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Amanda Constance Blok PhD, MSN

TitleAssistant Professor
InstitutionUMass Chan Medical School
DepartmentPopulation and Quantitative Health Sciences
AddressUniversity of Massachusetts Medical School
55 Lake Ave North
Worcester MA 01605
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    Other Positions
    InstitutionT.H. Chan School of Medicine
    DepartmentPopulation and Quantitative Health Sciences
    DivisionHealth Informatics And Implementation Science


    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse education and training
    Oakland University, Rochester, MI, United StatesBSNursing
    Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United StatesMS
    University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United StatesPHDNursing
    University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United StatesPostdoctoral FellowImplementation Science

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse overview

    Dr. Blok has extensive experience in both clinical practice and health behavior change research. She has practiced as a nurse for nearly a decade in inpatient and outpatient settings, with advanced practice and education certifications, as well as clinical experience in tobacco cessation. In the last six years, she has worked with multiple interdisciplinary research teams developing, conducting, and evaluating health behavior interventions. Through her post-doctoral fellowship, she has gained experience in implementation science methods and performed implementation program formative work, design, strategy, and measurement. She conducted a pilot study on the implementation of a mobile message system for tobacco cessation in hospitalized patients using nurse-driven strategies. The use of nurses to introduce health-promoting technology is novel.


    Currently, she is an assistant professor in the Graduate School of Nursing and a Nurse Fellow at the VA Center for Healthcare Organization & Implementation Research (CHOIR). Her current work focuses on nurse engagement in quality improvement innovations that support veterans and their families.



    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse selected publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
    Newest   |   Oldest   |   Most Cited   |   Most Discussed   |   Timeline   |   Field Summary   |   Plain Text
    PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Blok AC, Drake C, Decosimo K, Zullig LL, Hughes JM, Sperber NR, Kota S, Franzosa E, Coffman CJ, Shepherd-Banigan M, Chadduck T, Allen KD, Hastings SN, Van Houtven CH. Adaptations and early adoption of a family caregiver intervention in the Veterans Affairs Health Care System: A multimethod pragmatic approach for national scaling. Health Serv Res. 2024 Dec; 59 Suppl 2:e14360. PMID: 39090785.
      Citations:    
    2. Dietch JR, Blok AC, Zhou ES. Improve accessibility to evidence-based treatment for insomnia disorder. Transl Behav Med. 2024 Apr 29; 14(5):301-303. PMID: 38402594.
      Citations:    
    3. Haderlein TP, Guzman-Clark J, Dardashti NS, McMahon N, Duran EL, Haun JN, Robinson SA, Blok AC, Cutrona SL, Lindsay JA, Armstrong CM, Nazi KM, Shimada SL, Wilck NR, Reilly E, Kuhn E, Hogan TP. Improving Veteran Engagement with Virtual Care Technologies: a Veterans Health Administration State of the Art Conference Research Agenda. J Gen Intern Med. 2024 Feb; 39(Suppl 1):21-28. PMID: 38252243.
      Citations:    Fields:    
    4. Leggett AN, Robinson-Lane SG, Oxford G, Leonard N, Carmichael AG, Baker E, Paratore J, Blok AC, Prescott HC, Iwashyna TJ, Gonzalez R. Barriers to and Facilitators of Family Caregiving of Patients With COVID-19 Early in the Pandemic. Am J Crit Care. 2023 11 01; 32(6):431-439. PMID: 37907378.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    5. Manojlovich M, Blok A, Wright N, Azhari E, Farris KB, Friese CR, Mackler E, Titler M, Byrnes M. Photo elicitation, an approach to better understanding the patient experience with OAAs: pilot study and future implications. Support Care Cancer. 2023 Oct 25; 31(12):652. PMID: 37878093.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    6. Blok AC, Costa DK, Wright NC, Manojlovich M, Friese CR. Development and Evaluation of a Data-Driven, Interactive Workshop to Facilitate Communication and Teamwork in Ambulatory Medical Oncology Settings. Cancer Care Res Online. 2023 Jul; 3(3). PMID: 37719163.
      Citations:    
    7. Faro JM, Chen J, Flahive J, Nagawa CS, Orvek EA, Houston TK, Allison JJ, Person SD, Smith BM, Blok AC, Sadasivam RS. Effect of a Machine Learning Recommender System and Viral Peer Marketing Intervention on Smoking Cessation: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 01 03; 6(1):e2250665. PMID: 36633844.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    8. Blok AC, Valley TS, Weston LE, Miller J, Lipman K, Krein SL. Factors Affecting Psychological Distress in Family Caregivers of Critically Ill Patients: A Qualitative Study. Am J Crit Care. 2023 01 01; 32(1):21-30. PMID: 36587003.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    9. Robinson-Lane SG, Leggett AN, Johnson FU, Leonard N, Carmichael AG, Oxford G, Miah T, Wright JJ, Blok AC, Iwashyna TJ, Gonzalez R. Caregiving in the COVID-19 pandemic: Family adaptations following an intensive care unit hospitalisation. J Clin Nurs. 2024 Jan; 33(1):203-214. PMID: 36262026.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    10. Houston TK, Chen J, Amante DJ, Blok AC, Nagawa CS, Wijesundara JG, Kamberi A, Allison JJ, Person SD, Flahive J, Morley J, Conigliaro J, Mattocks KM, Garber L, Sadasivam RS. Effect of Technology-Assisted Brief Abstinence Game on Long-term Smoking Cessation in Individuals Not Yet Ready to Quit: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2022 Mar 01; 182(3):303-312. PMID: 35072714.
      Citations: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    11. Blok AC, Alexander CC, Tschannen D, Milner KA. Quality improvement engagement: Barriers and facilitators. Nurs Manage. 2022 Mar 01; 53(3):16-24. PMID: 35225833.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    12. Chen J, Houston TK, Faro JM, Nagawa CS, Orvek EA, Blok AC, Allison JJ, Person SD, Smith BM, Sadasivam RS. Evaluating the use of a recommender system for selecting optimal messages for smoking cessation: patterns and effects of user-system engagement. BMC Public Health. 2021 09 26; 21(1):1749. PMID: 34563161.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    13. Blok AC, Ignacio RV, Geraci MC, Kim HM, Barnett PG, Duffy SA. Provider and clinical setting characteristics associated with tobacco pharmacotherapy dispensed in the Veterans Health Administration. Tob Induc Dis. 2021; 19:65. PMID: 34429727.
      Citations:    
    14. Blok AC, Anderson E, Swamy L, Mohr DC. Comparing nurse leader and manager perceptions of and strategies for nurse engagement using a positive deviance approach: A qualitative analysis. J Nurs Manag. 2021 Sep; 29(6):1476-1485. PMID: 33683777.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    15. Blok AC, Valley TS, Abbott P. Gamification for Family Engagement in Lifestyle Interventions: A Systematic Review. Prev Sci. 2021 10; 22(7):831-844. PMID: 33786746.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    16. Faro JM, Nagawa CS, Orvek EA, Smith BM, Blok AC, Houston TK, Kamberi A, Allison JJ, Person SD, Sadasivam RS. Comparing recruitment strategies for a digital smoking cessation intervention: Technology-assisted peer recruitment, social media, ResearchMatch, and smokefree.gov. Contemp Clin Trials. 2021 04; 103:106314. PMID: 33571687.
      Citations: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    17. Blok AC, Amante DJ, Hogan TP, Sadasivam RS, Shimada SL, Woods S, Nazi KM, Houston TK. Impact of Patient Access to Online VA Notes on Healthcare Utilization and Clinician Documentation: a Retrospective Cohort Study. J Gen Intern Med. 2021 03; 36(3):592-599. PMID: 33443693.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    18. Swamy L, Mohr D, Blok A, Anderson E, Charns M, Wiener RS, Rinne S. Impact of Workplace Climate on Burnout Among Critical Care Nurses in the Veterans Health Administration. Am J Crit Care. 2020 09 01; 29(5):380-389. PMID: 32869073.
      Citations: 7     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    19. Nagawa CS, Emidio OM, Lapane KL, Houston TK, Barton BA, Faro JM, Blok AC, Orvek EA, Cutrona SL, Smith BM, Allison JJ, Sadasivam RS. Teamwork for smoking cessation: which smoker was willing to engage their partner? Results from a cross-sectional study. BMC Res Notes. 2020 Jul 20; 13(1):344. PMID: 32690076.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    20. Amante DJ, Blok AC, Nagawa CS, Wijesundara JG, Allison JJ, Person SD, Morley J, Conigliaro J, Mattocks KM, Garber L, Houston TK, Sadasivam RS. The 'Take a Break' game: Randomized trial protocol for a technology-assisted brief abstinence experience designed to engage lower-motivated smokers. Contemp Clin Trials. 2020 06; 93:106002. PMID: 32335288.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:HumansCTClinical Trials
    21. Chen J, Sadasivam R, Blok AC, Ritchie CS, Nagawa C, Orvek E, Patel K, Houston TK. The Association Between Patient-reported Clinical Factors and 30-day Acute Care Utilization in Chronic Heart Failure. Med Care. 2020 04; 58(4):336-343. PMID: 32197028.
      Citations: 7     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    22. Rinne ST, Mohr DC, Swamy L, Blok AC, Wong ES, Charns MP. National Burnout Trends Among Physicians Working in the Department of Veterans Affairs. J Gen Intern Med. 2020 05; 35(5):1382-1388. PMID: 32096080.
      Citations: 13     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    23. Blok AC, Sadasivam RS, Hogan TP, Patterson A, Day N, Houston TK. Nurse-Driven mHealth Implementation Using the Technology Inpatient Program for Smokers (TIPS): Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2019 10 04; 7(10):e14331. PMID: 31588908.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    24. May CN, Jake-Schoffman DE, Evans M, Silfee VJ, Zhang FF, Blok AC, Carey JL, Ding E, Pritschmann RK. Interest in and barriers to participation in a Facebook-delivered weight loss program among female cancer survivors with overweight or obesity. Mhealth. 2019; 5:28. PMID: 31559273.
      Citations:    
    25. Faro JM, Orvek EA, Blok AC, Nagawa CS, McDonald AJ, Seward G, Houston TK, Kamberi A, Allison JJ, Person SD, Smith BM, Brady K, Grosowsky T, Jacobsen LL, Paine J, Welch JM, Sadasivam RS. Dissemination and Effectiveness of the Peer Marketing and Messaging of a Web-Assisted Tobacco Intervention: Protocol for a Hybrid Effectiveness Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2019 Jul 23; 8(7):e14814. PMID: 31339104.
      Citations:    
    26. Blok AC, Sadasivam RS, Amante DJ, Kamberi A, Flahive J, Morley J, Conigliaro J, Houston TK. Gamification to Motivate the Unmotivated Smoker: The "Take a Break" Digital Health Intervention. Games Health J. 2019 Aug; 8(4):275-284. PMID: 31219347.
      Citations: 7     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    27. Somayaji D, Blok AC, Hayman LL, Colson Y, Jaklisch M, Cooley ME. Enhancing behavioral change among lung cancer survivors participating in a lifestyle risk reduction intervention: a qualitative study. Support Care Cancer. 2019 Apr; 27(4):1299-1308. PMID: 30643990.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic HealthCTClinical Trials
    28. Matthews PA, Blok AC, Lee JGL, Hitsman B, Sanchez-Johnsen L, Watson K, Breen E, Ruiz R, Simon MA, Fitzgibbon M, Hein LC, Winn R. SBM recommends policy support to reduce smoking disparities for sexual and gender minorities. Transl Behav Med. 2018 09 08; 8(5):692-695. PMID: 29385561.
      Citations: 7     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    29. Blok AC, Blonquist TM, Nayak MM, Somayaji D, Crouter SE, Hayman LL, Colson YL, Bueno R, Emmons KM, Cooley ME. Feasibility and acceptability of "healthy directions" a lifestyle intervention for adults with lung cancer. Psychooncology. 2018 01; 27(1):250-257. PMID: 28426922.
      Citations: 7     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    30. Blok AC, May CN, Sadasivam RS, Houston TK. Virtual Patient Technology: Engaging Primary Care in Quality Improvement Innovations. JMIR Med Educ. 2017 Feb 15; 3(1):e3. PMID: 28202429.
      Citations:    
    31. Blok, A., Sadasivam, R., Houston, T. . Formative Evaluation to Determine Facilitators and Barriers to Nurse-driven Implementation: Designing an Inpatient mHealth Intervention to Support Smoking Cessation. Proceedings of the Fiftieth Annual Hawaiian International Conference for Social Systems (CD-ROM), Computer Society Press, (9 pages). 2016.
    32. Watson KS, Blok AC, Buscemi J, Molina Y, Fitzgibbon M, Simon MA, Williams L, Matthews K, Studts JL, Lillie SE, Ostroff JS, Carter-Harris L, Winn RA. Society of Behavioral Medicine supports implementation of high quality lung cancer screening in high-risk populations. Transl Behav Med. 2016 12; 6(4):669-671. PMID: 27646803.
      Citations: 8     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    33. Blok AC. A Middle-Range Explanatory Theory of Self-Management Behavior for Collaborative Research and Practice. Nurs Forum. 2017 Apr; 52(2):138-146. PMID: 27438773.
      Citations: 7     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    34. Green AC, Hayman LL, Cooley ME. Multiple health behavior change in adults with or at risk for cancer: a systematic review. Am J Health Behav. 2015 May; 39(3):380-94. PMID: 25741683.
      Citations: 18     Fields:    Translation:Humans
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