U-M School of Nursing Dose of Discovery

When do disparities in alcohol and cannabis use among sexual minority young adults begin to emerge? UMSN researchers Dr. Marvin Schilt-Solberg, Dr. Philip Veliz, John Jardine, Dr. Sean Esteban McCabe and Dr. Rebecca Evans-Polce, along with U-M colleagues, analyzed national data from more than 12,000 young adults. Their findings identify young adulthood as an important window for targeted substance use prevention and support.https://myumi.ch/Ax4PJ

How clinicians talk about pregnancy risk can shape whether Black patients feel supported or blamed. Research from Dr. Emily Dove-Medows, Dr. Alison Walsh and colleagues examines these conversations from both patient and provider perspectives and highlights the need for better tools to discuss racism, structural inequities and pregnancy risk. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jmwh.70168

UMSN-led global initiatives are bringing nursing leaders together to explore and strengthen advanced practice nursing around the world. Dr. Jeanne-Marie Stacciarini and colleagues highlight how international partnerships, shared learning and collaboration can help countries develop approaches that fit their own health care systems.

For adolescents and young adults with cancer, completing treatment doesn't always mean leaving cancer behind. Dr. Robert Knoerl and Dr. Victoria Wytiaz highlight the persistent physical and psychosocial symptoms young cancer survivors can face and why survivorship care must go beyond survival. Their editorial calls for symptom-management strategies designed around the unique needs, priorities and everyday lives of adolescents and young adults.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apjon.2026.101014

What makes adolescents and young adults with cancer more likely to participate in a symptom-management clinical trial? Dr. Robert Knoerl and colleagues examined which trial features matter most to young cancer survivors. Their findings show that treatment type, the importance of the research topic and the burden placed on participants can all shape willingness to participate.https://doi.org/10.1097/NCC.0000000000001463

Environmental toxicants and psychosocial stressors can both affect health, but what happens when people experience them together? Research co-authored by Dr. Olivia Halabicky reviewed more than 5,000 papers and identified just 15 studies examining these combined exposures. The findings reveal important gaps in our understanding and highlight the need for research that considers environmental and social conditions together across different stages of life. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2026.129042

Can two different activity trackers tell the same story? In this episode, Dr. Jung Yoen Son, senior author Janet L. Larson, PhD, RN, FAAN, and colleagues compare two widely used research-grade activity monitors in adults with COPD and explore how better measurement can strengthen future physical activity research. https://myumi.ch/xj7qq 

More than 5 million Americans have used kratom, but who is using it and why? Sean Esteban McCabe and colleagues examine national patterns of kratom use and its links to mental health and substance use disorders, offering insights to help inform public health and clinical care. Read more: https://myumi.ch/bDyr3 

Climate change isn't only an environmental issue. It's a mental health issue, too. Dr. Jeanne-Marie Stacciarini and colleagues explore how mental health nurses can help communities prepare for, respond to and recover from climate-related challenges through education, advocacy and leadership. Read more: https://myumi.ch/4xr64 

Nearly 4 in 10 Black women in this study reported feeling blamed by a health care provider during pregnancy. Alison R. Walsh and Emily Dove-Medows examine how provider blame, self-blame and communication may shape trust, decision-making and maternal care experiences. Read more: https://myumi.ch/DWwk5