Nicole Johnson

Headshot of Professor Nicole Johnson

Biography

Nicole Johnson is an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies. Dr. Johnson received her Ph.D. in Health Communication from Indiana University-Indianapolis in 2020, where she studied how communication influences health decision-making and behavior change, and promotes positive health outcomes. Prior to joining faculty at URI, she conducted qualitative research at the VA focused on improving healthcare programs related to chronic pain, women’s health, and antimicrobial stewardship for Veterans. Dr. Johnson teaches courses in the Harrington College.

Research

Health communication; women’s health; ​implementation science; uncertainty management; health behavior change; health information-seeking; veteran’s health

As a researcher of health communication, Dr. Johnson focuses on how everyday conversations and clinical interactions influence healthcare utilization and decision-making. Uniting the disciplines of communication, public health, implementation science, and women’s health, Dr. Johnson’s research engages interdisciplinary insights to theorize and test how we can more effectively communicate about important issues facing women (i.e., birth, menopause, chronic pain management). She is particularly interested in applied research – working with community groups and operational partners to provide insights for leveraging communication strategies to improve health outcomes. 

Education

  • Ph.D., Health Communication, Indiana University-Indianapolis, 2020
  • M.A., Organizational Communication, Ball State University, 2006
  • B.S., Communication, Media & Design, La Roche University, 2004

Selected Publications

Johnson, N. L., Van Tiem, J., Steffensmeier, K. S., Akuley, S., Ball, D., Thomas, E., Mengeling, M., Norman, S., Pratt, A., Driscoll, M. A., Garvin, L. A., Hart, K. J., & Hadlandsmyth, K. (2025, May 13). Providers’ Role in Building Patient Buy-In for Treating Chronic Pain and PTSD: Qualitative Findings from Veterans’ Perspectives on their Interactions with Providers. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 40, 3992-3999. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-025-09588-2

Johnson, N. L., Van Tiem, J., Jones, D., Friberg, J., Balkenende, E., Chasco, E., Steffen, M., Steffensmeier, K. S., Moeckli, J., Reisinger, H. S. (2024). Gaps in communication theory paradigms when conducting implementation science research. Implementation Science, 19(66), https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-024-01395-3

Johnson, N. L., & Moeckli, J. (2024). Conceptualizations of interpersonal communication in intensive care units: Findings from a scoping review. Journal of Communication in Healthcare, 17(2), 130-142. https://doi.org/10.1080/17538068.2023.2297124

Johnson, N. L., Steffensmeier, K., Garvin, L. A., Obrecht, A. A., Rothmiller, S. J., Sibenaller, Z., Stout, L., Driscoll, M. A., & Hadlandsmyth, K. (2024). “It made me not want to see him…”: The role of patient-provider communication in influencing rural-dwelling women Veterans’ motivation to seek health care for managing chronic pain. Health Communication, 39(6), 1161-1174. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2023.2207280

Johnson, N. L., Brann, M A., Scott, S. F., & Bute, J. J. (2023). “I’m not comfortable with COVID, but…”: Dilemmas and decision-making to mitigate risks among mothers who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative Health Research, 34(6), 517-527. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497323231217594

Johnson, N. L. (2022). Towards understanding disparities in using technology to access health care information: African American Veterans’ sociocultural perspectives on using My HealtheVet for diabetes management. Health Communication, 38(11), 2399-2407. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2022.2071392