David W. Wetter, Ph.D.

Research Interests

Our work is targeted at eliminating inequities in health-related behavior through translational research. Specific research foci include: theoretical models of addictive and cancer risk behaviors; the development and evaluation of theoretically-based interventions; and, translational research to implement and disseminate those interventions in real world settings. Treatment approaches include smartphone apps, motivational enhancement therapies, mindfulness meditation, and cognitive behavioral interventions. Assessment approaches include on-body human sensing technologies, ecological momentary assessments, and implicit cognition. Our research spans the continuum from cells to society, and focuses on high-risk and underserved populations, with a major focus on low socioeconomic status individuals and minorities.

Opportunities For Students

We actively involve students in our research program, which includes several current projects funded by the National Institutes of Health. We are interested in students who are both independent and able to work well with a team. We are particularly interested in students who are majoring in psychology or a health-related field. Students planning to attend graduate or medical school are welcome.

Our current NIH funded projects utilize mHealth technologies that include on-body human sensors that can detect stress and behaviors such as smoking, smartphones that collect ecological momentary assessment data, and GPS tracking. These approaches yield rich, real-time, real world data on lived experience.

Students are provided with all the necessary training so no previous research experience is required. Please direct inquiries to david.wetter@hci.utah.edu.

Education

Ph.D., University of Wisconsin - Madison (Psychology, 1993)

M.S., University of Wisconsin - Madison (Epidemiology, 1993)

M.S., University of Oregon (Sport Psychology, 1988)

B.A., Whitman College (Economics, 1982)

Selected Publications

Spears CA, Abroms LC, Glass CR, Hedeker D, Eriksen MP, Cottrell-Daniels C, Tran BQ, Wetter DW (2019). Mindfulness-based smoking cessation enhanced with mobile technology (iQuit Mindfully): Pilot randomized controlled trial. JMIRMhealth Uhealth, 7 (6), e13059.
 
Spears CA, Li L, Wu C, Vinci C, Heppner WL, Hoover DS, Lam C, Wetter DW (2019). Mechanisms linking mindfulness and early smoking abstinence: An ecological momentary assessment study. Psychol Addict Behav, 33(3), 197-207.
 
Ou JY, Warner EL, Nam GE, Martel L, Carbajal-Salisbury S, Fuentes V, Wetter DW, Kirchhoff AC, Kepka D (2019). Colorectal cancer knowledge and screening adherence among low-income Hispanic employees. Health Education Research.
 
Housten AJ, Hoover DS, Correa-Fernández V, Strong LL, Heppner WL, Vinci C, Wetter DW, Spears CA, Castro Y (2019). Associations of health literacy with acculturation among Latino adults. Health Lit Res Pract.
 
Castro Y, Vinci C, Heppner WL, Cano MÁ, Correa-Fernández V, Wetter DW (2018). Revisiting the relationship between acculturation and smoking cessation among Mexican Americans. Ann Behav Med, 53(3), 211-222.
 
Piñeiro B, Wetter DW, Vidrine DJ, Hoover DS, Frank-Pearce SG, Nguyen N, Zbikowski SM, Williams MB, Vidrine JI (2019). Quitline treatment dose predicts cessation outcomes among safety net patients linked with treatment via Ask-Advise-Connect. Prev Med Rep, 13262-267.
 
Spears CA, Bell SA, Scarlett CA, Anderson NK, Cottrell-Daniels C, Lotfalian S, Bandlamudi M, Grant A, Sigurdardottir A, Carter BP, Abroms LC, Wetter DW (2019). Text messaging to enhance mindfulness-based smoking cessation treatment: Program development through qualitative research. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth, 7(1), e11246.
 
Versace F, Stevens EM, Robinson JD, Cui Y, Deweese MM, Engelmann JM, Green CE, Karam-Hage M, Lam CY, Minnix JA, Wetter DW, Cinciripini PM (2019). Brain responses to cigarette-related and emotional images in smokers during smoking cessation: No effect of Varenicline or Bupropion on the late positive potential. Nicotine Tob Res, 21(2), 234-240.
 
Ulrich CM, Himbert C, Boucher K, Wetter DW, Hess R, Kim J, Lundberg K, Ligibel JA, Barnes CA, Rushton B, Marcus R, Finlayson SRG, LaStayo PC, Varghese TK (2018). Precision-Exercise-Prescription in patients with lung cancer undergoing surgery: rationale and design of the PEP study trial. BMJ Open, 8(12), e024672.
 
Piñeiro B, Vidrine DJ, Wetter DW, Hoover DS, Frank-Pearce SG, Nguyen N, Zbikowski SM, Vidrine JI (2018). Implementation of Ask-Advise-Connect in a safety net healthcare system: Quitline treatment engagement and smoking cessation outcomes.(Epub ahead of print) Transl Behav Med.
 
Haslam AK, Correa-Fernandez V, Hoover DS, Li L, Lam C, Wetter DW (2018). Anhedonia and smoking cessation among Spanish-speaking Mexican-Americans. Health Psychol, 37(9), 814-819.
 
Vinci C, Haslam A, Lam CY, Kumar S, Wetter DW (2018). The use of ambulatory assessment in smoking cessation. Addict Behav, 8318-24.
 
McNeill LH, Reitzel LR, Escoto KH, Roberson CL, Nguyen N, Vidrine JI, Strong LL, Wetter DW (2018). Engaging black churches to address cancer health disparities: Project CHURCH. Front Public Health, 6191.
 
Escoto KH, Milbury K, Nguyen N, Cho D, Roberson C, Wetter DW, McNeill LH (2018). Use of complementary health practices in a church-based African American cohort. J Altern Complement Med.
 
Cinciripini PM, Minnix JA, Green CE, Robinson JD, Engelmann JM, Versace F, Wetter DW, Shete S, Karam-Hage M (2018). An RCT with the combination of Varenicline and Bupropion for smoking cessation: Clinical implications for front line use. LID - 10.1111/add.14250 [doi]. Addiction, 113(9), 1673-82.
 
Hébert ET, Stevens EM, Frank SG, Kendzor DE, Wetter DW, Zvolensky MJ, Buckner JD, Businelle MS (2018). An ecological momentary intervention for smoking cessation: The associations of just-in-time, tailored messages with lapse risk factors. Addict Behav, 7830-35.
 
Minami H, Brinkman HR, Nahvi S, Arnsten J, Rivera-Mindt M, Wetter DW, Bloom EL, Price LH, Vieira C, Donnelly R, McClain LM, Kennedy K, D’Aquila E, Fine M, McCarthy DE, Thomas JG, Hecht J, & Brown RA (2018). Rationale, design and pilot feasibility results of a smartphone-assisted, mindfulness-based intervention for smokers with mood disorders: Project mSMART MIND. Contemp Clin Trials, 66(March 2018), 36-44.
 
Hoover DS, Wetter DW, Vidrine DJ, Nguyen N, Frank-Pearce SG, Li Y, Waters AJ, Meade CD, Vidrine JI (2018). Enhancing smoking risk communications: The influence of need for cognition. Ann Behav Med, 52(3), 204-215.
 
Paulus DJ, Langdon KJ, Wetter DW, Zvolensky MJ (2018). Dispositional mindful attention in relation to negative affect, tobacco withdrawal, and expired carbon monoxide on and after quit day. J Addict Med, 12(1), 40-44.
 
Cofta-Woerpel L, Lam C, Reitzel LR, Wilson W, Karam-Hage M, Beneventi D, Cofer J, Baker E, Wetter DW, Cinciripini PM, Blalock J (2018). A tele-mentoring tobacco cessation case consultation and education model for healthcare providers in community mental health centers. Cogent Med, 5(1).