Sandra Sulzer

• Ph.D. in Sociology
• Professor (Assistant) at Utah State University

Introduction: Empathy in doctor-patient relationships is a familiar topic for medical scholars, and a crucial goal for medical educators. Nonetheless, there are persistent disagreements in the research literature concerning how best to evaluate empathy among physicians, and whether empathy declines or increases across medical education. Some resear...

PurposeTo examine how clinicians navigate providing treatment to Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) in the context of the DSM 5, deinstitutionalization, and the biomedical model. Methodology/approachWe conducted 39 interviews with mental health providers in the United States in a two-year period preceding and following the release of the DSM 5....

https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/extension_curall/2098/

We outline the process and development of the Well Connected Communities health initiative as undertaken in three Utah communities. This transformative community-focused alternative to addressing public health issues through Extension situates local communities as the origin for health decision making. The initiative recognizes the need for varied...

Harm reduction and pharmacotherapy approaches to addressing substance use disorder are evidence-based practices for reducing adverse health outcomes. However, professional stigma toward these approaches impedes implementation. In this pilot study, professionals working in substance use treatment services received a 4-hour asynchronous online harm r...

This entry provides an introduction to Janet Shim's “cultural health capital” (CHC) concept, the areas of sociological research upon which this concept builds, how the concept has been used to study healthcare communication, and future directions for research engaging with this concept. CHC refers to cultural skills and resources that may be used t...

Despite a substantial evidence base for effectiveness, medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are often stigmatized. Even healthcare professionals working in substance use treatment may describe these medications as undesirable forms of medical intervention. Many argue they prefer an “abstinence-based” approach to treatment, free of pharmacothe...

Background: We examine the characteristics associated with the availability of therapeutic acupuncture in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment facilities in the United States (US). Methods: This study utilizes data from the 2018 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS). Multivariable logistic regression was performed. R...

Introduction Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are evidence-based treatments, yet can be controversial among some populations. This study provides a systematic review of prejudice and discrimination toward MOUD, a form of “intervention stigma,” or stigma associated with a particular medical treatment. Methods A systematic search strategy...

Background The loosening of U.S. methadone regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic expanded calls for methadone reform. This study examines professional perceptions of methadone take-home dose regulation before and during the COVID-19 pandemic to understand responses to varied methadone distribution policies. Methods Fifty-nine substance use diso...

Many diseases, disabilities, and mental health conditions associated with aging can be delayed or prevented through regular exercise. Several barriers to exercise, many of which are exacerbated in rural communities, prevent mid-life and older adults from accessing its benefits. However, recently, a racquet sport named pickleball has become popular...

Aims: A novel professional training was developed to reduce stigma toward harm reduction and pharmacotherapy for substance use disorders. Methods: The training was delivered over three sessions to n1⁄4147 health professionals in Utah between 2019 and 2020, including n1⁄440 substance use disorder treatment professionals. Pre and post-training survey...

The Clery Act was created to provide transparency around campus safety, including sexual assault. This includes making timely warnings to the campus community about safety threats on campus. While all universities are mandated to follow the Clery Act, the legislation does not provide guidance on what language universities should employ, how much le...

The existence of race-based stigma among minority populations in the United States has been well-documented. Notably, the acting White accusation has garnered considerable attention in relation to the African American population. Interestingly, studies related to this accusation have been primarily centered around Black students at Predominately Wh...

The purpose of this study was to examine youth perceptions of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) communication with their pediatric providers, their reported adherence to their ADHD medications, and their desired location for an ADHD educational program. Youth ages 7 through 17 with an ADHD diagnosis were recruited. A research associat...

No abstract is available for this article.

Background: Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) has historically been difficult to diagnose, and laden with stigma, leading to a variety of clinical responses to patients who present with symptoms. Aims: 1. To understand how clinicians communicate the diagnosis of BPD with patients. 2. To compare these practices with patient communication prefer...

The objectives of the study were to examine provider-family communication about attention deficit disorder during pediatric asthma visits. Children with asthma, aged 8 through 16 and their parents were recruited at five pediatric practices. All medical visits were audio-taped. There were 296 asthmatic children enrolled into the study and 67 of them...

The objectives of the study were to examine provider-family communication about attention deficit disorder during pediatric asthma visits. Children with asthma, aged 8 through 16 and their parents were recruited at five pediatric practices. All medical visits were audio-taped. There were 296 asthmatic children enrolled into the study and 67 of them...

Given the enormous stigma associated with the diagnosis, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is an excellent case to explore how diagnostic practices can affect care. This study relied on a combination of in-depth interviews with clinicians and patients (n=32), as well as triangulated data from message board support groups for adult children with...

Mental health care providers lack systematic information about patient experiences with diagnosis, and are left to guess about the effectiveness of their practices. By examining how different practitioners handle the diagnostic encounter, this project documented how diagnosing patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) happens in clinical...