Francesca Nicosia, PhD

Associate Adjunct Professor
Institute for Health & Aging
+1 415 221-4810 ext. 23446

As a medical anthropologist, health services researcher, and certified yoga therapist, my research focuses on improving pain, function, and quality of life outcomes for older adults, women, and veterans through nonpharmacologic and complementary and integrative health (CIH) interventions and care models. I have broad expertise in research methodology related to the design of mixed methods studies in aging, CIH, and implementation science.

Publications: 

Implementation of Virtual, Livestream Yoga Classes for Veterans at Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Program Evaluation.

Global advances in integrative medicine and health

Pham C, Hildebrand C, Tarasovsky G, Purcell N, Seal K, Nicosia F

Implementing a new multidisciplinary, remote, dementia staff training program for Veterans affairs nursing homes.

BMC health services research

Shirsat NR, Lee JA, Pham C, Miller MJ, Chesney MA, Nicosia FM, Chao L, Barnes DE

Evaluation of a New Integrative Health and Wellness Clinic for Veterans at the San Francisco VA Health Care System: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study.

Global advances in integrative medicine and health

Nicosia FM, Purcell N, Bertenthal D, Usman H, Seidel I, McGrath S, Hildebrand C, McCarthy B, Seal KH

Improving measurement of functional status among older adults in primary care: A pilot study.

PloS one

Brown RT, Zamora K, Rizzo A, Spar MJ, Fung KZ, Santiago L, Campbell A, Nicosia FM

Livestream, group movement program for people living with cognitive impairment and care partners: A randomized clinical trial.

Alzheimer's & dementia (New York, N. Y.)

Barnes DE, Jiang F, Benjamin C, Lee JA, Sudore RL, Mehling WE, Chesney MA, Chao LL, Nicosia FM

Remote Delivery of Mindful Movement Within Healthcare Systems: Lessons Learned From the Veterans Health Administration.

Global advances in integrative medicine and health

Whitehead AM, Mullur R, Sullivan MB, Nicosia FM

Caring for Patients with Functional Impairment in Middle Age: Perspectives from Primary Care Providers and Geriatricians.

Journal of general internal medicine

Schmucker AM, Reyes-Farias D, Nicosia FM, Xu E, B Potter M, Karliner LS, Brown RT

Livestream, group movement program for people living with cognitive impairment and care partners: A randomized clinical trial

Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions

Deborah E Barnes, Fei Jiang, Cynthia Benjamin, Jennifer A Lee, Rebecca L Sudore, Wolf E Mehling, Margaret A Chesney, Linda L Chao, Francesca M Nicosia

Improving measurement of functional status among older adults in primary care: A pilot study

PloS one

Rebecca T. Brown, Kara Zamora, Anael Rizzo, Malena J. Spar, Kathy Z. Fung, Lea Santiago, Annie Campbell, Francesca M. Nicosia

Adaptation of an In-Person Mind-Body Movement Program for People with Cognitive Impairment or Dementia and Care Partners for Online Delivery: Feasibility, Satisfaction and Participant-Reported Outcomes.

Global advances in integrative medicine and health

Nicosia FM, Lee JA, Chesney MA, Benjamin C, Lee AN, Mehling W, Sudore RL, Barnes DE

When Functional Impairment Develops Early: Perspectives from Middle-Aged Adults.

Journal of general internal medicine

Xu E, Nicosia FM, Zamora K, Barrientos M, Spar MJ, Reyes-Farias D, Karliner LS, Potter MB, Brown RT

"You have to be sure that the patient has the full picture": Adaptation of the Best Case/Worst Case communication tool for geriatric oncology.

Journal of geriatric oncology

Wong ML, Nicosia FM, Smith AK, Walter LC, Lam V, Cohen HJ, Loh KP, Mohile SG, Ursem CJ, Schwarze ML

Rapid Conversion of a Group-Based Yoga Trial for Diverse Older Women to Home-Based Telehealth: Lessons Learned Using Zoom to Deliver Movement-Based Interventions.

Journal of integrative and complementary medicine

Huang AJ, Chesney MA, Schembri M, Pawlowsky S, Nicosia F, Subak LL

Implementation of an integrative movement program for residents with dementia in a VA nursing home.

BMC geriatrics

Akram A, Nicosia F, Lee J, Lee M, Martin L, Martinez S, Ordoñez C, Woo M, Barnes DE

Women Veterans' Experiences with Integrated, Biopsychosocial Pain Care: A Qualitative Study.

Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.)

Nicosia FM, Gibson CJ, Purcell N, Zamora K, Tighe J, Seal KH

Advancing health equity through a theoretically critical implementation science.

Translational behavioral medicine

Snell-Rood C, Jaramillo ET, Hamilton AB, Raskin SE, Nicosia FM, Willging C

Guys and dolls: Two case reports of spontaneous interactions with dolls in male veterans with dementia.

Psychological services

Malinowski SD, Nicosia F, Mehling W, Woodstock R, Barnes DE

Leveraging Telehealth to improve access to care: a qualitative evaluation of Veterans' experience with the VA TeleSleep program.

BMC health services research

Nicosia FM, Kaul B, Totten AM, Silvestrini MC, Williams K, Whooley MA, Sarmiento KF

A Biopsychosocial Model of Chronic Pain for Older Adults.

Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.)

Miaskowski C, Blyth F, Nicosia F, Haan M, Keefe F, Smith A, Ritchie C

An Integrated Pain Team Model: Impact on Pain-Related Outcomes and Opioid Misuse in Patients with Chronic Pain.

Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.)

Gibson CJ, Grasso J, Li Y, Purcell N, Tighe J, Zamora K, Nicosia F, Seal KH

Patient Perspectives on Declining to Participate in Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation: A MIXED-METHODS STUDY.

Journal of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and prevention

Schopfer DW, Nicosia FM, Ottoboni L, Whooley MA

"The More They Know, the Better Care They Can Give": Patient Perspectives on Measuring Functional Status in Primary Care.

Journal of general internal medicine

Nicosia FM, Spar MJ, Neumann A, Silvestrini MC, Barrientos M, Brown RT

"We Have a Long Way to Go:" A Case Study Examination of Older Women Veterans' Experiences in VA Primary Care.

Inquiry : a journal of medical care organization, provision and financing

Silvestrini M, Nicosia F, Spar MJ, Gibson CJ, Brown RT

What Is a Medication-Related Problem? A Qualitative Study of Older Adults and Primary Care Clinicians.

Journal of general internal medicine

Nicosia FM, Spar MJ, Stebbins M, Sudore RL, Ritchie CS, Lee KP, Rodondi K, Steinman MA

Making Function Part of the Conversation: Clinician Perspectives on Measuring Functional Status in Primary Care.

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society

Nicosia FM, Spar MJ, Steinman MA, Lee SJ, Brown RT

Nurses' Perspectives on Lean Redesigns to Patient Flow and Inpatient Discharge Process Efficiency.

Global qualitative nursing research

Nicosia FM, Park LG, Gray CP, Yakir MJ, Hung DY

Current approaches to measuring functional status among older adults in VA primary care clinics.

Federal practitioner : for the health care professionals of the VA, DoD, and PHS

Spar MJ, Nicosia FM, Steinman MA, Brown RT

The Turn Toward Value: An ethnography of efficiency and satisfaction in the American hospital

The Turn Toward Value: An ethnography of efficiency and satisfaction in the American hospital

Nicosia, FM

Documentary Effects on Medical Student Attitudes and Skills Regarding Nutrition at the End of life

Creative Education

Scott De La Cruz, Francesca Nicosia, Eva Aagaard