Featured Scholar: Ukamaka Oruche, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC
Associate Professor
Community & Health Systems
IU School of Nursing
ude[dot]ui[at]ehcurou
Dr. Ukamaka Oruche’s interdisciplinary intervention program supports parents and caregivers of adolescents with disruptive behavior disorders (DBD). Adolescents with DBD, characterized by ongoing patterns of antisocial and defiant behaviors, have lower educational achievement, greater involvement with the criminal justice system, and lower rates of stable, long-term placement in the child welfare system than adolescents without DBD.
These adolescents have complex treatment regimens that require active parent involvement with child service and mental health systems. Parents describe feeling stressed, disrespected, and blamed for their adolescents’ behavior problems. These negative experiences leave parents feeling disengaged from care and less likely to follow recommended treatment, which can contribute to poor adolescent outcomes.
Low-income urban parents, particularly African Americans, are at greater risk for aversive interactions with professionals because of socio-economic disadvantage. Dr. Oruche developed the theoretical-based Family Management Efficacy intervention to address the stress parents and caregivers experience in caring for their adolescents with DBD.
Her intervention research is designed to strengthen family member’s perceived self-efficacy to manage interactions both within the family and with child service system professionals. Research products include a standardized treatment manual, a facilitator guide, parent workbooks, and fidelity checklists.
Dr. Oruche’s work to support parents and caregivers of adolescents with DBD is another example of how IUPUI faculty are TRANSLATING RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE.
Selected Publications in IUPUI ScholarWorks
With several research works contributed to IUPUI's free, open access repository, Dr. Oruche has made translational research knowledge available to professionals, researchers, students, and communities around the world.
Oruche, Ukamaka M. (2017). Development and Testing of the FAME Intervention for Caregivers of Adolescents with Disruptive Behaviors in African American Families. Poster presentation. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/14528
Oruche, U. M., Robb, S. L., Aalsma, M., Pescosolido, B., Brown-Podgorski, B., & Draucker, C. B. (2017). Developing a Multiple Caregiver Group for Caregivers of Adolescents With Disruptive Behaviors. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/14251
Duwve, J., Herrmann, D., McClelland, J., & Oruche, U. (June 20, 2017). Breakout Session. Paper presented at the 2017 Indiana Health Workforce Collaborative, Indianapolis, IN. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/13408
Knopf, A. S., McNealy, K. R., Al-Khattab, H., Carter-Harris, L., Oruche, U. M., Naanyu, V., & Draucker, C. B. (2017). Sexual learning among East African adolescents in the context of generalized HIV epidemics: A systematic qualitative meta-synthesis. PLOS ONE, 12(3), e0173225. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/12401
Oruche, U. M., Carpenter, J. S., Renbarger, J., & Ross, S. E. (2016). Raising the Level of Nursing Involvement in the National Precision Medicine Initiative: An Example. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 29(2), 85–88. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/12056
Oruche, U. M., Ross, S. E., Carpenter, J. S., & Renbarger, J. (2016). Identifying Genetic Variants in Adolescents With Oppositional Defiant Disorders and/or Conduct Disorders: A Brief Report. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 29(3), 154–157. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/12055
Elizabeth A. Richardson and Ukamaka M. Oruche. 2016, April 8. A review of the roles of community members and patients beyond advising in the research process. Poster session presented at IUPUI Research Day 2016, Indianapolis, Indiana. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/10423
Elizabeth A. Richardson, Ukamaka M. Oruche, and Katherine M. Parker. 2015 April 17. Impact of Disruptive Behavior Disorder on Siblings Living with Affected Adolescents. Poster session presented at IUPUI Research Day 2015, Indianapolis, Indiana. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/9373
Oruche, U. M., Draucker, C., Alkhattab, H., Knopf, A., & Mazurcyk, J. (2014). Interventions for Family Members of Adolescents With Disruptive Behavior Disorders. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 27(3), 99–108. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/8191
Oruche, Ukamaka. (2014, October 21). Next generation -- the key to sustainable health care? TEDxIndianapolis. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/5609
Oruche, U. M., Draucker, C. B., Al-Khattab, H., Cravens, H. A., Lowry, B., & Lindsey, L. M. (2014). The Challenges for Primary Caregivers of Adolescents With Disruptive Behavior Disorders. Journal of Family Nursing. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/5592
Hanna K. M., Weaver M. T., Stump T. E., Guthrie D., Oruche U. M. (2014) Emerging Adults With Type 1 Diabetes During the First Year Post-High School Perceptions of Parental Behaviors. Emerging Adulthood, 2(2):128–37. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/4506
Oruche, U. M. (2014, July). Understanding the Families' Needs: Interventions for Family Members of Adolescents with Disruptive Behavior Disorders. In Sigma Theta Tau International's 25th International Nursing Research Congress. STTI. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/6375
Gerkensmeyer, J. E., Johnson, C. S., Scott, E. L., Oruche, U. M., Lindsey, L. M., Austin, J. K., & Perkins, S. M. (2013). Problem-solving intervention for caregivers of children with mental health problems. Archives of psychiatric nursing, 27(3), 112-120. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/6277
Oruche, U.M. (2013, March 8). Problem-solving Intervention for Caregivers of Children with Mental Health Problems. Paper session presented at the Midwest Nursing Research Society 37th Annual Research Conference, Chicago, IL. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/3635
Gerkensmeyer, J.E., Oruche, U.M. (2013, March 3). Problems and goals identified by primary caregivers of children with mental health problems during a problem-solving intervention. Poster session presented at The 26th Annual Children's Mental Health Research & Policy Conference, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/3600
Oruche, U.M., Obiadazie, O.O., Obeime, M. (2012, August 1). A nurse-physician led multidisciplinary team improves access, treatment, and management of diabetes and high blood pressure in adult residents of a rural community in Nigeria. Poster session presented at the 23rd International Nursing Research Congress of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, Brisbane, Australia. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/3599
Oruche, U.M. (2011 October 20). Predicting treatment response of adolescents with serious emotional disturbance. Paper presented at Psychiatric Nursing: Quality and Safety through Connection, Engagement, and Partnership, APNA 25th Annual Conference, Anaheim, California. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/3601