Ding Quan Ng
Graduate Trainee, University of California, Irvine
9 active projects
Disparity in cancer survivorship and supportive care
Scientific Questions Being Studied
Project 1: Is socioeconomic status (SES), specifically annual household income insurance status, associated with the uptake of traditional healer services (e.g. acupuncture, mind body counselling, massage) among cancer survivors? How will this association be influence by the degree of delayed medical care and non-trauma acute care utilization?
Project Purpose(s)
- Disease Focused Research (cancer)
- Population Health
Scientific Approaches
Univariate and multivariate logistic regression.
Anticipated Findings
Project 1: We hypothesize that cancer survivors with higher SES and greater accessibility to healthcare (i.e. less delayed care) are more likely to also seek traditional healer services. Additionally, those survivors with lower SES, lower accessibility of care (more delayed care regardless of reasons), but with the greatest degree of acute care utilization are the least likely to seek traditional healer services. Traditional healer services, despite its evidence-based potential to be integrated with survivorship care and improve psychosocial outcomes (i.e., integrative oncology), is a luxury good that is only affordable and utilized by the richest cancer survivors.
Demographic Categories of Interest
- Access to Care
Data Set Used
Controlled TierResearch Team
Owner:
- Ding Quan Ng - Graduate Trainee, University of California, Irvine
Collaborators:
- Jiayuan Wang - Undergraduate Student, University of California, Irvine
- Hyunjung Lee - Senior Researcher, American Cancer Society
- Dongjun Lee - Project Personnel, American Cancer Society
AYA Cancer Survivorship v7(Controlled)
Scientific Questions Being Studied
With improvements in the early detection and treatment of malignancies, the number of cancer survivors is anticipated to increase dramatically over the next decade. However, cancer survivors are often at risk of long-term morbidities, related directly to the cancer itself, to pre-existing co-morbidities and especially to their anti-cancer therapies. Toxicities from anti-cancer treatment are detrimental and survivors are often plagued by a wide range of treatment-induced toxicities that lead to functional impairment at significant economic, emotional and social cost. Clearly, the healthcare needs of survivors are tremendous during survivorship. This study is designed to investigate the predictors of long-term morbidities in cancer survivors, with a focus on clinical, demographic and genetic predispositions.
Project Purpose(s)
- Disease Focused Research (Complications arise from cancer and cancer-treatment)
- Social / Behavioral
- Ancestry
Scientific Approaches
A cohort of cancer survivors will be nested using the database. Various clinical, demographic and genetic variables will be evaluated on their associations with complications in cancer survivors. Complications of cancer survivors are investigated using a number of outcomes, including patient-related outcomes, healthcare utilizations (unnecessary admissions and medication use), as well as economic outcomes. Factors associated with higher risks for complications of cancer treatment will be investigated.
Anticipated Findings
It is anticipated certain clinical outcomes (such as comorbidities as well as certain cancers) will prone survivors to higher risks of having complications. This will allow interventional studies or prevention studies that can be designed to cater for specific patient populations.
Demographic Categories of Interest
This study will not center on underrepresented populations.
Data Set Used
Controlled TierResearch Team
Owner:
- Ivann Agapito - Graduate Trainee, University of California, Irvine
- Ding Quan Ng - Graduate Trainee, University of California, Irvine
PICAR - CT
Scientific Questions Being Studied
Current literature calls attention to new and alarming records in drug-related deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13% of Americans reported starting or increasing substance use as a coping mechanism for COVID-19 related stress. (1) In addition, reports of anxiety and depressive disorders were also increased during the earlier months of the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to the same months in 2019. To date, the effects of COVID-19 related psychological distress and its associated outcomes remain largely un-investigated in communities of color partly due to stigmas surrounding mental health, medical distrust, and decreased behavioral health resource accessibility within these communities. (2-7) Results from this study are intended to highlight a need for continued expansion of equitable access to behavioral health resources and services among racial- ethnic minority communities.
Project Purpose(s)
- Population Health
Scientific Approaches
Data on a cohort of racial-ethnic minority patients will be collected from the All of Us COPE survey database and reviewed for baseline and sociodemographic information. Participants eligible for inclusion in this study are those who self-report their race or ethnicity as Hispanic and/or nonwhite. The period of time from which data will be collected will be May 2020 through July 2020. Medication misuse will be defined as affirmative responses to the query “did you use prescription opioids/stimulants/sedatives in any way a doctor did not direct you to use it?”. Psychological distress will be classified using questions assessing mood and anxiety based on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) depression module and the Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7) mental health rating scales. Both screening tools are based on the DSM-IV criteria for major depression and generalized anxiety disorder and have well-documented reliability and validity in literature. (8,9)
Anticipated Findings
This study intends to provide an analysis of the COPE survey data to investigate the relationship between substance misuse and COVID-19 induced psychological distress among racial-ethnic minorities. As the immensity of both direct and indirect effects of COVID-19 remains under explored, investigating this topic in our study is paramount to further understanding substance misuse and behavioral health within these vulnerable populations. The overarching goal of this study is to utilize the granularity of ethnicities and races in the All of Us program to supplement recently described increases in rates of substance misuse amongst various racial and ethnic groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are hopeful that this study will inform on an area of focus which could promote health equity and overall improved health outcomes for minority communities. Results of this study have great potential to inform health services and policies.
Demographic Categories of Interest
- Race / Ethnicity
- Age
- Geography
- Access to Care
- Education Level
- Income Level
Data Set Used
Controlled TierResearch Team
Owner:
- Nana Entsuah - Project Personnel, University of California, Irvine
- Ding Quan Ng - Graduate Trainee, University of California, Irvine
- Aryana Sepassi - Early Career Tenure-track Researcher, University of California, Irvine
DIVERS
Scientific Questions Being Studied
Immunizations are one of the most important and effective preventative health measures available, but relative to public health goals, are underutilized in adults. Developing a better understanding of how vaccines are used positions us to develop strategies to mitigate modifiable risk factors and improve vaccination rates. Results from our study will address a knowledge gap in understanding data characteristics available in the All of Us dataset for patients who have received one or more vaccine(s). Results from this study is intended to provide us with stronger justification for access to medical and pharmacy claims data to develop prediction models on which variables have the highest amplitude of impact.
Project Purpose(s)
- Disease Focused Research (Baseline analysis of the population with documented vaccination record.)
- Population Health
- Social / Behavioral
Scientific Approaches
The All of Us database will be used as a source population for a convenience sample in this cross-sectional study to characterize the sociodemographic, health-related and lifestyle characteristics of adults who receive single and/or multiple types of vaccines in addition to health and lifestyle choices. Data on a cohort of patients who received vaccine doses during a period of time that may vary depending on the indicated use of each vaccine will collected from the All of Us database and reviewed for trends. These categories of factors will also be used to compare groups of participants who completed the hepatitis B and HPV vaccine series with those who started, but did not complete these vaccine series. Descriptive statistics, correlations and cross-tabulation will be used to describe specific differences in racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, gender-based, and health- and lifestyle-related determinants of the use of vaccines in patients included in this unique database.
Anticipated Findings
This proposed study provides a cross-sectional evaluation of the All of Us program data to develop a baseline understanding of the relevant and available vaccination data. Most existing literature describing adult vaccination rates are based on self-reports and few focus on multiple vaccines with correlating health data. Comprehensive data regarding vaccination rates exist, but lack investigation to specific lifestyle, health, and sociodemographic characteristics. More importantly descriptions of vaccine studies have been mainly limited to individual vaccine types. Developing a baseline assessment of individuals who have vaccine data included in the All of Us program will provide insights into which characteristics are modifiable as well as a description of the data available. This is intended to serve as a starting point for future research endeavors.
Demographic Categories of Interest
This study will not center on underrepresented populations.
Data Set Used
Registered TierResearch Team
Owner:
- Stanley Jia - Undergraduate Student, University of California, Irvine
- Saba Sohail - Graduate Trainee, University of California, Irvine
- Kevin Zhang - Undergraduate Student, University of California, Irvine
- Ding Quan Ng - Graduate Trainee, University of California, Irvine
- Aryana Sepassi - Early Career Tenure-track Researcher, University of California, Irvine
- Alexandre Chan - Late Career Tenured Researcher, University of California, Irvine
Collaborators:
- Keri Hurley-Kim - Other, University of California, Irvine
SPADE
Scientific Questions Being Studied
The overarching goal of this study is to improve the prediction of clinically significant adverse drug events (ADEs) by harnessing the data that is made available through the All of Us program. Although a number of ADE risk prediction tools are published in the literature, none are universally accepted and used routinely in clinical practice. Robust ADE risk prediction tools are lacking because most datasets utilized to derive ADEs are largely not generalizable. Furthermore, interindividual susceptibility to ADEs might be explainable by genetic variations, and such information is not often available in prediction models. Our specific aims are:
1. Determine the prevalence, specific types and characteristics of ADEs among participants who are receiving chronic disease medications.
2. Derive and validate a prediction model to identify characteristics that are associated with ADEs related to selected chronic disease medications.
Project Purpose(s)
- Disease Focused Research (Definitions, analyses and prediction of adverse drug reactions/events)
- Population Health
- Social / Behavioral
Scientific Approaches
Descriptive statistics will be utilized to characterize the prevalence, specific types and characteristics of ADEs for each drug. Univariate analysis with chi-square tests will be conducted to calculate odds ratios (together with 95% confidence interval) for ADEs associated with each potential risk factor, followed by multivariate logistic regression analysis using backwards selection to identify statistically significant factors and ultimately derive an ADE prediction model for each selected drug.
Anticipated Findings
Our study also intends to fill a current research gap and present findings to contribute an indispensable part of a future larger study that examines ADEs for association with both patient characteristics and pharmacogenetic information, when available, which will contribute an additional layer of information critical to the preventability of ADEs. There will be added focus on specific ethnic groups previously under-described in literature, including Hispanics and African Americans. While limitations such as inconsistency in recording of ADEs and risk factors are anticipated, an advantage of this study is that cases and controls will be selected from a large participant pool (All of Us) rather than a specific site, which will allow us to evaluate the impact of ADEs in a group that better mirrors the general patient population in the clinical setting.
Demographic Categories of Interest
This study will not center on underrepresented populations.
Data Set Used
Registered TierResearch Team
Owner:
- Stanley Jia - Undergraduate Student, University of California, Irvine
- Lu He - Graduate Trainee, University of California, Irvine
- Kai Zheng - Mid-career Tenured Researcher, University of California, Irvine
- Kevin Zhang - Undergraduate Student, University of California, Irvine
- Ding Quan Ng - Graduate Trainee, University of California, Irvine
- Alexandre Chan - Late Career Tenured Researcher, University of California, Irvine
Collaborators:
- Jahnavi Maddhuri - Undergraduate Student, University of California, Irvine
- Jatin Goyal - Undergraduate Student, University of California, Irvine
- Arvind Kumar - Undergraduate Student, University of California, Irvine
Cancer Survivorship v5
Scientific Questions Being Studied
With improvements in the early detection and treatment of malignancies, the number of cancer survivors is anticipated to increase dramatically over the next decade. However, cancer survivors are often at risk of long-term morbidities, related directly to the cancer itself, to pre-existing co-morbidities and especially to their anti-cancer therapies. Toxicities from anti-cancer treatment are detrimental and survivors are often plagued by a wide range of treatment-induced toxicities that lead to functional impairment at significant economic, emotional and social cost. Clearly, the healthcare needs of survivors are tremendous during survivorship. This study is designed to investigate the predictors of long-term morbidities in cancer survivors, with a focus on clinical, demographic and genetic predispositions.
Project Purpose(s)
- Disease Focused Research (Complications arise from cancer and cancer-treatment)
- Social / Behavioral
- Ancestry
Scientific Approaches
A cohort of cancer survivors will be nested using the database. Various clinical, demographic and genetic variables will be evaluated on their associations with complications in cancer survivors. Complications of cancer survivors are investigated using a number of outcomes, including patient-related outcomes, healthcare utilizations (unnecessary admissions and medication use), as well as economic outcomes. Factors associated with higher risks for complications of cancer treatment will be investigated.
Anticipated Findings
It is anticipated certain clinical outcomes (such as comorbidities as well as certain cancers) will prone survivors to higher risks of having complications. This will allow interventional studies or prevention studies that can be designed to cater for specific patient populations.
Demographic Categories of Interest
This study will not center on underrepresented populations.
Data Set Used
Registered TierResearch Team
Owner:
- Ding Quan Ng - Graduate Trainee, University of California, Irvine
- Alexandre Chan - Late Career Tenured Researcher, University of California, Irvine
Collaborators:
- Stanley Jia - Undergraduate Student, University of California, Irvine
- Ivann Agapito - Graduate Trainee, University of California, Irvine
Cancer Survivorship v4
Scientific Questions Being Studied
With improvements in the early detection and treatment of malignancies, the number of cancer survivors is anticipated to increase dramatically over the next decade. However, cancer survivors are often at risk of long-term morbidities, related directly to the cancer itself, to pre-existing co-morbidities and especially to their anti-cancer therapies. Toxicities from anti-cancer treatment are detrimental and survivors are often plagued by a wide range of treatment-induced toxicities that lead to functional impairment at significant economic, emotional and social cost. Clearly, the healthcare needs of survivors are tremendous during survivorship. This study is designed to investigate the predictors of long-term morbidities in cancer survivors, with a focus on clinical, demographic and genetic predispositions.
Project Purpose(s)
- Disease Focused Research (Complications arise from cancer and cancer-treatment)
- Social / Behavioral
- Ancestry
Scientific Approaches
A cohort of cancer survivors will be nested using the database. Various clinical, demographic and genetic variables will be evaluated on their associations with complications in cancer survivors. Complications of cancer survivors are investigated using a number of outcomes, including patient-related outcomes, healthcare utilizations (unnecessary admissions and medication use), as well as economic outcomes. Factors associated with higher risks for complications of cancer treatment will be investigated.
Anticipated Findings
It is anticipated certain clinical outcomes (such as comorbidities as well as certain cancers) will prone survivors to higher risks of having complications. This will allow interventional studies or prevention studies that can be designed to cater for specific patient populations.
Demographic Categories of Interest
This study will not center on underrepresented populations.
Data Set Used
Registered TierResearch Team
Owner:
- Ding Quan Ng - Graduate Trainee, University of California, Irvine
- Alexandre Chan - Late Career Tenured Researcher, University of California, Irvine
Collaborators:
- Stanley Jia - Undergraduate Student, University of California, Irvine
Cancer Survivorship v3
Scientific Questions Being Studied
With improvements in the early detection and treatment of malignancies, the number of cancer survivors is anticipated to increase dramatically over the next decade. However, cancer survivors are often at risk of long-term morbidities, related directly to the cancer itself, to pre-existing co-morbidities and especially to their anti-cancer therapies. Toxicities from anti-cancer treatment are detrimental and survivors are often plagued by a wide range of treatment-induced toxicities that lead to functional impairment at significant economic, emotional and social cost. Clearly, the healthcare needs of survivors are tremendous during survivorship. This study is designed to investigate the predictors of long-term morbidities in cancer survivors, with a focus on clinical, demographic and genetic predispositions.
Project Purpose(s)
- Disease Focused Research (Complications arise from cancer and cancer-treatment)
- Social / Behavioral
- Ancestry
Scientific Approaches
A cohort of cancer survivors will be nested using the database. Various clinical, demographic and genetic variables will be evaluated on their associations with complications in cancer survivors. Complications of cancer survivors are investigated using a number of outcomes, including patient-related outcomes, healthcare utilizations (unnecessary admissions and medication use), as well as economic outcomes. Factors associated with higher risks for complications of cancer treatment will be investigated.
Anticipated Findings
It is anticipated certain clinical outcomes (such as comorbidities as well as certain cancers) will prone survivors to higher risks of having complications. This will allow interventional studies or prevention studies that can be designed to cater for specific patient populations.
Demographic Categories of Interest
This study will not center on underrepresented populations.
Data Set Used
Registered TierResearch Team
Owner:
- Ding Quan Ng - Graduate Trainee, University of California, Irvine
- Alexandre Chan - Late Career Tenured Researcher, University of California, Irvine
Collaborators:
- Stanley Jia - Undergraduate Student, University of California, Irvine
SPADE (v5 dataset)
Scientific Questions Being Studied
The overarching goal of this study is to improve the prediction of clinically significant adverse drug events (ADEs) by harnessing the data that is made available through the All of Us program. Although a number of ADE risk prediction tools are published in the literature, none are universally accepted and used routinely in clinical practice. Robust ADE risk prediction tools are lacking because most datasets utilized to derive ADEs are largely not generalizable. Furthermore, interindividual susceptibility to ADEs might be explainable by genetic variations, and such information is not often available in prediction models. Our specific aims are:
1. Determine the prevalence, specific types and characteristics of ADEs among participants who are receiving chronic disease medications.
2. Derive and validate a prediction model to identify characteristics that are associated with ADEs related to selected chronic disease medications.
Project Purpose(s)
- Disease Focused Research (Definitions, analyses and prediction of adverse drug reactions/events)
- Population Health
- Social / Behavioral
Scientific Approaches
Descriptive statistics will be utilized to characterize the prevalence, specific types and characteristics of ADEs for each drug. Univariate analysis with chi-square tests will be conducted to calculate odds ratios (together with 95% confidence interval) for ADEs associated with each potential risk factor, followed by multivariate logistic regression analysis using backwards selection to identify statistically significant factors and ultimately derive an ADE prediction model for each selected drug.
Anticipated Findings
Our study also intends to fill a current research gap and present findings to contribute an indispensable part of a future larger study that examines ADEs for association with both patient characteristics and pharmacogenetic information, when available, which will contribute an additional layer of information critical to the preventability of ADEs. There will be added focus on specific ethnic groups previously under-described in literature, including Hispanics and African Americans. While limitations such as inconsistency in recording of ADEs and risk factors are anticipated, an advantage of this study is that cases and controls will be selected from a large participant pool (All of Us) rather than a specific site, which will allow us to evaluate the impact of ADEs in a group that better mirrors the general patient population in the clinical setting.
Demographic Categories of Interest
This study will not center on underrepresented populations.
Data Set Used
Registered TierResearch Team
Owner:
- Stanley Jia - Undergraduate Student, University of California, Irvine
- Lu He - Graduate Trainee, University of California, Irvine
- Kai Zheng - Mid-career Tenured Researcher, University of California, Irvine
- Kevin Zhang - Undergraduate Student, University of California, Irvine
- Ding Quan Ng - Graduate Trainee, University of California, Irvine
- Alexandre Chan - Late Career Tenured Researcher, University of California, Irvine
Collaborators:
- Jahnavi Maddhuri - Undergraduate Student, University of California, Irvine
- Jatin Goyal - Undergraduate Student, University of California, Irvine
- Arvind Kumar - Undergraduate Student, University of California, Irvine
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