Dr. Chang is a clinician health services researcher with a focus on women’s and reproductive health and patient-clinician communication. Her early research focused primarily on understanding intimate partner violence (IPV) and how health care providers can help women experiencing IPV. Through this qualitative work, she found that women described the potential power of patient-provider communication as a source of support, motivation, empowerment, and validation. She then expanded her research expertise to focus on patient-provider communication, particularly in reproductive health care. Her more recent research examines a variety of topics within obstetric care communication, including screening and counseling regarding substance use, addressing mental health concerns, breastfeeding counseling, and race bias in communication. Judy is also a dedicated educator and mentor. She developed the first course teaching qualitative methods within the Institute of Clinical Research Education and serves as a research mentor to numerous students and early investigators.
During medical school, Dr. Chang worked as a victims’ advocate at the Houston Women’s Center assisting victims of intimate partner violence, and she now serves on the board of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. She is mother to three wonderful children, each with strong, remarkable personalities! As a parent of an individual with special medical and learning needs, she has gained a strong appreciation for learning support and special needs services and advocacy.
Education & Training
- BA, Plan II Honors Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin, 1991
- MD, Baylor College of Medicine, 1995
- OB/GYN Residency, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1999
- Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, University of North Carolina, 2001
- MPH, Health Promotion and Leadership, University of North Carolina, 2001
Representative Publications
Chang JC, Decker M, Moracco KE, Martin SL, Petersen R, Fraiser PY. Asking about intimate partner violence: Advice from female survivors to health care providers. Patient Education and Counseling, 2005;59(2):141-147.
This article describes suggestions from female survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) regarding approaches clinicians can take to talk about the topic more effectively in clinical visits. A key finding from this work highlights their perspective that they would benefit from receiving IPV information and resources regardless of whether they disclose their IPV experience.
Chang JC, Dado D, Frankel RM, Rodriguez KL, Zickmund S, Ling B, Arnold RM. When pregnant patients disclose substance use: Missed opportunities for behavioral change counseling. Patient Education and Counseling, 2008; 7(3):394-401.
This article shares findings from an observational study examining patient-clinician communication in first obstetric visits. Findings showed that although obstetric clinicians seemed prepared to offer counseling and support in response to pregnant patient disclosures of tobacco use, their responses to disclosures of drug use were limited.
Chang JC, Tarr JA, Holland CL, De Genna N, Richardson G, Rodriguez KL, Sheeder J, Kraemer KL, Day N, Rubio D, Jarlenski M, Arnold RM. Beliefs and attitudes regarding prenatal marijuana use: Perspectives of pregnant womenw ho report use. Drug Alcohol Depend, 2019; 196:14-20.
Qualitative interviews with pregnant patients who use marijuana describe beliefs and attitudes, including the perception that marijuana is natural and safe, uncertainty regarding potential risks of prenatal marijuana use, and concern for involvement of child protective services if they disclose their prenatal marijuana use.
Morrison PK, Goodkind S, Holland CL, Cluss PA, Miller E, George D, Fleming R, Chang JC. Key components of the batterer intervention program process: An analysis of observational data from two community-based BIPs. Violence Against Women, 2021; 27(14):2617-2641.
Observational data from an ethnographic study of two community-based batterer intervention programs for adult men arrested for perpetration of intimate partner violence noted two key processes in the group dynamics: "facilitator processes" (e.g., managing group dynamics and engaging clients in learning) and "client processes" (e.g., mutual aid, help-seeking, and support).
Click here for a more complete bibliography of Dr. Chang’s works.
Research Interests
- Patient-clinician communication
- Qualitative research methods
- Intimate partner violence
- Substance use disorders/prenatal substance use