Pallav Pokhrel, PhD, MPH
Program Co-Leader, Population Sciences in the Pacific Program, University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center
Full Member, Population Sciences in the Pacific Program (Cancer Prevention in the Pacific), University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center
Academic Appointment(s):
Professor (Researcher), University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center
Degree(s):
PhD, Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California
MPH, Biostatistics/Epidemiology, University of Southern California
Research Focus
Dr. Pokhrel's research deals with reducing, through tobacco control, high adverse cancer health outcomes faced by vulnerable populations in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. A major part of his research focuses on understanding the social, cultural, and environmental factors affecting racial/ethnic disparities in tobacco use, including use of emerging tobacco products such as electronic cigarettes. Another part focuses on translating findings from behavioral epidemiology to development of tobacco use prevention and cessation interventions. Emerging research interests in his group include cannabis use among cancer patients and survivors, use of new media and Artificial Intelligence to deliver individualized smoking and vaping cessation interventions, and testing of culturally-tailored tobacco prevention media campaigns.
His research is mainly supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health.
Selected Publications
Amin S, Kawamoto CT, Pokhrel P. (2023). Exploring the ChatGPT platform with scenario- specific prompts for vaping cessation. Tob Control. Jul 17:tc-2023-058009. doi: 10.1136/tc-2023-058009.
Pokhrel P, Lipperman-Kreda S, Wills TA, Keaweʻaimoku Kaholokula J, Kawamoto CT, Amin S, Herzog TA. (2023). Ethnicity, Coronavirus Disease-Related Stress, and E-cigarette Use and Cigarette Smoking Among Young Adults: A Longitudinal Study. Nicotine Tob Res. Aug 23;25(10):1676-1686. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntad095.
Pokhrel P, Kawamoto CT, Pagano I, Herzog TA. (2022). Trajectories of e-cigarette advertising exposure, e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking in a sample of young adults from Hawaii. Addiction. Jul;117(7):2015-2026. doi: 10.1111/add.15815.
Pokhrel P, Phillips KT, Tam H, Kawamoto CT, Nakama M, Kaholokula JK. (2022). Ethnicity and the mechanisms of point-of-sale e-cigarette marketing's influence on behavior: A longitudinal study. Psychol Addict Behav. Aug;36(5):452-465. doi: 10.1037/adb0000784.
Kawabata Y, Dalisay F, Santos JM, Pokhrel P. (2023). A Mediation Model for Biculturalism and Cigarette and Betel Nut Use: The Case of Adolescents in Guam. Asian Am J Psychol. Sep;14(3):297-305. doi: 10.1037/aap0000303.
Pokhrel P, Elwir T, Mettias H, Kawamoto CT, Oli N, Okamoto SK. (2021). The Effects of E-Cigarette Use on Alcohol and Marijuana Abuse Symptoms in an Ethnically Diverse Sample of Young Adults. Int J Environ Res Public Health. Dec 14;18(24):13159. doi: 10.3390/ijerph182413159.
Pokhrel P, Ing C, Kawamoto CT, Laestadius L, Buente W, Herzog TA. (2021). Social media's influence on e-cigarette use onset and escalation among young adults: What beliefs mediate the effects? Addict Behav. Jan;112:106617. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106617.
Pokhrel P, Schmid S, Pagano I. (2020). Physical Activity and Use of Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes Among Young Adults. Am J Prev Med. Apr;58(4):580-583. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.10.015.
Amin S, Pokhrel P, Elwir T, Mettias H, Kawamoto CT. (2023). A systematic review of experimental and longitudinal studies on e-cigarette use cessation. Addict Behav. Nov;146:107787. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107787.
Spencer SD, Pokhrel P, Helm S, Wilczek K, Galimov A, Sussman S. (2023). Emerging Adulthood Attributes, Discrimination, Mental Health, and Substance Use in a Sample of Asian, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and White College Students. Asian Am J Psychol. Mar;14(1):51-62. doi: 10.1037/aap0000254.
Publication list via PubMed
Active Grants
P. Pokhrel, PI
NIDA
R01DA053766-01A1
"Ethnic differences in the effects of COVID on the substance use behavior of emerging adults"
01/2022–12/2024
P. Pokhrel, Project Leader; Palafox, Guerrero, Hernandez MPIs
NCI
5U54CA143727-12 7573
"Full Project 1: Adolescent tobacco and areca nut use prevention in Guam"
Center: Pacific Island Partnership for Cancer Health Equity (PIPCHE)
09/2020–08/2024
P. Pokhrel, Co-Investigator; Okamoto (PI)
NIDA
R01 DA054215-01A1
"The Development and Evaluation of a Culturally Grounded ENDS Intervention for Rural Hawaiian Youth"
07/2022–06/2027
P. Pokhrel, Co-Investigator; Kaholokula/Palafox (PI)
NIGMS
U54 GM138062-01A1
Center for Pacific Innovations, Knowledge, and Opportunities (PIKO)
07/2021–06/2026
