze, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and early-career investigator within the School of Pharmacy at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) https://www.utep.edu/pharmacy/people/faculty.html. Dr. Frietze is also a faculty member for the College of Health Science Border Biomedical Research Center (BBRC) https://www.utep.edu/science/bbrc/people/faculty.html and the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences (IHS) program https://www.utep.edu/chs/ihs/people/faculty.html. Lastly, Dr. Frietze is the Chair of the El Paso Vaccine Promotion Community Advisory Board (EPVP-CAB).
Recent Grants/Awards:
COVID-19 Vaccine and Testing Disparities
RADx® Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) – [Project Start Date: 09/01/2022, Project End Date: 08/20/2024] Dr. Frietze (Principle Investigator) and Dr. Bibiana Mancera (Co-PI) were recently awarded $307,619 to develop bilingual COVID-19 rapid test instructions and pilot test the instructions using a small randomized control trial (RCT).
Cancer Disparities among Hispanics
Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) – [Project Start Date: 09/01/2021, Project End Date: 08/31/2024] Dr. Frietze was recently awarded $238,619 to help prevent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) associated cancers by employing a randomized control trial investigating trustworthy messengers of the HPV vaccine. Dr. Frietze is working on this project with his mentor from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Surendranath S. Shastri, M.B.B.S, M.D., D.Ph.
Recent publications:
- Frietze, G. A., Padilla, M. E., Loya, A., Martinez, A. A., Hernandez, A. G., & Rivera, J. O. (2024). Exploring Predictors of COVID-19 Precautionary Behaviors During the Initial Rollout of COVID-19 Vaccines in a Predominately Hispanic Sample. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity-Health, 100870.
- Medlin, C. G., Terrazas, W. C., Howell, H., & Frietze, G. (2024). Characterization of Doctor of Pharmacy and Pre-Pharmacy Students’ Knowledge, Stigma, and Risk Perceptions Towards Persons Living with HIV/AIDS at a Hispanic Serving Institution. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 100659.
- Lerma, M., Marquez, C., Sandoval Medina, K., Frietze, G., & Cooper, T. V. (2024). Risk and Protective Factors Associated with Electronic Nicotine Delivery System Use in a Hispanic College Sample. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 1-16.
- Frietze, G. A., Padilla, M. E., Cordero, J., Gosselink, K., & Moya, E., (2023) Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Acceptance (HPV-VA) and Vaccine Uptake (HPV-VU): Assessing the Impact of Theory, Culture, and Trusted Sources of Information in a Hispanic Community. BMC Public Health
- Frietze G.A., Mancera B.M., Kenney M.J. (2023). COVID-19 Testing, Vaccine Perceptions, and Trust among Hispanics Residing in an Underserved Community. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(6):5076. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20065076
Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/Health-Communication-and-Risk-Perception-HCRP-Lab-109635445203501/
Headlines or other websites:
KFOX: https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/utep-receives-19-million-grant-to-study-cancer-in-Hispanics
Herald Post: https://elpasoheraldpost.com/utep-receives-19m-to-study-cancer-affecting-Mexican-Americans/
KTSM:https://www.ktsm.com/news/utep-receives-19-2m-to-study-cancer-affecting-Mexican-Americans/
Precision Vaccinations: https://www.precisionvaccinations.com/bbrc-scientists-will-focus-new-approaches-and-therapeutic-strategies-address-cancers-afflict
UTEP News Feed: https://www.utep.edu/newsfeed/campus/UTEP-Receives-19M-to-Study-Cancer-Affecting-Mexican-Americans.html
UTEP Magazine: https://ucweb.utep.edu/_uploaded/utepMagazineDownloads/utep_magazine_spring_2020.pdf
UTEP Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UTEPMiners/posts/10156409076461160?comment_id=10156411595361160
UTEP BBRC: https://www.utep.edu/science/bbrc/people/faculty.html
Office of Research and Sponsored Projects at UTEP: https://www.utep.edu/orsp/news-and-events/university-recognition/research-forum-january-2023.html
UTEP Announcement: https://expertise.utep.edu/orspannouncement/rapidresearchinvestigatinglanguagebarrierrapidtestingunderservedspanishspeakinghisp
UTEP Newsletter: https://orspapps4.utep.edu/newsletter/utepresearch.html
Recent Poster Presentations:
Gil, Michelle., Gbugu, Uchenna O., Mancera, Bibiana., & Frietze, Gabriel., (2024, August). “COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test: A Bilingual Intervention to Increase Self-Efficacy and Intentions.” Poster Presentation, University of Texas at El Paso - Health Sciences and Nursing Building Lobby.
Gutierrez, A., Gomez, M., Flores, D., Robles, E., Mancera, B., & Frietze, G. (2024, April 27). Examining Socio-Behavioral Correlates of Inflammation Markers in Hispanics: Development and Implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Poster presented at the UTEP COURI Symposia.
Gabriel A. Frietze, Alyssa A. Martinez, Surendranath S. Shastri. Trusted sources of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine information in Mexican American parents: A cross-sectional study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A043.
Gabriel Frietze, Margie Padilla, Jacquelin Cordero, Kristin Gosselink, & Eva Moya. (2023, April). Theoretical and Cultural Correlates of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Acceptance (HPV-VA) and Vaccine Uptake (HPV-VU) in a Hispanic Community, Poster, 44th Annual Society of Behavioral Medicine Conference, Phoenix, Arizona.
Herrera, Elida., Gil, Michelle., Martinez, Alyssa., & Frietze, Gabriel., (2022, November). Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Perceptions: The Role of Family Attitudes and Opinions. Poster Presentation, University of Texas at El Paso - Health Sciences and Nursing Building Lobby.
Gil, Michelle., Herrera, Elida., Martinez, Alyssa., & Frietze, Gabriel, (2022, November). Understanding COVID-19 Immunization Perceptions. Poster Presentation, University of Texas at El Paso - Health Sciences and Nursing Building Lobby.
Community Outreach and Research: The HCRP is involved with community outreach and research along the Paso Del Norte Region. We collaborate with healthcare providers (HCPs) and Community Health Workers (CHWs) to engage with our community. You can find us at local clinics, food banks, and health fairs.
COVID-19 Testing & Community Outreach
La Clinica De Familia (826 Anthony Dr, Anthony, NM 88021)
Kelly Hunger Center (915 N Florence St, El Paso, TX 79902)
COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Do-it-yourself (DIY) videos our lab developed utilizing a mixed methods approach in the design phase and a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) in the test phase to increase rapid testing in our community. We also distributed over 4,5000 COVID-19 Rapid Tests throughout El Paso, Texas in collaboration with a team of Community Health Workers (CHWs).
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