Sandra Iregbu, PhD, RN

Sandra Iregbu, PhD, RN, is an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee- School of Nursing. Before joining the University of Wisconsin, Sandra obtained her doctorate at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, and postdoctoral training at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Sandra’s research interest is in diabetes self-management education/support.

Before her postdoctoral training, Sandra’s dissertation was a pioneering study that focused on self-management support for adults with type 2 diabetes in Nigeria. She used a qualitative research design to delve into Nigerian healthcare providers' perspectives, experiences, and practices in supporting individuals with type 2 diabetes. Her use of semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and document reviews was instrumental in shedding light on an area that had not received much research attention- self-management support for persons with diabetes in Nigeria and other African countries.

Sandra’s research program currently focuses on improving clinical outcomes in US adults with diabetes, including minimizing or eliminating barriers and strengthening individuals’ ability and capacity to manage themselves.

Sandra's expertise is not limited to research. She has a wealth of clinical experience in acute and chronic care, which she brings to her research.

Education

Postdoctoral Fellowship- Medical College of Wisconsin

PhD Nursing-University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

MSN- Walden University, Minneapolis Minnesota

BSc Nursing- University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Nigeria

Awards

American Diabetes Association Young Investigator’s Award-2024

Intellectual Contributions

Walker, R. J., Magro, C., Amjad, R., Hawks, L. C., Iregbu, S., & Egede, L. E. (2024). Material needs security and cardiovascular risk factors in rural South Africa. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 2170. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19688-z

Iregbu, S., Spiers, J., Duggleby, W., Salami, B., & Schick-Makaroff, K. (2023). Nigerian Health Care Providers and Diabetes Self-Management Support: Their Perspectives and Practices. Qualitative health research, 33(1-2), 92–105. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497323221143889

Iregbu, S. C., Duggleby, W., Spiers, J., & Salami, B. (2022). An Interpretive Description of Sociocultural Influences on Diabetes Self-Management Support in Nigeria. Global qualitative nursing research, 9, 23333936221121337. https://doi.org/10.1177/23333936221121337

Olson, K., Zimka, O., Pasiorowski, A., Iregbu, S., & Boulé, N. G. (2018). Tiredness, Fatigue, and Exhaustion as Perceived by Recreational Marathon Runners. Qualitative health research, 28(13), 1997–2010. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732318785360

Iregbu, S. C., & Iregbu, F. U. (2016). A review of self-management of diabetes in Africa. African Journal of Diabetes Medicine, 24(2).

Presentations

Iregbu, S., Walker, R., & Egede, L. (2024). Longitudinal effects of diabetes fatalism on clinical outcomes and QOL in African Americans with T2D- Oral presentation at the American Diabetes Association 84th Scientific Conference- Orlando Florida.