Publications

Peer-reviewed work from the lab and its collaborators, each with a plain-language summary. Newest first.

Marks studies focused on diabetes.

Peer-reviewed papers

  1. Tolentino, D. A., Kohout, E., Boy, P., & Siddiq, H. (in press).
    Vibe coding for statistical analysis using large language models.
    Nursing Research. In press.
    In plain language
    We explored how nurses and students can use AI language models to help run statistical analyses, lowering the barrier to doing research.
  2. Kim, A., Tolentino, D. A., Choi, S. E., & Song, Y. (2026).
    Enhancing dementia caregiver self-efficacy through culturally tailored, video-based education for Hispanic caregivers: A quality improvement project.
    Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. · doi:10.1097/JXX.0000000000001307
    In plain language
    This study tested short, culturally tailored videos to help Hispanic family caregivers feel more confident and capable in caring for a loved one with dementia.
  3. Kohout, E., Powell, M., & Tolentino, D. A. (2026).
    An analysis and evaluation of the theory of moral reckoning.
    Advances in Nursing Science. · doi:10.1097/ANS.0000000000000642
    In plain language
    This paper examines “moral reckoning,” a nursing theory about how nurses respond when their values clash with difficult workplace situations, and weighs how useful and sound the theory is.
  4. Diaz, L., Tolentino, D. A., Brecht, M.-L., Robbins, W., & Choi, S. (2026).
    Diabetes-focused study Exploring the quality of TikTok-based diabetes self-management education in English and Spanish: A digital health study.
    The Science of Diabetes Self-Management and Care. · doi:10.1177/26350106261422680
    In plain language
    This study reviewed diabetes advice on TikTok in English and Spanish to see how accurate and trustworthy it is, since many people now turn to social media for health information.
  5. Karimi, N., Choi, S. E., Song, Y., & Tolentino, D. A. (2026).
    Diabetes-focused study Continuous glucose monitoring for glycemic control in non-insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes.
    Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. · doi:10.1097/JXX.0000000000001237
    In plain language
    This study looked at whether wearable continuous glucose monitors help people with type 2 diabetes who do not use insulin keep their blood sugar in a healthier range.
  6. Tolentino, D. A., Boy, P., Long, S., Roca, R. P. E., III, Peña, M., Sidhu, M., Luzuriaga, M., Palao, G. M., Palao, G. J., & Choi, S. (2025).
    Diabetes-focused study Navigating type 2 diabetes care: Asian American perspectives on self-management education and support.
    The Science of Diabetes Self-Management and Care. · doi:10.1177/26350106251337487
    In plain language
    We asked Asian Americans with type 2 diabetes what helps and what gets in the way when they try to use diabetes education and support programs, so those programs can serve them better.
    Visual abstract
    Asian American perspectives on diabetes self-management supportThe Science of Diabetes Self-Management and Care · 2025WHOAsian Americans with type 2 diabetesMETHODQualitative study1Identifies what helps people engage with diabetes education and support.2Identifies the barriers that keep people from staying engaged.3Influences span individual, family, and community levels.TAKEAWAYPrograms work better when built around real facilitators and barriers.
  7. Roca, R. P. E., III, Albahsahli, B., Palao, G. J., Palao, G. M., Lance, D., Carpizo, K., & Tolentino, D. A. (2025).
    Diabetes-focused study Colonial mentality and diabetes self-management in Filipino Americans with type 2 diabetes.
    Nursing Open. · doi:10.1002/nop2.70175
    In plain language
    This study explored how “colonial mentality” (internalized beliefs rooted in a colonial past) shapes the way Filipino Americans manage their type 2 diabetes.
    Visual abstract
    Colonial mentality and diabetes self-managementNursing Open · 2025WHOFilipino Americans with type 2 diabetesMETHODQuantitative study1Measured colonial mentality among Filipino Americans with type 2 diabetes.2Tested how it relates to diabetes self-management.3Treats culture as a measurable factor in diabetes care.TAKEAWAYQuantifying cultural factors like colonial mentality can guide more responsive diabetescare.
  8. Saiki, M., Robbins, W., Tolentino, D. A., Macey, P., Nakata, A., & Li, J. (2024).
    Associations of work-family conflict with changes in metabolic risk factors: A four-year longitudinal study.
    Industrial Health. · doi:10.2486/indhealth.2024-0115
    In plain language
    This study followed workers over four years to see whether the stress of juggling work and family was linked to changes in health markers such as blood pressure, weight, and blood sugar.
  9. Tolentino, D. A., & Byrnes, M. (2024).
    Diabetes-focused study Filipino Americans’ social and cultural experiences of type 2 diabetes management: Cultural paradox, ownership, and success definition.
    Journal of Transcultural Nursing. · doi:10.1177/10436596231209041
    In plain language
    We talked with Filipino Americans about what living with and managing type 2 diabetes is really like day to day: how family, food, faith, and cultural expectations can either help or get in the way. The goal is care that respects and works with their culture.
    Visual abstract
    Filipino Americans' cultural experiences of type 2diabetesJournal of Transcultural Nursing · 2024WHOFilipino Americans living with type 2 diabetesMETHODQualitative study1Culture is a paradox: family and food can both support and challenge dailymanagement.2Patients take personal ownership of their health and care decisions.3Success is defined personally, not only by clinical numbers.TAKEAWAYCare should honor culture, family, and each patient's own definition of success.
  10. Tolentino, D. A., & Ajuwon, M. (2023).
    A cross-sectional study on social determinants of mental health during COVID-19 among adults in California.
    Journal of Advanced Nursing. · doi:10.1111/jan.15803
    In plain language
    We looked at how everyday life circumstances, such as income, housing, and access to care, affected Californians’ mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  11. Tolentino, D. A., Costa, D., & Jiang, Y. (2023).
    Determinants of American adults’ use of digital health and willingness to share health data with providers, family, and social media.
    Computers, Informatics, Nursing. · doi:10.1097/CIN.0000000000001025
    In plain language
    We looked at what makes U.S. adults more or less willing to use health apps and devices, and to share their health information with doctors, family, or on social media. This helps designers build digital health tools that people actually trust and use.
  12. Chao, G. F., Lindquist, K., Vitous, C. A., Tolentino, D. A., Delaney, L., Alimi, Y., Jafri, S., & Telem, D. A. (2023).
    A qualitative analysis describing attrition from bariatric surgery to identify strategies for improving retention in patients who desire treatment.
    Surgical Endoscopy. · doi:10.1007/s00464-023-10030-z
    In plain language
    This study explored why some patients stop short of completing the weight-loss (bariatric) surgery process. Understanding what gets in their way can help clinics support people better and keep them from falling through the cracks.
  13. Patel, M. R., Tolentino, D. A., Smith, A., & Heisler, M. (2023).
    Diabetes-focused study Economic burden, financial stress, and cost-related coping among people with uncontrolled diabetes.
    Preventive Medicine Reports, 34. · doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102246
    In plain language
    This study examined the financial strain of living with hard-to-control diabetes, and the difficult tradeoffs people make, such as skipping medication, to cope with the cost.
  14. Tolentino, D. A., Roca, R. P. E., III, Yang, J., Itchon, J., & Byrnes, M. (2023).
    Diabetes-focused study Experiences of Filipino Americans with type 2 diabetes during COVID-19: A qualitative study.
    Western Journal of Nursing Research. · doi:10.1177/01939459231162917
    In plain language
    We asked Filipino Americans with type 2 diabetes how the COVID-19 pandemic affected their health, including the added stress, disrupted routines and care, and what helped them cope, so that future support can be ready for hard times like these.
    Visual abstract
    Filipino Americans with type 2 diabetes duringCOVID-19Western Journal of Nursing Research · 2023WHOFilipino Americans with type 2 diabetesMETHODQualitative study1The pandemic added stress and disrupted everyday diabetes routines.2Access to care, supplies, and support was interrupted.3Family and faith were key sources of resilience and coping.TAKEAWAYDiabetes support must stay reachable and culturally grounded during crises.
  15. Gephart, S. M., Tolentino, D. A., Quinn, M., Wyles, C., & Fry, E. (2023).
    Neonatal intensive care workflow analysis informing clinical decision support design for necrotizing enterocolitis.
    Computers, Informatics, Nursing. · doi:10.1097/CIN.0000000000000929
    In plain language
    This study mapped how nurses actually work in newborn intensive care units (NICUs). Knowing the real workflow lets hospitals design computer alerts and decision-support tools that fit how nurses work, instead of slowing them down.
  16. Tolentino, D. A., Patmon, F., & Gephart, S. M. (2021).
    A descriptive study of nurses’ experiences with unintended consequences of the electronic health record in two urban hospitals.
    Journal of Informatics Nursing, 6(2), 6–10.
    In plain language
    We documented the unexpected problems nurses run into with electronic health record (EHR) systems, including the workarounds, extra clicks, and frustrations, to point the way toward safer, easier-to-use systems.
  17. Tolentino, D. A., Subbian, V., & Gephart, S. M. (2021).
    Applying computational ethnography to examine nurses’ workflow within electronic health records.
    Nursing Research, 70(2), 132–141. · doi:10.1097/NNR.0000000000000486
    In plain language
    We used data from the electronic health record itself to study how nurses move through their digital tasks. It offers a new way to understand, and ultimately improve, the everyday computer work that takes nurses away from patients.
  18. Tolentino, D. A., & Knapp, H. (2020).
    Evaluating the impact of Meducation®, a SMART application, on medication adherence: The need to evaluate EHR apps post-implementation.
    Online Journal of Nursing Informatics, 24(3). · Read article
    In plain language
    We evaluated a smartphone app (Meducation) designed to help patients take their medicines correctly, and showed why health apps need to be tested after they are rolled out, not just before.

Reviews

  1. Tolentino, D. A., Ali, S., Jang, S. Y., Kettaneh, C., & Smith, J. (2022).
    Diabetes-focused study Type 2 diabetes self-management interventions among Asian Americans in the United States: A scoping review.
    Health Equity. · doi:10.1089/heq.2021.0083
    In plain language
    We reviewed existing programs that help Asian Americans manage type 2 diabetes to see what has been tried, what works, and where the gaps are.
  2. Tolentino, D. A., & Gephart, S. M. (2021).
    State of the science of dimensions of nurses’ user experience when using an electronic health record.
    Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 39(2), 69–77. · doi:10.1097/CIN.0000000000000644
    In plain language
    We summarized the research on what makes electronic health records easy or frustrating for nurses to use, to guide better, safer system design.

Editorials & commentary

  1. Aaron, S. P., Waters, A., Tolentino, D. A., Rascon, A., Phan, C., Chen, E., Travers, J., Jones, M. G., Kent-Marvick, J., & Thomas Hebdon, M. (2022).
    Complex identities, intersectionality, and research approaches in millennial family caregivers in the United States.
    Journal of Advanced Nursing. · doi:10.1111/jan.15452
    In plain language
    This commentary argues that research on young (millennial) family caregivers must account for their complex, overlapping identities in order to truly understand and support them.
  2. Morone, J., Tolentino, D. A., Aronowitz, S. V., & Siddiq, H. (2022).
    COVID-19 pandemic and the push to promote and include nurses in public health policy.
    American Journal of Public Health, S231–S236. · doi:10.2105/AJPH.2022.306837
    In plain language
    This commentary makes the case that nurses’ frontline expertise should have a stronger voice in shaping public health policy, a lesson underscored by COVID-19.
  3. Jeffers, K. S., Siddiq, H., Martinez-Hollingsworth, A. S., Aronowitz, S. V., Sinko, L., Travers, J. L., Tolentino, D. A., Burns, J., Bell, S. A., Beck, D. C., Gutierrez, J. I., Jr., Bulgin, D., Manges, K. A., Mansfield, L. N., Bettencourt, A. P., Jun, J., Fauer, A. J., Lipsky, R. K., Adynski, G. I., & Choi, K. R. (2020).
    Nurses should oppose police violence and unjust policing in healthcare.
    International Journal of Nursing Studies, 103735. · doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103735
    In plain language
    This commentary calls on nurses to recognize and oppose police violence and unjust policing as threats to health and to their patients.