Dr. Kyounghae Kim joined Korea University College of Nursing as an assistant professor in March 2020. She earned a PhD in 2015 from Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing where she completed her postdoc. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Korea University in 2005, Master of Science in Nursing (Adult Nurse Practitioner) at Columbia University in 2010, and Post Master’s certificate in Family Nurse Practitioners at Lehman College in 2011.

 

Before she joined Korea University, she worked as an assistant professor at the University of Connecticut (UConn) School of Nursing and worked as an advanced practice registered nurse at the UConn Health’s Comprehensive Spine Center. In her practice, she focused on non-surgical and non-pharmacological pain management in individuals living with chronic neck and/or low back pain. Her research interests lie in health disparities, health literacy, and prevention and management of chronic disease via innovative methods and application of the biopsychosocial model among diverse populations.

 

In her free time, Dr. Kim and her husband enjoy being parents to their one little boy Liam. She also enjoys camping and just generally being outdoors.

 

 

Publications 

 

Note: [C] indicates correspondence; [D] indicates data-based

 

Shin D, Hong S, Lee KW, Shivappa N, Hebert JR, Kim K. Pro-inflammatory diet associated with low back pain in adults aged 50 and older. Appl Nurs Res. Epub ahead of print. [C, D]

 

Kim K, Xu W, Hong S, Starkweather A, Brown FR, Walsh S. Perceived discrimination and physical activity mediate the associations between receiving a survivorship care plan and cancer pain. Cancer Epidemiol. Epub ahead of print. [C, D]

 

 

Han, H.R., Chung, Y., Kim, K., Lee, J.E., & Kim, M.T. Depression in North Korean refugees: a mixed methods study. Public Health. 2020;185:283-289. doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2020.05.046 [D]

 

Kim, K., Ramesh, D., Perry, M., Bernier, K., Young, E., Walsh, S., & Starkweather, A. Effect of physical activity on neurophysiologic and gene expression profiles in chronic low back pain: A study protocol. Nurs Res. 2020;69(1):74-81. doi: 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000400 [C]

 

Han, H.R., Kim, K., Cudjoe, J., Kim, M. Familiarity, navigation, and comprehension: Key dimensions of health literacy in Pap test use among Korean American women. J Health Commun. 2019;24(6):585-591. doi: 10.1080/10810730.2019.1607955 [D]

 

Kang, J., & Kim, K. Human papillomavirus vaccine predictors among U.S. adults aged 18 to 45 by sexual orientation. West J Nurs Res. 2019;41(12):1761-1789. doi: 10.1177/0193945919836448 [C, D]

 

Kim, K., & Han, H.R. The association between health literacy and breast and cervical cancer screening behaviors: Findings from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Nurs Res. 2019;68(3):177-188. doi: 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000346 [C, D]

 

Han, H.R., Floyd, O., Kim, K., Cudjoe, J., Seal, S., Warren, N., & Sharps, P. Intergenerational interventions for people living with HIV and their families: A systematic review. AIDS and Behavior. 2019;23(1):21-36. doi: 10.1007/s10461-018-2223-1

 

Kim, K., Heinze, K., Xu, J., Kurtz, M., Park, H., & Nolan, M.T. Theories of health care decision making at the end of life: A meta-ethnography. West J Nurs Res. 2018;40(12):1861-1884. doi: 10.1177/0193945917723010 [C, D]

 

Han, H.R., Kim, K., Murphy, J., Wilson, P., & Sharps, P. Community health worker interventions to promote psychosocial outcomes among people living with HIV – A systematic review. PLoS One. 2018;13(4):e0194928. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194928

 

Kim, K., Xue, Q., Nolan, M.T., Walton-Moss, B., & Han, H.R. Decisional balance and self-efficacy mediate the association among provider advice, health literacy and cervical cancer screening. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2018;32:55-62. doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2017.12.001 [C, D]

 

Kim, K & LeClaire, A.R. A systematic review of factors influencing human papillomavirus vaccination among immigrant parents in the United States. Health Care Women Int. 2019;40(6):696-718. doi: 10.1080/07399332.2017.1404064 [C]

 

Kim, K., Kim, S., & Chung, Y. A qualitative study exploring factors associated with Pap test use among North Korean refugees. Health Care Women Int. 2017;38(10): 1115-1129. doi: 10.1080/07399332.2017.1359605 [C, D]

 

Kim, K., Kim, S., Gallo, J.J., Nolan, M.T., & Han, H.R. Decision making about Pap test use among Korean immigrant women: A qualitative study. Health Expect. 2017;20(4): 685-695. doi: 10.1111/hex.12507 [C, D]

 

Kim, K., Bauck, A., Monroe, A., Mallory, M., & Aslakson, R. Critical care nurses’ perceptions of and experiences with chaplains. Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing. 2017;19(1): 41-48. doi: 10.1097/NJH.0000000000000303 [C, D]

 

Han, H.R., Song, Y., Kim, M., Hedlin, H.K., Kim, K., Lee, H.B., & Roter, D. Breast and cervical cancer screening literacy among Korean American women: A community health worker-led intervention. Am J Public Health. 2017;107(1):159-165. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2016.303522 [D]

 

Han, H.R., Lee, J.E., Kim, K., Chung, Y., Kim, M.T., Robinson, C., & Lee, M. Healthcare utilization among North Korean refugees in South Korea: A mixed methods study. Public Health. 2017;142: 116-120. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2016.07.021 [D]

 

Kim, K., Gitlin L.N., & Han H.R. Kim et al. respond. Am J Public Health. 2016;106(8):e10-1. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2016.303276

 

Kim, K., Choi, J. Choi, E., Nieman, C., Joo, J., Lin, F., Gitlin, L. & Han, H.R. Effects of community-based health worker interventions to improve chronic disease management and care among vulnerable populations: A systematic review. Am J Public Health. 2016;106(4):671. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302987a

 

Xu, J., Kim, K., Melissa, K., & Nolan, MT. Mentored peer reviewing for PhD faculty and students. Nurse Education Today. 2016;37:1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt

 

Kim, K., & Han, H. R. Potential links between health literacy and cervical cancer screening behaviors: A systematic review. Psycho-oncology. 2016;25(2):122-30. doi: 10.1002/pon.3883 [C]

 

Kim, K., Kim, B., Choi, E., Song, Y., &Han, H.R. Knowledge, perceptions, and decision making about human papillomavirus vaccination among ethnic minority women—A qualitative study using focus groups. Women’s Health Issues. 2015;25(2):112-9. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2014.11.005 [D]

 

Research

Dr. Kim’s research interests lie primarily in the area of person-centeredness and the application of the biopsychosocial model and digital health into the prevention and management of chronic illness focusing specifically on cancer and low back pain.

 

Her doctoral dissertation investigated how health literacy influences women’s decision making to have a Pap test using a mixed-methods study. The study illustrated that psychosocial factors such as cervical cancer knowledge, decisional balance, and self-efficacy served as pathways through which health literacy affects Pap test screening, and this research offered additional insights into these potential pathways by suggesting various decision types such as autonomous, hierarchical, and collaborative patterns; investigating how barrier and facilitators influence patients’ decisions based their Pap test status, and presented how these elements reflected on their decisions.

 

Since joining the University of Connecticut (UConn) School of Nursing, she expanded her research interest in chronic illness to the application of biopsychosocial model and innovative methods into the prevention and management of chronic illness among diverse populations. Her NINR-funded pilot study aims to investigate the impact of physical activity on the neurophysiologic and gene expression profiles of chronic low back pain, thereby suggesting person-centered recommendations for physical activity and self-management among people with nonspecific chronic low back pain. She is currently collaborating with a multidisciplinary research team in the US to continue her work at UConn.

 

Grants

 

2020-2021      Understanding the Role of Physical Activity, Pain Flares, Inflammatory Biomarkers in Managing Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain: A Longitudinal Descriptive Study, Role: Principal Investigator, National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF). 2020R1G1A1102465, Total direct costs 30,000,000 KRW

 

2018–2020       Impact of Physical Activity on the Neurophysiologic and Gene Expression Profiles of Chronic Low Back Pain: A Longitudinal Cohort Study, Role: Pilot Principal Investigator, NINR P20NR016605, Total direct costs $25,000

 

2018–2020       Development of SPINE (a Sensitivity to Pain IN mE) Mobile Application to Improve Low Back Pain Self-Management, Role: Principal Investigator, UConn Research Excellence Award, total direct costs $50,000

 

2018–2020       Beliefs and Experiences of Patient-Centered Pain Management among Individuals with Chronic Pain and Health Care Providers, Role: Co-Principal Investigator, UConn Committee on Interprofessional Excellence in Healthcare Seed Grants, total direct costs $5,000

 

2017–2020       Developing and Piloting a Health Literate mHealth Intervention to Promote HPV Vaccine Uptake, Role: Principal Investigator, UConn InCHIP Seed Grant for Junior Faculty/Researcher Affiliates, Total direct cost $7,500

 

2018–2019       Building an Integrated Approach to Pain Management and Opioid Addiction in Federally Qualified Health Centers through Project ECHO, Role: Pain Expert Specialist, Total direct costs $ 10,668

 

2018–2019       Factors Associated with Human Papillomavirus Administration: Findings of a Retrospective Study of Pediatric Clinics in Connecticut, Role: Principal Investigator, UConn Scholarship Facilitation Fund, Total direct costs $2,000

 

2017–2019       Receipt of Survivorship Care Plans and Pain Control among Cancer Survivors: The Moderating Role of Perceived Discrimination in Health Care, Role: Principal Investigator, UConn Scholarship Facilitation Fund, Total direct costs $2,000

 

2013−2015       Exploring Perceptions and Decision Making About Cervical Cancer Preventive Practices in Korean American Women: How does It Differ by Women’s Health Literacy? Role: Principal Investigator, Sigma Theta Tau International Nu Beta Chapter Research Grant Award, Total direct costs $1,000

 

2013−2015    Uncovering the Links between Health Literacy and Cervical Cancer Disparity in Korean American Women: A mixed methods study, Role: Principal Investigator, Sigma Theta Tau International Small Grant, Total direct costs $4,984

 

2013−2014       Health Literacy and Cervical Cancer Screening Behavior among Korean American Women, Role: Principal Investigator, Fahs-Beck Fund for Research and Experimentation, Doctoral Dissertation Award, Total direct costs $5,000

 

Adult Health Nursing/Medical-Surgical Nursing IV (NRSG277)

Adult Health Nursing/Medical-Surgical Nursing Practicum I (NRSG285), II (NRSG286), & IV (NRSG288)

Health and Nutrition (NRSG220), Family, Society and Health (NRSG160), & Introduction to Nursing Research (NRSG234)

 

 

To prospective Kim Lab Members

 

 Working in our lab is an opportunity to learn pain, self-management, applications of the biopsychosocial model and precision medicine to chronic health conditions, and technology-based approaches in a welcoming environment.

Indivisuals from a wide range of cultural backgrounds ar encouraged to apply. If interested, please contact Dr. Kyounghae Kim for additional information.

 

 

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Undergraduates

 

Our lab is seeking highly motivated and dedicated individuals who want to learn about potential projects in the lab.

 

 

Graduates and Post-doctoral scholars

 

-Our lab considers talented applicants on a continuing basis depending on fit the lab and funding.

-Post-doctoral scholars may prepare for funding applications upon joining our lab.

-Our lab prioritizes your career development.

 

 

 

 

If interested, you can get more information on our website.

https://sites.google.com/view/kyounghaekim

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Individuals from a wide range of cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply. 

If interested, please contact Dr. Kyounghae Kim for additional information.