About

Rochelle K Rosen is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, and an Associate Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences at the Brown University School of Public Health and the Alpert Medical School. She is a medical anthropologist and research scientist affiliated with the Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine at The Miriam Hospital. Her primary research interest is in using qualitative data to design culturally relevant behavioral health interventions. Rosen has extensive grant-funded research experience focusing on preventive health care issues in the South Pacific islands of American Samoa, mobile health (mHealth) delivered health promotion, and the acceptability of HIV prevention research. She specializes in applying qualitative research methods for translational health research in behavioral and preventive medicine.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• World Wide Web
• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Clinical psychology
• Medicine

Selected publications

• HIV diagnostic implementation in the Dominican Republic: an in-depth qualitative context analysis for health technology developers

  BMJ Open · 2026-02-01

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVES: To understand the political, economic, social and technological facilitators and barriers in obtaining an HIV diagnosis to inform implementation strategies for HIV diagnostics in the Dominican Republic (DR). DESIGN: In-depth, semi-structured qualitative interviews. SETTING: A high complexity public hospital in Santiago de los Caballeros, DR. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience and purposive sample of 36 internal medicine physicians and laboratory personnel involved in sample collection, sample analysis or oversight of biological sample analysis. RESULTS: Using the Social Ecological Model, our results highlighted several interrelated barriers and facilitators to sample analysis at the individual (patient), interpersonal (interactions between laboratory personnel, physicians and patients), organisational (the hospital), community (Santiago de Los Caballeros) and societal (the DR) levels. Some key findings include the importance of psychological support in receiving an HIV diagnosis, how spoken language can be a barrier to care, how inconsistent access to laboratory supplies is a barrier for patients, laboratory personnel and clinicians, and the importance of government public health investment. CONCLUSIONS: Employing qualitative methods to investigate a bioengineering challenge yielded rich data on the sociotechnical implementation context of HIV diagnostics in the DR. Several context-relevant suggestions were developed for HIV diagnostic developers which include incorporating psychological support into the diagnosis workflow, delivering information in multiple languages (ie, Haitian Creole and Spanish) and with non-stigmatising phrasing, working with the public sector to develop and implement technologies, and reducing the supply chain reliance on high-income countries to lessen delays in care. These findings can apply to other types of health technologies and settings and demonstrate the importance of utilizing human-centered design to understand implementation context and promote global health equity in health technology development and adoption.

  PublisherDOI

• When are bystanders more likely and confident to act: Validation of the Bystanders to Alcohol Risk Scales—Willingness and self-efficacy.

  Psychology of Addictive Behaviors · 2026-05-04

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the psychometrics of two new measures of willingness and self-efficacy to intervene in alcohol-related risk situations involving others. Items assess the constructs across bystander scenarios that vary by situation (before, during, after risk), one's relation to the target (friend/stranger), and the gender of the target (man/woman). METHOD: 22.0 years, 46.0% women, 70.7% White, 23.3% Latinx) completed the new measures and related measures to assess validity, and a subsample was retested 2 weeks later. Multivariate variance decomposition was used to determine how the scenario components influenced variance; bivariate correlations evaluated validity, and intraclass correlations evaluated test-retest reliability. RESULTS: Models for willingness and self-efficacy constructs fit the data well. The largest component contributing to both measures was the general component, reflecting overall willingness/self-efficacy regardless of situation, relation, and gender components (αs > .90). For willingness, the next largest component was situation, with "after" drinking showing the greatest variability but the lowest mean. For self-efficacy, the second most important component was relation to the target, with friend showing higher self-efficacy than stranger. Participants indicated higher willingness and self-efficacy when the target was a woman, and women participants reported higher willingness than men. Validity was supported by significant correlations with bystander behaviors and alcohol-related constructs. Test-retest reliability indicated moderate stability for both measures (intraclass correlations = 0.50-0.64). CONCLUSIONS: These measures provide valid and reliable tools for measuring bystander intervention willingness and self-efficacy in alcohol-related risk situations and offer utility for the evaluation of bystander intervention programs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

  PublisherDOI

• Cancer Screening and Barriers to Screening Among Unhoused Individuals in Rhode Island.

  PubMed · 2026-03-02

  article

  INTRODUCTION: Unhoused individuals have higher mortality from cancer than the overall population. We aimed to determine cancer screening uptake and the barriers to screening faced by unhoused individuals in Rhode Island. METHODS: Surveys focused on cancer screenings. Logistic regressions were used to identify interactions between having undergone screening and demographic characteristics. Responses to open-ended questions were analyzed to inform the findings. RESULTS: Amongst 502 participants, the screening rates for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer were 27%, 58%, and 39%, all below the national averages. Cancer risk factors such as smoking and alcohol were highly prevalent. Not having a primary care provider (PCP), lack of transportation, fear and logistical issues were among the most self-identified barriers to cancer screening. There was a statistically significant interaction between sex and access to PCP (P=.03) with regards to having up to date colorectal cancer screening. Specifically, unhoused men with a PCP were significantly more likely to be screened for colorectal cancer than those without PCP (52% vs 18%, P<.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Improving cancer screening among unhoused communities is critical. Access to PCP and health insurance can be leveraged to improve uptake of screening recommendations.

  Publisher

• Gauging Public Perception of Neurosurgery for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:A Qualitative and Descriptive Analysis of Online Forums (Preprint)

  2025-03-27

  preprintOpen access

  <sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> Psychiatric neurosurgery, including deep brain stimulation (DBS) and neuroablative procedures, has shown significant promise in treating severe, intractable Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The emergence of innovative neurostimulation techniques and neuroablation targets has catalyzed discussions in mainstream media. Online chat forums such as Reddit and Quora serve as particularly valuable resources for gauging public perception of medical interventions and technologies, making them crucial for researchers and clinicians in understanding how these procedures are viewed by the public. </sec> <sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> This study aims to evaluate public perceptions of psychiatric neurosurgery for OCD, as expressed in online chat forums, and to identify prevalent discussion topics and misinformation. </sec> <sec> <title>METHODS</title> We conducted a qualitative thematic analysis of 254 online posts discussing psychiatric neurosurgery for OCD, posted between 2008 and 2020 on popular forums. Three independent reviewers coded the posts, determining key discussion topics, characteristics, and misinformation. The data were analyzed using Applied Thematic Analysis (ATA) to identify structural and interpretive components and statistical analyses to quantify post characteristics. </sec> <sec> <title>RESULTS</title> There has been a burgeoning interest in psychiatric neurosurgery for OCD on these forums since 2008, with analyzed posts amassing over 25,000 cumulative online views. Thematic analysis identified three primary discussion topics: the efficacy of neurosurgical procedures, the existence of these procedures as treatment options, and their associated risks and benefits. Notably, statistical analysis found that 30.6% of posts contained misinformation, with a significantly higher rate of inaccuracies in posts expressing negative views of surgery compared to those expressing neutral or positive views (p=0.0079). Posts often began with users seeking information or sharing personal experiences, highlighting a gap between public perception and clinical evidence. </sec> <sec> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> Our findings reveal significant interest and engagement in online discussions about psychiatric neurosurgery for OCD, accompanied by substantial misinformation. These insights underscore the need for targeted educational interventions to bridge the gap between public perception and clinical evidence. Addressing misinformation and enhancing public understanding could improve patient outcomes and referral patterns for those considering psychiatric neurosurgery. This study provides valuable data for clinicians aiming to better comprehend and navigate public concerns and misconceptions in this rapidly evolving field. </sec>

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Use of data-driven decision-making among agencies serving individuals with criminal-legal system involvement: a qualitative study

  BMC Health Services Research · 2025-08-28 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Data-driven decision-making is an implementation strategy to improve system performance and health outcomes for individuals with substance use and mental health needs interacting with criminal-legal systems. We currently have limited understanding of how agencies define and use data in their decision-making processes. A qualitative study was conducted with agency leaders from jails, probation and parole, and community mental health and substance use service agencies to characterize (1) how respondents defined data and data use, (2) current level of data use for decision-making, (3) data capacity needs, and (4) agency perspectives on best practices and their recommendations. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with 68 mental health, substance use, jail, and probation leaders from a representative group of 52 U.S. counties from December 2020-March 2022. Data were analyzed using applied thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four themes emerged. For defining data and data use, respondents characterized their current level of data use as rudimentary. In terms of current level of data use, individual-level health or legal information needed to coordinate services, and risk prediction scores were used over system measures. Data capacity needs identified as capacity to track and share data across agencies and inadequate data management. In terms of best practices and agency recommendations, participants highlighted the need for data sharing, standardized data management systems, data dashboards, and in-house data expertise. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study highlight the limited capacity of counties to implement data-driven decision making in mental health, substance use, and criminal legal settings. Addressing gaps in infrastructure, staffing, and data expertise will require technical assistance and targeted policy incentives. System-level metrics and benchmarks, such as the cascade of care, are essential for evaluating cross-agency performance and improving outcomes for individuals with mental health needs.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Strengthening community services to keep individuals with mental illness out of jail: a qualitative analysis of implementation mechanisms in 52 U.S. Counties

  Health & Justice · 2025-11-27

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Identifying mechanisms of implementation approaches helps improve them. This qualitative analysis examined how hypothesized mechanisms (performance monitoring, interagency teams, common goals/mission across agencies, and system integration) influenced implementation outcomes (number of evidence-based services [adoption], people served [reach], and resources to support evidence-based services [component of sustainment]) in county-level efforts to improve community services to keep people with mental illness out of jails. Our study statistician chose a representative sample of 60 U.S. counties and respondents from a sampling frame consisting of community mental health, community substance use, jail, and probation administrators in 950 U.S. counties. We reached and interviewed representatives from 52 of 60 counties (68 respondents in 52 interviews). Interviews were recorded, transcribed, de-identified, and coded using thematic analysis with deductive codes. Study team members created analysis summaries for each mechanism, which were reviewed and verified by other team members. Administrators viewed all hypothesized implementation mechanisms as helpful for at least one outcome. They viewed performance monitoring (tracking metrics over time) as helping counties obtain resources to provide services, re-allocate existing services to better meet clients’ needs, and provided feedback needed to improve services. Interagency teams (i.e., regular meetings with multiple agencies) increased integration and continuity of care across treatment and jail/probation settings, improved client mental health and substance use outcomes, provided access to additional trainings and programs, and helped to change attitudes and policies to support evidence-based practices. Agreement on goals and mission across agencies improved availability of evidence-based practices, client outcomes, and collaboration between community providers and criminal justice partners, and facilitated interagency problem-solving. Integration of care across agencies helped get clients faster, more appropriate care, eliminating unnecessary frustration, illness, incarceration, and suffering. The presence of one mechanism tended to support use of other mechanisms. Representatives from small and medium/large population counties viewed mechanisms as similarly helpful. However, medium/large counties were often further along enacting the mechanisms. Respondents described performance monitoring, interagency teams, common goals across agencies, and system integration improving number of evidence-based services, people served, and resources for improving community services to keep people with mental illness out of jails.

  PublisherDOI

• The development of a mindful eating app for adolescents through mixed-methods feedback from adolescents with overweight or obesity

  Frontiers in Adolescent Medicine · 2025-11-10

  articleOpen access

  Introduction Obesity in childhood and adolescence continues to be a major public health challenge. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) can be great adjuvants to multidisciplinary weight management interventions for adolescents. Delivery of MBI via mobile phones can decrease barriers to engagement. Mindfulness increases present-moment awareness, which may promote self-regulation, which is in turn important for weight management. Several studies have shown that delivering mindfulness training for adolescents via mobile devices may be feasible and acceptable, but this is still a growing area of research. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) is a framework that has been used to understand why individuals choose to use health apps. This study aims to gather adolescent perceptions about an existing mindful eating mobile app designed for adults, via mixed methods research, and to utilize their feedback to design and develop a mindful eating app for adolescents. Methods This was a cross-sectional, mixed methods study. Twenty-five adolescents, 13–17 years old, with a BMI ≥ 85th percentile completed a UTAUT-based survey and a semi-structured interview after viewing excerpts from an existing mindful eating mobile app. Results Adolescents with overweight/obesity are receptive to using a mindful eating app, with some concerns about Effort Expectancy and Self-Efficacy. Youth endorse that such an app should have reminders, short and colorful videos with captions, and it should be engaging, relatable, and non-judgmental. This information was used to develop a mindful-eating web-based app for adolescents, SAMBA (Study of an Adolescent Mindfulness-Based App). Conclusions We developed a mindful eating web-based app for adolescents utilizing feedback from this youth cohort using an existing mobile app as the starting point. Future directions include pilot testing the app and its content.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Dismantling open-label placebos and their rationales: A remote 4-arm randomized controlled trial protocol

  Contemporary Clinical Trials · 2025-07-15 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of rationales on placebos described honestly as inactive pills, (open-label placebos; OLPs) on chronic pain. DESIGN: Dismantling 4-arm randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Remote study with United-States residents. SUBJECTS: Chronic pain patients aged 18 to 89. METHODS: We plan to recruit 340 subjects, randomized before consent (Zelen randomization procedure) into one of 4 groups. Participants in a no-treatment group will not receive any OLPs. Participants in the three OLP groups will be told to take an OLP pill twice daily for 21 days. The information participants are given about placebos will vary. Those in the "Standard-OLP" group will be provided with a rationale similar to those used in prior OLP trials. Those in the "Mindfulness-OLP" group will be provided with a rationale taking a mindfulness approach. Those in the "Control-OLP" group (and no-treatment group) will be provided with length-matched information about pain demographics; no placebo information will be given. This dismantling design will allow us to compare rationales (Standard-OLP vs Mindfulness-OLP), and examine the rationale effect (Standard-OLP or Mindfulness-OLP vs. Control-OLP), the placebo effect (Standard-OLP or Mindfulness-OLP vs. No-treatment), and the pill effect (Control-OLP vs no-treatment). Pain intensity over 42 days is the primary outcome. CONCLUSIONS: This trial will investigate how different components of OLPs impact pain among a chronic pain population. We also highlight novel ways to address limitations of prior OLP studies; namely, lack of blinding and improper controls.

  PublisherDOI

• Pathways to optimize a pediatric telemedicine and medication delivery service: a multi-level qualitative study in Haiti

  BMC Health Services Research · 2025-10-21 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  While telemedicine has become an established component of healthcare delivery globally, challenges to scaling emerging initiatives persist across multiple levels. Over the last 5 years, our team has developed a pediatric telemedicine and medication delivery service (TMDS) in Haiti that integrates clinical guidance with rapid access to medications. Building on successful proof-of-concept studies, we are now well positioned to characterize both general challenges to telemedicine scale-up and those unique to the TMDS model. In this descriptive qualitative study, we conducted focus group discussions and administered written questionaries to TMDS staff, including physicians, nurses, and medication delivery drivers. These qualitative survey instruments were designed to capture staff experiences and suggestions. Using framework matrix analysis, we identified key challenges and opportunities associated with the TMDS model. Fourteen nurses, 13 drivers, and 3 on-call physicians participated in the study. Areas for improvement related to obtaining quality information from virtual exams, the reliability of technology and communication infrastructure, conditions necessary for effective in-person exams, the limited scope of the TMDS workflow and clinical resources, and uncertainty surrounding long-term sustainability. These insights informed the development of targeted potential solutions categorized into three domains: cognitive, physical and mission-oriented. The findings will guide our internal scale-up strategy and may offer guidance to similar telemedicine initiatives.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Feasibility of an Interactive, Iterative Zoom-based Anti-racism Course for Academic Neurology Faculty

  BMC Medical Education · 2025-08-25

  preprintOpen access

  Background: While there has been increasing education on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) for medical students and residents, neurology faculty are also in need of formal education on race and racism. The aim was to implement and evaluate the feasibility, efficacy and preliminary impact of an interactive Zoom-based anti-racism curriculum that was repeated in a new academic year to foster learning and discussion amongst neurology faculty. Methods: A Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion Curriculum (JEDI) was delivered to Brown University Neurology faculty during 2021-2022 and again in 2023-2024. The curriculum consisted of seven Zoom-based didactics sessions and group discussions led by institutional experts in DEI. A pre- and post-curriculum survey was sent to participants, assessing attitudes, interest, and knowledge about race and racism in medicine, confidence and comfort in addressing racism, curricular and departmental assessment, and feedback. Results: Most Brown Neurology faculty (n=36, 90%) participated in at least one session of the first round of implementation. Almost all faculty members endorsed the utility of an anti-racism education, and most reported continued interest. Participants reported increased concern regarding the use of race in medical algorithms as well as increased confidence in race-based discussions. This effect was most prominent among faculty members with less than ten years of experience. Qualitative data illustrated the faculty's awareness of racism in neurology as well as a need for continued anti-racism education. Repeating the curriculum was viewed favorably. Conclusions: The majority of academic neurology faculty at our institution recognize a need for an anti-racism curriculum. Interactive, zoom-based sessions are a feasible medium for education and fostering dialogue about race and racism. Repeating anti-racism education is helpful for medical academicians.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Sara Vargas

  Brown University

  119 shared

• Kate M. Guthrie

  Providence College

  115 shared

• Beth C. Bock

  Brown University

  114 shared

• Peter R. Chai

  Harvard University

  109 shared

• Megan L. Ranney

  97 shared

• Georgia R. Goodman

  Massachusetts General Hospital

  77 shared

• Kenneth H. Mayer

  Fenway Health

  73 shared

• Shira Dunsiger

  John Brown University

  66 shared