Laurel Hansell brings training and expertise as both an applied anthropologist and a public health researcher to her work, with a focus on qualitative research and stakeholder engagement.
In her current role as a collaborative scientist at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI), she provides qualitative methodological expertise to a variety of projects and topic areas and contributes to data collection and analysis. She has conducted individual interviews with patients and health care providers on numerous studies, including SUAY (Safer Use of Antipsychotics in Youth), BP-CHECK, and Back on Track. She has also conducted focus groups and member check activities on study such as BP-CHECK and Back In Action.
Laurel joined KPWHRI in 2018 as an implementation and evaluation associate and was promoted to collaborative scientist in 2022, having taken on roles with increasing responsibility using her qualitative research expertise.
Laurel earned a master’s degree in public health with a focus on health services from the University of Washington. She also received a master’s in applied anthropology from the University of South Florida and a bachelor’s in anthropology from Southern Illinois University.
In her free time, Laurel enjoys exploring local parks and attending Seattle Storm and Reign sporting events.
Chronic pain and opioids
Evers S, Hsu C, Gray MF, Chisolm DJ, Dolcé M, Autio K, Thompson EE, Ervin E, Quintana LM, Beck A, Hansell L, Penfold R. Decision-making among adolescents prescribed antipsychotic medications: Interviews to gain perspectives of youth without psychosis or mania. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2022 Jun 12;13591045221105197. doi: 10.1177/13591045221105197. Online ahead of print. PubMed
Coleman KJ, Paz SR, Bhakta BB, Taylor B, Liu J, Yoon TK, Macias M, Arterburn DE, Crawford CL, Drewnowksi A, Figueroa Gray MS, Hansell LD, Ji M, Lewis KH, Moore DD, Murali SB, Young DR. Cohort profile: the Bariatric Experience Long Term (BELONG): a long-term prospective study to understand the psychosocial, environmental, health and behavioural predictors of weight loss and regain in patients who have bariatric surgery. BMJ Open. 2022 May 24;12(5):e059611. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059611. PubMed
Green BB, Anderson ML, Ehrlich K, Hall YN, Hansell LD, Hsu C, Joseph D, Margolis KL, McClure JB, Munson SA, Thompson MJ. Blood pressure checks for diagnosing hypertension: Health professionals’ knowledge, beliefs, and practices. J Am Board Fam Med. 2022 Mar-Apr;35(2):310-319. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2022.02.210318. PubMed
Tran MN, Bacci JL, Dillon-Sumner L, Odegard P. Enhancing adult immunization care by community pharmacists: A qualitative analysis of Project VACCINATE. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2020 Oct 16:S1544-3191(20)30449-0. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2020.08.036. PubMed
Averill MM, Dillon-Sumner L, Stergachis A, Sconyers J, Summerside N, Brazg T, Errett N. Integrating public health students into interprofessional education. J Interprof Care. 2020 May-Jun;34(3):427-430. doi: 10.1080/13561820.2019.1690436. Epub 2019 Dec 21. PubMed
Home blood pressure monitoring shown to be an excellent alternative for making new diagnoses of hypertension.
Health care is increasingly online—KPWHRI is studying telehealth options for opioid use disorder and chronic pain.