Biography

Dr. Sarah Bauerle Bass is an associate professor (SBS) and director of the Risk Communication Laboratory. Her research focuses on health and risk communication and how public health messages are crafted for diverse audiences to enhance decision-making. She has advanced the field of health communication by applying commercial marketing techniques to the development and testing of messages or interventions. Using perceptual mapping and vector modeling methods, Dr. Bass has shown how three-dimensional models can enhance message development and tailor it for specific behavior or attitude barriers. Content can then be applied to interventions using technology (mHealth, the Internet, Web 2.0 applications) and community-based applications. Dr. Bass is also utilizing psycho-marketing methods to assess emotional and physiological response to and processing of health messages through visual, graphic, Web or textual message elements using eye tracking and other bio-physiological measures. She has been funded by NIH (e.g. NCI, NIBIB, NIMH, NIDA), organizations (e.g. American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association), state and city agencies (e.g.  Pennsylvania DOH, PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, AIDS Activities Coordinating Office), and industry (Merck, Gilead, Genentech). Her current projects include studies on PrEP in transgender women and women who inject drugs, decision making around tumor genetic profile testing and clinical trial participation in African American cancer patients, disease management strategies in African American patients with diabetes, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, airborne infectious disease behavior in young adults with ASD, perceptions of violence in Philadelphia, and medication adherence in women with HIV in the South, among others. Dr. Bass has won the prestigious Great Teacher Award (2012), the highest teaching honor at Temple University, as well as the Lindback Award for excellence in teaching (2007), and the Excellence in Teaching Award (2006) from the College of Public Health. She has also been awarded the Riegelman Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Public Health Education by the Association of Schools and Programs in Public Health (ASPPH) and in 2021 was awarded the Everett M. Rogers Award for Excellence in Public Health Communication from the American Public Health Association (APHA).

Dr. Bass also is a member of the Cancer Prevention and Control research program at Fox Chase Cancer Center.

Education

  • PhD, Health Studies, Temple University
  • MPH, Community Health Education, Temple University
  • BBS, Communications, Northwestern University

Curriculum Vitae 

Labs: TU Risk Communication Lab

Google Scholar: Sarah Bass's Google Scholar profile

Courses Taught

Number

Name

Level

HRPR 5999

Research Experience in Health Professions

Graduate

SBS 8105

Health Communication

Graduate

Selected Publications

  • Hoadley, A., Fleisher, L., Kenny, C., Kelly, P.J.a., Ma, X., Wu, J., Guerra, C., Leader, A.E., Alhajji, M., D'Avanzo, P., Landau, Z., & Bass, S.B. (2024). Exploring Racial Disparities in Awareness and Perceptions of Oncology Clinical Trials: Cross-Sectional Analysis of Baseline Data From the mychoice Study. JMIR Cancer, 10, p. e56048. Canada. doi: 10.2196/56048

  • Luck, C.C., Bass, S.B., Chertock, Y., Kelly, P.J.A., Singley, K., Hoadley, A., & Hall, M.J. (2024). Understanding perceptions of tumor genomic profile testing in Black/African American cancer patients in a qualitative study: the role of medical mistrust, provider communication, and family support. J Community Genet, 15(3), pp. 281-292. Germany. doi: 10.1007/s12687-024-00700-3

  • Hoadley, A., Bass, S., & Rubin, D.J. (2023). Adverse childhood event subtypes and routine diabetes care utilization among U.S. adults with Type 2 diabetes. Psychol Trauma. United States. doi: 10.1037/tra0001433

  • Zisman-Ilani, Y., Khaikin, S., Savoy, M.L., Paranjape, A., Rubin, D.J., Jacob, R., Wieringa, T.H., Suarez, J., Liu, J., Gardiner, H., Bass, S.B., Montori, V.M., & Siminoff, L.A. (2023). Disparities in Shared Decision-Making Research and Practice: The Case for Black American Patients. Ann Fam Med, 21(2), pp. 112-118. United States. doi: 10.1370/afm.2943

  • Kelly, P.J.A., Pilla, J., Otor, A., Hoadley, A., & Bass, S.B. (2022). "We figured it out as we went along": Staff perspectives of COVID-19 response efforts at a large North American syringe services programme. Health Soc Care Community, 30(6), pp. e4605-e4616. United States. doi: 10.1111/hsc.13864

  • Bass, S.B., Swavely, D., Allen, S., Kelly, P.J., Hoadley, A., Zisman-Ilani, Y., Durrani, M., Brajuha, J., Iwamaye, A., & Rubin, D.J. (2022). Understanding Type 2 Diabetes Self-Management in Racial/Ethnic Minorities: Application of the Extended Parallel Processing Model and Sensemaking Theory in a Qualitative Study. Sci Diabetes Self Manag Care, 48(5), pp. 372-386. United States. doi: 10.1177/26350106221116904

  • Mosavel, M., Hoadley, A., Akinkugbe, A.A., Garcia, D.T., & Bass, S.B. (2022). Religiosity and COVID-19: Impact on Use of Remote Worship and Changes in Self-Reported Social Support. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 19(16). Switzerland. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19169891

  • Zimmaro, L.A., Bass, S.B., Hoadley, A., Sorice, K.A., & Reese, J.B. (2022). USING PERCEPTUAL MAPPING TO UNDERSTAND BREAST CANCER PATIENTS' TOP BARRIERS TO DISCUSSING SEXUAL CONCERNS. ANNALS of BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE, 56(SUPP 1), pp. S202-S202. Retrieved from http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/

  • Kelly, P.J., Pilla, J., Scialanca, M., Tatakis, N., Hawkin, T., & Bass, S.B. (2022). IMPLEMENTING THE PREP EMPOWERMENT ACHIEVED BY COUNSELING & EDUCATION (PEACE) PROJECT FOR WOMEN WHO INJECT DRUGS. ANNALS of BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE, 56(SUPP 1), pp. S375-S375. Retrieved from http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/

  • Alhajji, M., Bass, S.B., Nicholson, A., Washington, A., Maurer, L., Geynisman, D.M., & Fleisher, L. (2022). Comparing Perceptions and Decisional Conflict Towards Participation in Cancer Clinical Trials Among African American Patients Who Have and Have Not Participated. J Cancer Educ, 37(2), pp. 395-404. England. doi: 10.1007/s13187-020-01827-w

  • Hoadley, A., Bass, S.B., Chertock, Y., Brajuha, J., D'Avanzo, P., Kelly, P.J., & Hall, M.J. (2022). The Role of Medical Mistrust in Concerns about Tumor Genomic Profiling among Black and African American Cancer Patients. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 19(5). Switzerland. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19052598

  • Bass, S.B., Kelly, P.J., Brajuha, J., Gutierrez-Mock, L., Koester, K., D'Avanzo, P., & Sevelius, J. (2022). Exploring barriers and facilitators to PrEP use among transgender women in two urban areas: implications for messaging and communication. BMC Public Health, 22(1), p. 17. England. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-12425-w

  • Bass, S.B., Hollin, I.L., Kelly, P.J., Alhajji, M., D’Avanzo, P., Maurer, L., Gillespie, A., Schatell, D., & Gardiner, H. (2022). Perceptions of Live Donor Kidney Transplantation Using Segmentation Analysis and Perceptual Mapping to Understand Differences by Self-Reported Health Status in People on Dialysis. Frontiers in Communication, 6, p. 785186. doi: 10.3389/fcomm.2021.785186

  • Bass, S.B., Kelly, P.J., Hoadley, A., Lloret, A.A., & Organtini, T. (2022). Mapping Perceptual Differences to Understand COVID-19 Beliefs in Those with Vaccine Hesitancy. J Health Commun, 27(1), pp. 49-61. United States. doi: 10.1080/10810730.2022.2042627

  • Bass, S.B., Kelly, P.J.A., Pandit-Kerr, S., Pilla, J., Morris, K., Larsen, E., Wisdom, J.P., & Torralva, P.R. (2022). "It's my frenemy": A qualitative exploration of knowledge and perceptions of fentanyl use during the COVID-19 pandemic in people who use drugs at a syringe services program in Philadelphia, PA. Front Public Health, 10, p. 882421. Switzerland. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.882421

  • Bass, S.B., Brajuha, J., Kelly, P.J., D'Avanzo, P., Lambertini, E., Nordhagen, S., & Monterrosa, E.C. (2022). Changing Behavior, Attitudes, and Beliefs About Food Safety: A Scoping Review of Interventions Across the World and Implications for Empowering Consumers. Foodborne Pathog Dis, 19(1), pp. 19-30. United States. doi: 10.1089/fpd.2021.0056

  • Tripicchio, G.L., Kay, M., Herring, S., Cos, T., Bresnahan, C., Gartner, D., Sosinsky, L.S., & Bass, S.B. (2021). Development and Preliminary Feasibility of iByte4Health: A Mobile Health (mHealth) Pediatric Obesity Prevention Intervention to Engage Parents with Low-Income of Children 2-9 Years. Nutrients, 13(12). Switzerland. doi: 10.3390/nu13124240

  • Sarwer, D.B., Gasoyan, H., Bass, S.B., Spitzer, J.C., Soans, R., & Rubin, D.J. (2021). Role of weight bias and patient-physician communication in the underutilization of bariatric surgery. Surg Obes Relat Dis, 17(11), pp. 1926-1932. United States. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2021.07.013

  • D'Avanzo, P.A., Bass, S.B., Kelly, P.J., Brajuha, J., Gutierrez-Mock, L., & Sevelius, J. (2021). Community Belonging and Attitudes Towards HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Among Transgender Women. AIDS Behav, 25(9), pp. 2728-2742. United States. doi: 10.1007/s10461-021-03183-2

  • Sauceda, J.A., Santiago-Rodriguez, E.I., Zaragoza, G., Rivas, C.E., Venegas, L., Zamudio-Haas, S., Gutierrez-Mock, L., Bass, S.B., & Sevelius, J.M. (2021). Housing Stability and Transactional Sex among Spanish-Speaking and English-Speaking Transgender Women. Annals of LGBTQ Public and Population Health, 2(2), pp. 135-141. doi: 10.1891/lgbtq-2020-0013

  • Rubin, D.J., Swavely, D.A., Brajuha, J., Kelly, P.J., Allen, S., Hoadley, A., Iwamaye, A., Zisman-Ilani, Y., & Bass, S.B. (2021). Y Understanding T2D Self-Management in Racial/Ethnic Minorities: Application of the Extended Parallel Processing Model and Sensemaking Theory. DIABETES, 70. doi: 10.2337/db21-548-P

  • Zisman-Ilani, Y., Siminoff, L.A., Savoy, M.L., Paranjape, A., Liu, J., Jacob, R.A., Gardiner, H.M., Bass, S.B., Montori, V.M., & Rubin, D.J. (2021). Unmet Communication Needs and Barriers of Black and African Americans with Type 2 Diabetes. DIABETES, 70. doi: 10.2337/db21-519-P

  • Hall, M.J., D'Avanzo, P., Chertock, Y., Brajuha, J.A., & Bass, S.B. (2021). Impact of medical mistrust (MM) on perceptions of tumor genomic profiling (TGP) among African American (AA) cancer patients: Application of perceptual mapping (PM). JOURNAL of CLINICAL ONCOLOGY, 39(15). doi: 10.1200/JCO.2021.39.15_suppl.e22527

  • Hall, M.J., Bass, S.B., Chertock, Y., Brajuha, J.A., & D'Avanzo, P. (2021). Oncologists’ (ONCs) perceptions of tumor genomic profiling (TGP) and barriers to communicating secondary hereditary risk to African American (AA) patients. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 39(15_suppl), pp. 10592-10592. doi: 10.1200/jco.2021.39.15_suppl.10592

  • Thomas, E.C., Bass, S.B., & Siminoff, L.A. (2021). Beyond rationality: Expanding the practice of shared decision making in modern medicine. Soc Sci Med, 277, p. 113900. England. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113900

  • Hoadley, A., Bass, S.B., Brujaha, J., D'Avanzo, P.A., & Kelly, P.J. (2021). Healthcare beliefs, health information seeking, and healthcare setting preferences among women who inject drugs by community supervision status. Health Justice, 9(1), p. 10. England. doi: 10.1186/s40352-021-00135-9

  • Greener, J.R., Bass, S.B., Alhajji, M., & Gordon, T.F. (2021). Prospective assessment of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy decision-making in women with average risk: an application of perceptual mapping. Transl Behav Med, 11(1), pp. 143-152. England. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibz159

  • Bass, S.B., Wilson-Genderson, M., Garcia, D.T., Akinkugbe, A.A., & Mosavel, M. (2021). SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Hesitancy in a Sample of US Adults: Role of Perceived Satisfaction With Health, Access to Healthcare, and Attention to COVID-19 News. Front Public Health, 9, p. 665724. Switzerland. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.665724

  • Hall, M.J., D'Avanzo, P., Chertock, Y., Brajuha, J., & Bass, S.B. (2021). Oncologists' Perceptions of Tumor Genomic Profiling and the Communication of Test Results and Risks. Public Health Genomics, 24(5-6), pp. 304-309. Switzerland. doi: 10.1159/000517486

  • Bass, S.B., D'Avanzo, P., Alhajji, M., Ventriglia, N., Trainor, A., Maurer, L., Eisenberg, R., & Martinez, O. (2020). Exploring the Engagement of Racial and Ethnic Minorities in HIV Treatment and Vaccine Clinical Trials: A Scoping Review of Literature and Implications for Future Research. AIDS Patient Care STDS, 34(9), pp. 399-416. United States. doi: 10.1089/apc.2020.0008

  • Simoncini, G.M., Koren, D.E., D'Avanzo, P., Clayton, E., Quinones, J.D., Brajuha, J., & Bass, S.B. (2020). EXPERIENCE WITH PREP: SURVEY AMONG IM AND OB/GYN FACULTY AND RESIDENTS. JOURNAL of GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE, 35(SUPPL 1), pp. S123-S123. Retrieved from http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/

  • Bass, S.B., Brajuha, J.A., Kelly, P.J., D'Avanzo, D.A., Coleman, J., & Benitez, J.A. (2020). SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA CHOOSE: INDEPTH QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS ON BARRIERS AND FACILITATORS TO PREP USE IN WOMEN WHO INJECT DRUGS. ANNALS of BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE, 54, pp. S65-S65. Retrieved from http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/

  • D'Avanzo, P.A., Bass, S.B., Brajuha, J.A., Luis, G., & Sevelius, J.M. (2020). PREP PERCEPTIONS AMONG PROVIDERS AND ASSOCIATIONS WITH FORMAL TRANSGENDER HEALTH TRAINING. ANNALS of BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE, 54, pp. S762-S762. Retrieved from http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/

  • Fleisher, L. & Bass, S.B. (2020). PRELIMINARY RESULTS FROM THE MYCHOICE STUDY TO IMPROVE INFORMED DECISION MAKING IN CLINICAL TRIAL PARTICIPATION. ANNALS of BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE, 54, pp. S717-S717. Retrieved from http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/

  • Simoncini, G.M., Koren, D.E., D'Avanzo, P.A., Quinones, J.J.D., Brajuha, J., & Bass, S.B. (2020). Physician Survey Results: Clinical Practice Training Is Needed to Improve Ob/Gyn PrEP Adoption. OBSTETRICS and GYNECOLOGY, 135, pp. 9S-9S. Retrieved from http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/

  • Bass, S.B., Hall, M., Chertock, Y., Brajuha, J.A., & Coleman, J. (2020). PERCEPTIONS OF TUMOR GENOMIC PROFILING IN AFRICAN AMERICAN CANCER PATIENTS: AN IN-DEPTH QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS. ANNALS of BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE, 54, pp. S21-S21. Retrieved from http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/

  • Alhajji, M. & Bass, S.B. (2020). DIFFERENCES IN KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SICKLE CELL DISEASE AND EARLY CARRIER SCREENING BETWEEN PARENTS AND ADOLESCENTS IN SAUDI ARABIA. ANNALS of BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE, 54, pp. S586-S586. Retrieved from http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/

  • Bass, S.B., Jessop, A., Gashat, M., Brajuha, J.A., Alhajji, M., Burke, M., Wellington, C., & Ventriglia, N. (2020). "TAKE CHARGE, GET CURED": TESTING A MHEALTH HCV TREATMENT DECISION TOOL FOR METHADONE PATIENTS FOR ACCEPTABILITY AND EFFICACY. ANNALS of BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE, 54, pp. S291-S291. Retrieved from http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/

  • Simoncini, G.M., Koren, D.E., DʼAvanzo, P.A., Quinones, J.J.D., Brajuha, J., & Bass, S.B. (2020). Physician Survey Results. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 135, p. 9s. doi: 10.1097/01.aog.0000662968.89099.6f

  • Ruggieri, D.G., Bass, S.B., Alhajji, M., & Gordon, T.F. (2020). Understanding Parents' Perceptions of School-Based BMI Screening and BMI Report Cards Using Perceptual Mapping: Implications for School Nurses. J Sch Nurs, 36(2), pp. 144-156. United States. doi: 10.1177/1059840518789243

  • Jessop, A.B., Bass, S.B., Brajuha, J., Alhajji, M., Burke, M., Gashat, M.T., Wellington, C., Ventriglia, N., Coleman, J., & D'Avanzo, P. (2020). "Take Charge, Get Cured": Pilot testing a targeted mHealth treatment decision support tool for methadone patients with hepatitis C virus for acceptability and promise of efficacy. J Subst Abuse Treat, 109, pp. 23-33. United States. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2019.11.001

  • Fleisher, L., Bass, S.B., Shwarz, M., Washington, A., Nicholson, A., Alhajji, M., Geynisman, D.M., Maurer, L., Greener, J., & Kenny, C. (2020). Using theory and user-centered design in digital health: The development of the mychoice communication tool to prepare patients and improve informed decision making regarding clinical trial participation. Psychooncology, 29(1), pp. 114-122. England. doi: 10.1002/pon.5254

  • Saxon, B., Bass, S.B., Wright, T., & Panick, J. (2019). Ebola and the rhetoric of US newspapers: assessing quality risk communication in public health emergencies. Journal of Risk Research, 22(10), pp. 1309-1322. doi: 10.1080/13669877.2018.1473465

  • Lepore, S.J., Rincon, M.A., Buzaglo, J.S., Golant, M., Lieberman, M.A., Bass, S.B., & Chambers, S. (2019). Digital literacy linked to engagement and psychological benefits among breast cancer survivors in Internet-based peer support groups. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl), 28(4), p. e13134. England. doi: 10.1111/ecc.13134

  • D'Avanzo, P.A., Bass, S.B., Brajuha, J., Gutierrez-Mock, L., & Sevelius, J. (2019). MEDICAL MISTRUST AND WILLINGNESS TO USE PREP AMONG TRANS WOMEN. ANNALS of BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE, 53, pp. S605-S605. Retrieved from http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/

  • Bass, S.B., Brajuha, J., Koester, K., Gutierrez-Mock, L., & Sevelius, J. (2019). BARRIERS AND FACILITATORS TO PREP USE AMONG TRANSWOMEN IN PHILADELPHIA AND SACRAMENTO: A COMPARISON OF TWO CITIES. ANNALS of BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE, 53, pp. S765-S765. Retrieved from http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/

  • Alhajji, M., Bass, S., & Dai, T. (2019). Cyberbullying, Mental Health, and Violence in Adolescents and Associations With Sex and Race: Data From the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Glob Pediatr Health, 6, p. 2333794X19868887. United States. doi: 10.1177/2333794X19868887

  • Jessop, A.B., Bass, S.B., Gutierrez, M., & Gashat, M.T. (2019). Perceptions of Barriers and Benefits of HCV Treatment and Correlates to Treatment Intention in Methadone Patients. J Health Care Poor Underserved, 30(4), pp. 1433-1454. United States. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2019.0094

  • D'Avanzo, P.A., Bass, S.B., Brajuha, J., Gutierrez-Mock, L., Ventriglia, N., Wellington, C., & Sevelius, J. (2019). Medical Mistrust and PrEP Perceptions Among Transgender Women: A Cluster Analysis. Behav Med, 45(2), pp. 143-152. United States. doi: 10.1080/08964289.2019.1585325

  • Alhajji, M., Bass, S., & Dai, T. (2019). Cyberbullying, Mental Health, and Violence in Adolescents and Associations With Sex and Race: Data From the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Global Pediatric Health, 6. doi: 10.1177/2333794X19868887