Education

• PhD (2004), Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY.
• MSN (1994), Georgetown University School of Nursing, Washington, DC.
• BSN (1992), Jordan University Faculty of Nursing, Amman, Jordan.

Research Interests

• Cervical cancer prevention and screening
• HPV vaccination
• Health disparities
• Access to health care services
• Community-based interventions

Professional Awards and Honors

Dec. 2018      Peer-To-Peer Blue Ribbon Award of The Brooklyn Hospital Center
May 2017       New Jersey Health Foundation’s Excellence in Teaching
May 2013       Foundation of the UMDNJ Excellence in Research Award
April 2012      Omicron Pi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, Global Health Services Award
April 2010      Omicron Pi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, Excellence in Scholarship Award

Research Activities / Grants:

2016-2018

Engaging Healthcare Providers to Reduce Disparities in HPV Vaccination among Adolescents in New Jersey.
Role: PI
Sponsor: Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) (Amount: $50,000)
The purpose of the study is to examine provider-related barriers for HPV vaccine recommendation and develop strategies to engage HCPs in improving HPV vaccine uptake among adolescents in New Jersey

2016-ongoing

HPV Vaccine Initiation, Completion, and Dosing Intervals among Adolescents in New Jersey, using 2010-2013 and 2014-2017 data from the New Jersey Immunization Information System.
Role: PI
Sponsor: School of Nursing.
The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence and correlates of HPV vaccination (initiation, completion, and dosing intervals) in New Jersey. The study also includes geographic mapping and identification of areas with significantly lower HPV vaccination.

2016-ongoing

Cancer Incidence and Patterns of Care among New Jersey Medicaid Patients.
Role: Co-PI (PI: Tsui)
Sponsor: Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) (Amount: $50,000)
The goal of the proposed study is to develop a data infrastructure that will enable detailed study of care provided to New Jersey Medicaid beneficiaries with breast, colorectal, or invasive cervical cancer. The study links the New Jersey State Cancer Registry (NJSCR) data for breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer cases with Medicaid claims and encounter data for 2012-2014.

2014-2015

Initiation and Completion of HPV Vaccination among Male and Female Adolescents in Low-Income Areas.
Role: PI
Sponsor: New Jersey Health Foundation (Amount: $9,000).
The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence and correlates (demographic and healthcare setting factors) associated with HPV vaccination among low-income, adolescents in the Greater Newark area of New Jersey.

2012-2014

Knowledge, Practices, and Attitudes about HPV Vaccination among Ethnically Diverse Hispanic Mothers and their Healthcare Providers
Role: PI
Sponsor: American Nurses Foundation (Amount: $24,980)
The purpose of this study is to examine knowledge, practices, and attitudes about HPV vaccination among diverse groups of Hispanic mothers, in low-income urban areas. The study also seeks the views of Hispanic mothers and their healthcare providers on barriers and facilitators for HPV vaccination initiation and completion.

2010-2012

Enhancing Living Donor Kidney Transplant Education (R39)
Role: Consultant (PI: Frances Weng)
Sponsor: HRSA
The purpose of this study is to identify transplant center-based interventions that will increase understanding of the opportunities for and process, risks, and benefits of living kidney donation, among a diverse cohort of kidney transplant candidates. My role included conducting, analyzing, and publishing the qualitative component of the study.

2009-2010

Addressing Cervical Cancer Disparities among Ethnically Diverse Black Women: Their Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs about HPV Vaccination and Cancer Screening.
Role: Co-PI (PI: Diane Brown)
Sponsor: UMDNJ Foundation
This qualitative study examines knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs towards HPV vaccination as well as personal, cultural, and health systems factors which facilitate cervical cancer screening among an ethnically diverse group of low income Black women.

2007-2010

Health Issues Associated with Intimate Partner Violence among Minority Women
Role: PI
Sponsor: UMDNJ Foundation
This qualitative study examines self-reported physical and mental health issues associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) among African American and Hispanic women.

2007-2010

Attitudes of Palestinian men and women toward wife abuse, criminalization of physical violence, and seeking help from social workers, police, and court.
Role: Co-investigator (PI: Muhammad M. Haj-Yahia)
Sponsor: UMDNJ School of Nursing
This study examines views of 625 Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza Strip toward wife abuse and their attitudes toward criminalizing wife abuse and toward seeking help from social workers and legal services.

2005-2007

Attitudes of Jordanian Men and Women about Wife Abuse.
Role: Co-investigator (PI: Muhammad M. Haj-Yahia)
Sponsor: UMDNJ School of Nursing
This study examined the attitudes of 260 Jordanian men and women toward wife abuse, perceived causes, and preferred methods for coping as well as attitudes toward seeking help from family, community figures, social services, and legal system.

2003-2004

Utilization Patterns of Emergency Department Services by Victims of Intimate Partner Violence (Doctoral Dissertation).
Program: Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY.
Role: PI
Sponsor: American Association of University Women
This study examined utilization of emergency department services among visits assigned ICD codes related to intimate partner violence, using secondary data analysis of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS).

Publications:

Btoush R, Haj-Yahia MM, Elias H. Attitudes of Palestinian Women and Men toward Police Intervention in Cases of Wife Assault. Manuscript under Review.

Btoush R, Brown D, Tsui J, Toler L, Bucalo J. Knowledge and Attitudes towards HPV Vaccination among Latina Mothers in an Urban, Low-Income Area. Health Equity. (In Revision).

Hindin P, Btoush R, Carmody D. History of Childhood Abuse and Risk for Cervical Cancer among Women in Low-Income Areas. J Womens Health. 2018. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2018.6926.

Haj-Yahia MM, Btoush R. Attitudes of Palestinians toward Social Work Interventions in Cases of Wife Assault. Violence Against Women. 2018; 24(5):603-626. doi: 10.1177/1077801217708886.

Hindin P, Btoush R, Brown DR, Munet-Vilaro F. Intimate partner violence and risk for cervical cancer. Journal of Family Violence. 2015; 30 (8): 1031-1043; DOI 10.1007/s10896-015-9733-7.

Btoush R, Brown DR, Fogarty S, Carmody D. Initiation of HPV vaccination among female and male adolescents in low-income urban areas. American Journal of Public Health. 2015; 105(11): 2388-96. PMID: 25973828; DOI:10.2105/AJPH.2015.302584

Wilson R, Brown DR, Carmody D, Fogarty S. HPV vaccination completion and compliance with recommended dosing intervals among female and male adolescents in an inner-city community health center. Journal of Community Health, 40(3): 395-403, 2015, DOI: 10.1007/s10900-014-9950-7.

Boothe MAS, Wilson R, Lassiter, TE, Holland, B. Sexual behaviors and teen dating violence among Black, Hispanic, and White female adolescents. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, 23(10): 1072-1089, 2014.

Healy-Rodriguez MA, Freer C, Pontiggia L, Wilson R, Metraux S, Lord L. Impact of a logistics manager program on admitted patient boarders within an emergency department. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 40(2):138-145, 2014.

Wilson R, Brown DR, Boothe MAS, Harris, C. Knowledge and acceptability of the HPV vaccine among ethnically diverse Black women. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 14(6), 2012.

Wilson R, Brown DR, Boothe MAS, Weng, FL. Improving the delivery of patient education about kidney transplant in a transplant center. Progress in Transplantation,22(4): 403-412, 2012.

Haj-Yahia MM, Wilson R, Naqvi SA. Justification, perception of severity and harm, and criminalization of wife abuse in the Palestinian society. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 27 (10): 1932-1958, 2012.

Brown DR, Wilson R, Boothe M, Harris, C. Cervical cancer screening among an ethnically diverse black population: Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices. Journal of the National Medical Association, 103(8): 719-728, 2011.

Clark C, Everson-Rose S, Suglia S, Btoush R, Alonso A,  Haj-Yahia M. The Association between exposure to political violence and intimate partner violence in a context of political occupation. The Lancet. 2010; 375 (9711): 310–16.

Btoush R, Campbell JC, Ethical Conduct in Intimate Partner Violence Research: Challenges and Strategies. Nursing Outlook. 2009; 57 (4): 210-216.

Btoush R, Campbell JC, Gebbie KM. Care provided in visits coded for intimate partner violence in a national Survey of emergency departments. Women’s Health Issues. 2009; 19 (4): 253-262.

Btoush R, Haj-Yahia MM. Attitudes of Jordanian society toward wife abuse. Journal of Interpersonal Violence 2008; 23 (11): 1531-1554.

Btoush R, Campbell JC, Gebbie KM. Characteristics of coded intimate partner violence victims and the health care delivery system in a national survey of emergency departments. Journal of Emergency Nursing. 2008; 34(5): 419-27.

Merrill J, Btoush R, Gupta M, Gebbie K. A history of public health workforce enumeration. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice. 2003; 9(6): 459-470.

Gebbie K, Merrill J, Hwang I, Gupta M, Btoush R, Wagner M. Identifying individual competency in emergency areas of practice: An applied approach. Qualitative Health Research. 2002; 12(7): 990-999.

Abstracts:

Btoush R, Tsui J, Hudson S, Carmody D. The work environment and healthcare provider recommendation of the HPV vaccine. Oral presentation at Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) 2019 Conference on Creating Healthy Work Environments, Feb. 22-24, 2019, in New Orleans, LA.

Hindin P, Btoush R. Examining the Association between Intimate Partner Violence and Risk for Cervical Cancer in Urban Minority Women. Poster presentation at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), July 1, 2015, in National Harbor, MD.

Btoush R, Brown D, Munet-Vilaro F, Bucalo J. Latina Mothers Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding HPV Vaccination for Their Children. Oral presentation at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), July 1, 2015, in National Harbor, MD.

Hindin P, Btoush R. The association between exposure to intimate partner violence and having an abnormal Pap test and HPV infections among women in a low-income, urban area. Oral presentation at the 26th International Nursing Research Congress of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI), July 27, 2015, in San Juan, PR.

Btoush R, Brown DR, Munet-Vilaro F, Bucalo J. Knowledge and attitudes towards HPV vaccination among Latina mothers in an urban, low-income area. Poster presentation at the 26th International Nursing Research Congress of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI), July 24, 2015, in San Juan, PR.

Btoush R, Brown D, Carmody D, Bucalo J. Correlates of HPV vaccine initiation, completion, and dosing intervals among female and male adolescents in inner-city community health centers for 2011-2013. Oral presentation at the 26th International Nursing Research Congress of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI), July 24, 2015, in San Juan, PR.

Venkateswaran N, Hindin P, Wilson R. Intimate partner violence (IPV) and risk for cervical cancer in low-income, urban areas. Poster Presentation at the 2014 Annual Retreat on Cancer Research, Rutgers – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ (May 21, 2014).

Bucalo J, Wilson R, Brown DR. Knowledge and attitudes about HPV vaccination among Hispanic mothers. Poster Presentation at the 2014 Annual Retreat on Cancer Research, Rutgers – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ (May 21, 2014).

Hindin P, Wilson R, Brown DR, Munet-Vilaro F. A comprehensive model for intimate partner violence and cervical cancer. Poster presentation at NIH/NIMH’s 2014 International Symposium on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Dec. 1, 2014, in Washington, DC.

Wilson RM, Brown DR; Carmody DP. HPV vaccine completion and dosing intervals among low-income adolescents. Poster presentation at NIH/NIMH’s 2014 International Symposium on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Dec. 2, 2014, in Washington, DC.  

Wilson, RM, Brown, DR, Munet-Vilaro, F, Bucalo J. Knowledge and attitudes among Latina mothers about HPV vaccination. Poster presentation at NIH/NIMH’s 2014 International Symposium on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Dec. 2, 2014, in Washington, DC.

Hindin, P, Wilson RM, Venkateswaran N. Examining the association between intimate partner violence and risk for cervical cancer in low-income women in urban areas. Poster presentation at NIH/NIMH’s 2014 International Symposium on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Dec. 2, 2014, in Washington, DC.

Wilson, RM, Brown, DR, Carmody, DP. Prevalence and correlates of HPV vaccine initiation among low-income adolescents. Poster presentation at NIH/NIMH’s 2014 International Symposium on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Dec. 1, 2014, in Washington, DC.

Hindin, P, Wilson, RM, Brown, DR, Munet-Vilaro, F. A comprehensive model for intimate partner violence and cervical cancer. Poster presentation at NIH/NIMH’s 2014 International Symposium on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Dec. 1, 2014, in Washington, DC.

Bucalo J, Wilson R, Brown D. Knowledge and attitudes about HPV vaccination among Hispanic mothers. Poster Presentation at the 2014 Annual Retreat on Cancer Research, Rutgers – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ (May 21, 2014).

Venkateswaran N, Hindin P, Wilson R. Intimate partner violence (IPV) and risk for cervical cancer in low-income, urban areas. Poster Presentation at the 2014 Annual Retreat on Cancer Research, Rutgers – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ (May 21, 2014).

Boothe, MAS, Wilson R, Lassiter, T. Sexual behaviors and teen dating violence among Black, Hispanic, and White female adolescents. Podium presentation at the American Public Health Association (APHA) 141st Annual Meeting, Boston, MA (Nov. 5, 2013).

Lassiter, T, Wilson R, Boothe, MAS. Exposure to dating/sexual violence and substance abuse among Black, Hispanic, and White adolescent females. Poster presentation at the American Public Health Association (APHA) 141st Annual Meeting, Boston, MA (Nov. 6, 2013).

Wilson R, Brown DR, Fogarty S. Initiation and Completion of HPV Vaccination among Adolescents in Low-Income Urban Areas. Poster presentation the 40th Annual Conference of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN), Washington, DC (Oct. 17, 2013).

Wilson R, Brown, DR, Calder, D. An Integrative Conceptual Model for the Intersection of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Health Disparities. Poster presentation at the 2012 NIH/NIMHD Summit on the Science of Eliminating Health Disparities, National Harbor, MD (Dec. 17, 2012).

Wilson R, Campbell JC, Brown DR, Boothe MAS. Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) among African American and Hispanic Women: Physical and Mental Health, Social Wellbeing, and Use of Healthcare Services. Poster presentation at the 2012 NIH/NIMHD Summit on the Science of Eliminating Health Disparities, National Harbor, MD (Dec. 17, 2012).
Boothe M, Wilson R, & Lassiter T. (April 2012). Teen Dating Violence and Sexual Risk Behaviors: An Analysis of the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. 2012 NJ Public Health Symposium.

Wilson R, Brown DR, Boothe MAS, & Weng, FL. Improving the delivery of patient education about kidney transplant in a clinical setting. Oral presentation at the 2012 State of the Science Congress on Nursing Research, Washington, DC (Sept. 14, 2012)

Wilson R, Campbell JC, Brown DR, & Boothe MAS. Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) among African American and Hispanic Women: Physical Health, Mental Health, and Social Wellbeing. Oral presentation at the 1st Urban Systems Conference: Urban Change through Education, Health, and Environment, Newark, NJ (June 8, 2012).

Wilson R, Brown DR, Boothe MAS, & Harris CE. A Qualitative Study of the Knowledge and Attitudes of Ethnically Diverse Black Women toward HPV Vaccination. Oral Presentation at the 2012 Annual Retreat on Cancer Research, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ (May 24, 2012).

Wilson R, Brown DR, Boothe MAS, & Harris CE. Cervical cancer disparities: Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices of ethnically diverse Black women. Oral presentation at the 139th American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (Nov. 1, 2011)

Brown DR, Wilson R, Boothe MAS, & Harris CE. HPV vaccine acceptability among ethnically diverse Black women. Oral presentation at the 139th American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (Oct. 31, 2011).

Brown DR, Wilson R, Boothe MAS, & Harris CE. Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, and Practices about Cervical Cancer Screening among Ethnically Diverse Black Women. Oral presentation at the 41st Annual Conference of the Association of Black Sociologists, Las Vegas, NV (Aug. 18, 2011).

Wilson R, Brown DR, Boothe MAS, & Harris CE. Cervical cancer screening: Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices among ethnically diverse Black women. Oral presentation at the 2011 Annual Retreat on Cancer Research, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ (May 26, 2011).

Brown DR, Wilson R, Boothe MAS, & Harris CE. HPV vaccine acceptability: Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices among ethnically diverse Black women. Poster presentation at the 2011 Annual Retreat on Cancer Research, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ (May 26, 2011).