Bei Wu

Dr. Wu is Dean’s Professor in Global Health and Vice Dean for Research at the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. She is an inaugural Co-Director of the NYU Aging Incubator. Prior to joining NYU, she was the Pauline Gratz Professor of Nursing at Duke University School of Nursing. Prof. Wu is an internationally-known leader in gerontology.

As a principal investigator, Prof. Wu has led numerous projects supported by federal agencies and private foundations, including the NIH and CDC. She is currently leading several NIH-funded projects including a clinical trial to improve oral health for persons

with cognitive impairment, and a large secondary data analysis to examine how the co-occurrence of diabetes and poor oral health may lead to the development of dementia and cognitive decline. She co-leads the newly funded Rutgers-NYU Center for Asian Health Promotion and Equity. Through this center, she also leads a 5-year intervention study that focuses on supporting Chinese and Korean dementia caregivers who are at increased risk for high blood pressure and diabetes due to the physical and emotional demands of caregiving. She is a director of the Research and Education Core for the NIA-funded Asian Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR).

As a scholar, Prof. Wu is an internationally known leader in gerontology. Her scholarship has been distinguished by interdisciplinary collaborations with researchers in various disciplines, including nursing and dentistry, in the US and abroad. Her research areas cover a wide range of topics related to aging and global health, including oral health, long-term care, dementia, and caregiving. She is one of the first in the nation to study the linkages between oral health and cognitive decline in older adults. Her research has also addressed knowledge gaps in the linkages between oral health and diabetes.

Prof. Wu has devoted much of her time to training the next generation of aging and nursing scientists from dozens of academic institutions in the U.S. and abroad. She has mentored hundreds of faculty members, visiting scholars, and students from various disciplines, including nursing, gerontology, dentistry, medicine, social work, demography, public health, sociology, public policy, geography, and economics. She is successful in mentoring several dozens of early-stage faculty members in receiving competitive funding from NIH, Robert Wood Johnson Scholars, the Alzheimer’s Society (UK), National Science Foundation of China, China Medical Board, National Medical Research Council (Singapore), and many others.

Prof. Wu is a productive researcher. She has published more than 600 peer-reviewed papers, books, reports, and conference abstracts. Her extensive publications cover a wide range of topics related to aging and global health. She has delivered presentations at hundreds of conferences as an invited speaker. Her work has been widely recognized in the field. Research findings from her team have been featured by the National Institute on Aging, and in numerous media outlets, including the New York Times, CNN, BBC, U.S. News and World Report, MarketWatch, CBS News, Reuters, AARP Bulletin, China Daily, Daily Mail, South China Morning Post, and Financial Review.

Her achievement has been recognized by many international and national organizations and she is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, and the New York Academy of Medicine. She is an honorary member of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, and is the former president of the Geriatric Oral Research Group of the International Association for Dental Research. She has served on a number of NIH review panels and is a frequent reviewer for multiple international funding agencies. She was honored as the 2017 IADR Distinguished Scientist in Geriatric Oral Research. She is the recipient of the 2022 Wei Hu Inspiration Award from the China Health Policy and Management Society.

PhD - Gerontology Center, University of Massachusetts, Boston

MS - Gerontology Center, University of Massachusetts, Boston

BS - Shanghai University

Gerontology

Global

Honorary Member, Sigma Theta Tau International - Honor Society of Nursing

Distinguished Scientist Award for Geriatric Oral Research, International Association for Dental Research (2017)

Pauline Gratz Professorship, Duke University School of Nursing (2014)

J. Morita Junior Investigator Award in Geriatric Oral Health, International Association for Dental Research (2007)

Fellow, Gerontological Society of America

Fellow, New York Academy of Medicine

Fellow, Association for Gerontology in Higher Education

The congruence between the preferred and actual places of death among terminal cancer patients in China

Lin, H., Ni, P., Wu, B., Liao, J., & Fu, J. (2024). Frontiers in Psychology, 15. 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1382272

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Dying in a preferred place is important for a good death. Currently, no study has evaluated the extent to which the preferences for the place of death (PoD) are met among terminal cancer patients in China. This study examined the congruence between the preferred and actual PoD and its predictors among terminal cancer patients in China. Methods: Between 2015 and 2023, 845 terminal cancer patients from four tertiary hospitals in Wuhan, China, were enrolled and followed till death. Face-to-face surveys at baseline and telephone-based interviews in the last month of patients’ lives were combined to learn patients’ preferred PoD. Data on patients’ actual PoD were collected from families within 1 month after patients’ death. Results: Of the 410 patients who died, 62.7% of them died in hospitals. The agreement between patients’ preferred and actual PoD was fair (κ = 0.221). The congruence between patients’ preferred and actual PoD was 63.0, 36.6%, and 0 for hospital death, home death, and hospice facility/nursing home death separately. Patients were more likely to die in their preferred places if their preferred place and family caregivers’ belief of patients’ preferred PoD was congruent (odds ratio [OR] = 6.464, p = 0.001), or if caregivers had a medically related occupation (OR = 4.577, p = 0.003); if patients were hospitalized at least twice in the last month of life (OR = 0.422, p = 0.000), or the quality of care received by patients in the last 48 h was rated good by the families (OR = 0.373, p = 0.011), patients were less likely to die in their preferred places. Conclusion: The congruence between patients’ preferred and actual PoD was fair. Advance care planning (ACP) needs to be popularized in China, and the quality of care in hospice facilities and nursing homes should be improved. The necessary policy support for hospice care should be made to respect cancer patients’ end-of-life (EoL) care preferences in China.

Delirium in psychiatric settings: risk factors and assessment tools in patients with psychiatric illness: a scoping review

Huang, C., Wu, B., Chen, H., Tao, H., Wei, Z., Su, L., & Wang, L. (2024). BMC Nursing, 23(1). 10.1186/s12912-024-02121-6

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Delirium is a common disorder affecting patients’ psychiatric illness, characterized by a high rate of underdiagnosis, misdiagnosis, and high risks. However, previous studies frequently excluded patients with psychiatric illness, leading to limited knowledge about risk factors and optimal assessment tools for delirium in psychiatric settings. Objectives: The scoping review was carried out to (1) identify the risk factors associated with delirium in patients with psychiatric illness; (2) synthesize the performance of assessment tools for detecting delirium in patients with psychiatric illness in psychiatric settings. Design: Scoping review. Data sources: PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were searched to identify primary studies on delirium in psychiatric settings from inception to Dec 2023 inclusive. Two independent reviewers screened eligible studies against inclusion criteria. A narrative synthesis of the included studies was conducted. Results: A final set of 36 articles meeting the inclusion criteria, two main themes were extracted: risk factors associated with delirium in patients with psychiatric illness and assessment tools for detecting delirium in psychiatric settings. The risk factors associated with delirium primarily included advanced age, physical comorbid, types of psychiatric illness, antipsychotics, anticholinergic drug, Electroconvulsive therapy, and the combination of lithium and Electroconvulsive therapy. Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98, Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale, and Delirium Diagnostic Tool-Provisional might be valuable for delirium assessment in patients with psychiatric illness in psychiatric settings. Conclusions: Delirium diagnosis in psychiatric settings is complex due to the overlapping clinical manifestations between psychiatric illness and delirium, as well as their potential co-occurrence. It is imperative to understand the risk factors and assessment methods related to delirium in this population to address diagnostic delays, establish effective prevention and screening strategies. Future research should focus on designing, implementing, and evaluating interventions that target modifiable risk factors, to prevent and manage delirium in patients with psychiatric illness.

Dental Caries and Preventive Dental Visits Among Children in the U.S.: The Impact of Race/Ethnicity and Immigration

Luo, H., Wu, B., Wu, Y., & Moss, M. E. (2024). AJPM Focus, 3(4). 10.1016/j.focus.2024.100230

Abstract

Abstract

Introduction: National data on dental caries and dental service use among immigrant children in U.S. are limited. It is not known whether race/ethnicity would interact with immigration status to increase these disparities. Using a nationally representative sample, this study assessed the interaction effects of immigrant generation status and race/ethnicity on dental caries and dental visits among children in the U.S. Methods: Data were from the 2020 and 2021 National Survey of Children's Health. All data were self-reported by parents/guardians. The 2 outcomes were (1) dental caries (yes/no) in the past 12 months and (2) preventive dental visits (yes/no) in the past 12 months. Racial/ethnic groups included non-Hispanic White, Black, Hispanics, and Asian Americans. The analytical sample included 66,167 children aged 2–17 years, including 1,243 first-generation immigrant children; 11,017 second-generation immigrant children; and 53,907 nonimmigrant children. Study authors ran separate multiple logistic regression models for the 2 outcome variables. All analyses accounted for the survey design of National Survey of Children's Health. Results: First-generation immigrant children were more likely to have dental caries than nonimmigrant children (AOR=1.44). The interaction of race/ethnicity and immigrant generation status was significant (p=0.04) in the preventive dental visits model, indicating increased challenges in getting dental visits among minority immigrant children in comparison with that among non-Hispanic White immigrant children, especially among first-generation immigrant children of Asian Americans (AOR=0.41) and non-Hispanic Black immigrant children (AOR=0.37). Conclusions: First-generation immigrant children were less likely to see a dentist and more likely to have dental caries than nonimmigrants. Moreover, first-generation immigrant children from minority racial/ethnic groups were the least likely to seek dental services. To further reduce disparities in oral health and dental use among children in the U.S., culturally sensitive health promotion is warranted to improve oral health literacy and reduce barriers to dental care for immigrants, especially immigrant children of the minority groups.

Denture use and a slower rate of cognitive decline among older adults with partial tooth loss in China: A 10-year prospective cohort study

Qi, X., Zhu, Z., Pei, Y., & Wu, B. (2024). Aging Medicine, 7(6), 781-789. 10.1002/agm2.12383

Abstract

Abstract

Objective: Denture use has been shown to improve nutritional intake and diet quality in people with tooth loss. Despite evidence linking tooth loss and dementia, few studies have examined the association between denture use and cognitive decline. We investigated the relationship between denture use and cognitive decline among Chinese older adults with tooth loss. Methods: We analyzed data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey 2008–2018, including 27,708 community-dwelling dentate and edentulous (i.e., who have lost all natural teeth) older adults aged 65 and older. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination from 2008 to 2018. Linear mixed-effect models were employed to assess the association of denture use with baseline cognitive function and rate of cognitive decline, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, health-related behavior, and health status. Subgroup analyses evaluated differences in associations among dentate participants with varying degrees of tooth loss (1–9, 10–19, 20–31). Results: Compared to non-denture users, dentate participants who used dentures had better baseline cognitive function (β, 1.032; 95% CI, 0.813–1.251; p < 0.001) and a slower annual decline in cognitive function (β, 0.127; 95% CI, 0.047–0.206; p < 0.01). For edentulous participants, denture use was associated with higher baseline cognitive function (β, 3.063; 95% CI, 2.703–3.423; p < 0.001) but not with the rate of cognitive decline (β, 0.011; 95% CI, –0.082 to 0.105; p = 0.818). Results remained consistent across subgroups of dentate participants with various degrees of missing teeth. Conclusions: Denture use may help protect against cognitive decline in older adults with partial tooth loss. This study highlights the potential importance of prosthodontic rehabilitation in preserving cognitive health. Further research is needed to establish a causal relationship between denture use and cognitive function.

Disaggregating between- and within-person associations of mastery and cognitive function: age as a moderator

Du, C., Wu, B., Peng, C., Dong, X. Q., Li, M., Pernice, F. M., & Wang, Y. (2024). BMC Geriatrics, 24(1). 10.1186/s12877-024-05256-y

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Mastery may shape the way individuals cope with life challenges and influence cognitive function in later life. Mastery grows out of traumatic experience and could change over the life course. This study examined the within-person and between-person associations of mastery and cognitive function, and if these associations were moderated by age in the United States. Method: Data were derived from three time points (2006–2008, 2010–2012, and 2014–2016) of the Health and Retirement Study, with 14,461 adults (aged 51 or above). Cognitive function was measured through a 27-point Telephone Interview Cognitive Screen (TICS). Mastery was measured by a modified Pearlin Mastery Scale. Multilevel modeling was employed to analyze the data. Results: Both within-person (β=0.124, SE = 0.023, p < 0.001) and between-person (β=0.089, SE = 0.029, p = 0.002) mastery were significantly associated with cognitive function. Older adults with higher between-person mastery tended to have slower cognitive decline (β=0.063, SE = 0.021, p < 0.001). Moreover, age moderated the within-person (β=0.013, SE = 0.003, p < 0.001) associations between mastery and cognition with a stronger association observed among individuals with older age. Conclusions: The current study provides evidence for within-person and between-person associations between mastery and global cognition in the United States as well as the moderating role of age. The design of the current study did not directly assess the causal direction between mastery and cognitive function. Future studies could test the directionality of associations between mastery and cognitive function.

Dose‒Response Effects of Patient Engagement on Anxiety and Depression in a Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention: Secondary Analysis of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial and a Clinical Controlled Trial

Yang, Z., Han, S., Zhang, L., Sun, M., Hu, Q., Hu, Y., & Wu, B. (2024). AIDS and Behavior, 28(6), 1923-1935. 10.1007/s10461-024-04290-6

Abstract

Abstract

Understanding the dose‒response relationship between patient engagement in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and health outcomes is critical for developing and implementing effective CBT programs. In studies of CBT interventions, patient engagement is measured only at a single time point, and outcomes are typically assessed before and after the intervention. Examination of the dose‒response relationship between patient engagement in CBT and outcomes is limited. It is unclear whether a dose‒response relationship exists between patient engagement in on-site CBT intervention and anxiety and depression in people living with HIV (PLWH). If present, does this dose‒response relationship occur early or later in the intervention? This study aimed to address this gap by examining the dose‒response relationships between patient engagement and anxiety and depression in CBT interventions among PLWH. Utilizing data from a pilot randomized trial (10 participants) and a clinical controlled trial (70 participants), our secondary analysis spans baseline, 3-month, and 6-month assessments. Both trials implemented the nurse-led CBT intervention. Cluster analysis identified two groups based on on-site attendance and WeChat activity. Patients with good adherence (6–10 times) of on-site attendance exhibited significantly lower anxiety and depression scores at 3 months (β = 1.220, P = 0.047; β = 1.270, P = 0.019), with no significant differences observed at 6 months. WeChat activity did not significantly influence anxiety or depression scores. The findings highlight a significant short-term dose‒response relationship, endorsing nurse-led CBT interventions for mental health in PLWH. Organizational strategies should focus on incentivizing and facilitating patient engagement, particularly through enhancing WeChat features.

Dyadic analysis of illness perceptions among individuals with stroke and their caregivers: effects on activity engagement in community living

Shi, Y., Howe, T. H., Halpin, P. F., Hu, L., & Wu, B. (2024). Disability and Rehabilitation, 46(15), 3342-3354. 10.1080/09638288.2023.2246378

Abstract

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the relationship between activity engagement and dyadic illness perceptions of community-dwelling individuals with stroke and their caregivers. Methods: We performed a secondary analysis on a cross-sectional study encompassing eight rehabilitation settings. Participants were recruited from June to December 2019 via the distribution of flyers, use of admission databases, and direct onsite interactions. Activity engagement of individuals with stroke was measured by the Assessment of Life Habits. Dyadic illness perceptions were measured using the Stroke-Specific Illness Perceptions Questionnaire-Revised. Results: Data from 202 dyads of individuals with stroke (mean age 61.3 ± 8.3 years; 76.7% male; stroke duration 314.3 ± 170.5 days), and caregivers (mean age 52.6 ± 11.6 years; 73.3% female) were analyzed. Results show that individuals with stroke who shared similar optimistic illness perceptions with their caregivers concerning the consequences of stroke had a higher level of activity engagement (ΔR 2 = .020, F(2,193) = 5.42, p = .005). Gender differences were found in the dyadic illness perception components concerning acute/chronic and cyclical timeline (ΔR 2 = .017, F(2,191) = 4.72, p = .01; ΔR 2 = .02, F(2,190) = 3.45, p = .034) and illness coherence (ΔR 2 = .012, F(2,191) = 3.42, p = .035). Conclusions: Illness perceptions and post-stroke activity engagement with gender differences should be considered at a dyadic level, as the individuals with stroke and their caregivers influence each other’s beliefs.

Factors Associated with Patient–Caregiver Concordance about Life-Sustaining Treatment Preferences among Advanced Cancer Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Liao, J., Wu, B., Mao, J., & Ni, P. (2024). Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 40(5). 10.1016/j.soncn.2024.151697

Abstract

Abstract

Objectives: Concordance of preferences for end-of-life care regarding patients between patients with advanced cancer and family caregivers can improve the likelihood of honoring dying patients’ wishes. However, there is a dearth of knowledge in mainland China. The purpose of this study was to examine patient–family caregiver concordance about patients’ life-sustaining treatment preferences and associated factors among patients with advanced cancer in China. Methods: From September 2019 to December 2021, a convenience sample of 406 dyads of advanced cancer patient–family caregiver were recruited from 2 tertiary hospitals in Wuhan, China. Participants completed a questionnaire about patient's preferences for life-sustaining treatment, respectively. The concordance was assessed by percent agreement and kappa coefficients. Associated factors were identified by univariate analysis and binary logistic regression. Results: The average concordance rate on the preferences for life-sustaining treatment was 56.1%, ranging from 52.9% to 59.3%. Factors associated with a higher level of patient–family caregiver concordance were following: patients who were married, whose educational levels were at college or above, who had not been informed of diagnosis by a physician, who had been informed of the effects and side effects of related drugs by a physician, and who cared for a seriously ill family member or friend and caregivers whose educational level were primary or below. Conclusions: The patient–family caregiver concordance about patients’ life-sustaining treatment preferences among patients with advanced cancer was poor. Patients’ and caregivers’ understanding of life-sustaining treatment and its efficacy in end-of-life should be facilitated. Relevant conversation should be encouraged between patients and caregivers, thus providing value-concordant end-of-life care for patients with cancer. Implications for Nursing Practice: Health professionals need to carry out advanced care planning in oncology departments on mainland China to encourage patients and caregivers to discuss patients’ end-of-life care preferences. Facilitating patients’ and caregivers’ understanding of life-sustaining treatment preferences may help improve the patient–caregiver concordance on life-sustaining treatment preferences among patients with advanced cancer.

Having sex with partners met online among bachelors in China: application of the theory of planned behavior

Wang, Y., Liu, H., Pei, Y., & Wu, B. (2024). Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 39(3), 777-790. 10.1080/14681994.2022.2025776

Abstract

Abstract

Due to a sex ratio imbalance and marriage squeeze in China, many males of marriageable ages cannot find wives. To meet their sexual needs, those bachelors tend to use the internet to find sexual partners in recent years. However, studies on the psychosocial mechanisms underlying having sex with partners met online are scarce. This study examined the relationship between attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavior control, and having sex with online partners based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). The data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of bachelors (with rural household registration, at least 28 years old and never married) (N = 735) in several regions of China. Logistic regression models show that attitudes and subjective norms were significantly associated with having sex with online partners. The mediation analysis further indicated that the intention of seeking sex partners online partially mediated the relationships across attitudes, subjective norms, and having sex with partners online. This study provides a better understanding of factors associated with having sex with partners met online. It also extends research concerning a population that is understudied. Additionally, it shows the applicability of the TBP model in explaining the factors associated with having sex with partners.

Heterogeneities in sleep duration and quality among U.S. immigrants from different racial and ethnic backgrounds

Liu, X., Li, J., Cho, Y., & Wu, B. (2024). Sleep Health, 10(4), 393-401. 10.1016/j.sleh.2024.03.006

Abstract

Abstract

Objectives: Sleep plays an essential role in well-being. Although U.S. immigrants are considerably growing, few studies have examined sleep in this diverse population, particularly those from Asian backgrounds. It is also unclear how sleep differs by the length of residence across immigrant groups. In this study, we examined the relationships among race/ethnicity, length of residence, and sleep using a nationally representative cohort of U.S. immigrants. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2013-2018 National Health Interview Survey. The sample (N = 27,761; 14% ≥65 years old) included foreign-born adults from the following racial/ethnic backgrounds: non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, Asian (Chinese, Filipino, Asian Indian), and Hispanic/Latino. Length of residence was categorized as <5, 5-9, 10-14, and ≥15 years. Sleep was assessed with self-reported sleep duration (normal, short, and long) and poor sleep quality (trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, and waking up unrested). Results: Filipino and Hispanic/Latino immigrants reported the highest prevalence of short (41.8%) and long (7.0%) sleep, respectively. Non-Hispanic White immigrants had the highest prevalence rate across all three poor sleep quality measures (range 17.7-41.5%). Length of residence ≥15 years was significantly associated with worse sleep, and it moderated White-Asian differences in sleep quality. Immigrants from different racial/ethnic groups showed variations in sleep patterns as they resided longer in the US. Conclusions: Immigrants exhibited substantial heterogeneities in sleep. Future research should investigate the contributing factors to the variations in their sleep patterns, both between groups and within the same group of immigrants, in order to inform tailored interventions.