Objective: In this study, we explore parent perception of children’s physical activity and screen time during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. Methods: We interviewed 16 parents of children ages 5-12 years in the St. Louis, Missouri region using snowball sampling. We sampled from rural, urban, and suburban areas. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a priori and emergent codes. […]
Category: 2021
Ross C. Brownson Presents Framework for Implementing Strategic Public Health Science (Links to an external site)
Dr. Brownson’s published work introduces implementing strategic public health science in a Push–Pull–Capacity Framework. This model posits that for science to affect practice, there must be a combination of the push (a basis in science and technology), the pull (a market demand from practitioners), and the capacity (the delivery ability of public health and health […]
Associations of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors with Child Mental Well-being During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Links to an external site)
Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in public health and policy measures to reduce in-person contact and the transmission of the virus. These measures impacted daily life and mental well-being (MWB). The aims of this study were to explore the MWB impacts of COVID-19 on children and assess the associations among perceived changes in physical activity […]
New study by PRC doctoral student provides overview of frameworks and models to reduce ineffective healthcare services and public health programs
Background: Reduction or elimination of inappropriate, ineffective, or potentially harmful healthcare services and public health programs can help to ensure limited resources are used effectively. Frameworks and models (FM) are valuable tools in conceptualizing and guiding the study of de-implementation. This scoping review sought to identify and characterize FM that can be used to study de-implementation […]
New study looks at how applying implementation science can improve care for familial hypercholesterolemia
Purpose of review: Improving care of individuals with familial hypercholesteremia (FH) is reliant on the synthesis of evidence-based guidelines and their subsequent implementation into clinical care. This review describes implementation strategies, defined as methods to improve translation of evidence into FH care, that have been mapped to strategies from the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) […]
Promoting physical activity is key to achieving U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (Links to an external site)
“New evidence supports integrating strategies to promote increased physical activity as a key part of the action plan for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, finds a new study led by researchers at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.”
A systematic review of school health policy measurement tools: implementation determinants and outcomes (Links to an external site)
The purposes of this systematic review of quantitative measures of school policy implementation were to (1) identify quantitative school health policy measurement tools developed to measure implementation at the school, district, or state/provincial levels; (2) describe the policy implementation outcomes and determinants assessed and identify the trends in measurement; and (3) assess pragmatic and psychometric properties of identified implementation measures to understand their quality and suitability for broader application. Results showed that implementation science can contribute to more complete and rigorous assessment of school health policy implementation processes, which can improve implementation strategies and ultimately the intended health benefits.
Deborah Salvo becomes a US Citizen!
One of the PRC’s faculty recently became a US Citizen. Congrats Deborah Salvo!
PRC’s Community Advisory Board member featured in the St. Louis American (Links to an external site)
Parents’ Perceptions and Engagement Regarding School-Based Physical Activity Promotion (Links to an external site)
This study examined parents’ perceived importance of, and engagement in, school-based physical activity (PA) promotion. The researchers found that parents’ perceived importance of school-based PA opportunities before and after school warrants emphasis in future research and advocacy.
Long-Term Evaluation of a Course on Evidence-Based Public Health in the U.S. and Europe
The evidence-based public health course equips public health professionals with skills and tools for applying evidence-based frameworks and processes in public health practice. To date, training has included participants from all the 50 U.S. states, 2 U.S. territories, and multiple other countries besides the U.S. This study pooled follow-up efforts (5 surveys, with 723 course participants, 2005-2019) to explore the benefits, application, and barriers to applying the evidence-based public health course content.
Nature relatedness as a potential factor to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior in Ecuadorian children (Links to an external site)
Nature relatedness can be associated with health-related outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the associations of nature relatedness with physical activity and sedentary behavior.
Electronic clinical decision support for children with minor head trauma and intracranial injuries: a sociotechnical analysis (Links to an external site)
This research team evaluated the sociotechnical environment impacting the implementation of electronic CDS, including workflow and communication, institutional culture, and hardware and software infrastructure, among other factors. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34011315/
Cross-Sectional Comparison of Physical Activity during COVID-19 in a Sample of Rural and Non-Rural Participants in the US (Links to an external site)
The purpose of this study was to determine COVID-19’s impact on PA in rural and non-rural residents. Rural participants had a significantly higher body mass index, lower income, and a lower educational attainment. Conversely, non-rural participants reported more barriers to PA. There was no difference in the perception of COVID-19’s impact on PA, specifically; however, […]
Student Spotlight: Julia Liu
Hometown: Portland, Oregon Undergraduate school and major/minor: Triple Major in Health Sciences, Community Development, and Social Science in International Economics. Minor in Psychology and Chemistry Program at Brown: MPH Graduation date: May 2021 Three things you have with you at all times: Hydroflask, Hand sanitizer, and Allegra-D What are your hobbies or activities when you […]
2021 Brown School Student Marshals (Links to an external site)
Congrats to PRC Research Assistant, Sarah Kang!
PRC Faculty, Diana Parra was featured in WashU’s The Gratitude Project (Links to an external site)
The Gratitude Project, a new program focuses on highlighting stories of how WashU faculty, staff and students are rising up for the greater good.
Master of Public Health Outstanding Field Education Student Awards
Congrats to the PRC’s RAs, Sarah Kang and Bill Effah for receiving the Master of Public Health Outstanding Field Education Student Awards!
Age-friendly cities, knowledge and urban restructuring (Links to an external site)
Age-friendly cities and communities have emerged as a significant policy, participative and governance response to aging and its spatial effects. This paper argues that it has important benefits in mobilizing older people, placing age on the urban agenda and building recognition across politicians, policy makers and program managers.
Perspectives of scientists on disseminating research findings to non-research audiences (Links to an external site)
Little is known about practices used to disseminate findings to non-research, practitioner audiences. This study describes the perspectives, experience and activities of dissemination & implementation (D&I) scientists around disseminating their research findings.
PACT webinar 5/18
The PACT Study team is hosting a partner engagement webinar, Building and Sustaining Productive Partnerships during COVID-19 and Beyond, on Tuesday, May 18 from 11:00am – 12:30pm Central Time. This webinar will be led by Martha Fedorowicz and Isabella Remor of the Research to Action Lab at the Urban Institute. Please see the attached flyer […]
Implementation strategies to improve statin utilization in individuals with hypercholesterolemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Links to an external site)
Numerous implementation strategies to improve utilization of statins in patients with hypercholesterolemia have been utilized, with varying degrees of success. The aim of this systematic review is to determine the state of evidence of implementation strategies on the uptake of statins.
Implementation Science and Health Equity in The Source (Links to an external site)
With an intentional focus on health equity from funders, researchers, practitioners, advocates, evaluators and policy makers, the authors argue, the United States can harvest the rewards of the resources being invested in health-related research to eliminate avoidable disparities, resulting in greater health equity.
If disease prevention is so great, why doesn’t society focus on it? (Links to an external site)
The prevention of illness and the encouragement of healthy behaviors—the twin goals of public health—receive only a tiny fraction of research spending in the United States. This interview highlights the importance of evidence-based public health practices when completing and communicating research.
Universal School Meals and Associations with Student Participation, Attendance, Academic Performance, Diet Quality, Food Security, and Body Mass Index: A Systematic Review (Links to an external site)
This systematic review evaluates studies examining the association between universal free school meals and students’ school meal participation rates, diets, attendance, academic performance, and Body Mass Index (BMI), as well as school finances.
Capacity for childhood obesity research in Latin American and US Latino populations: State of the field, challenges, opportunities, and future directions (Links to an external site)
The objectives of this study are to determine research productivity in Latin America and in the United States focused on Latino populations and examine domains of research capacity (research infrastructure, training programs, mentoring, funding, and networks).
Built environment in programs to promote physical activity among Latino children and youth living in the United States and in Latin America (Links to an external site)
This paper aims to advance the research agenda of BE and PA for obesity prevention in Latin America and among Latino youth in the United States by (1) identifying environmental indicators to inform the design of interventions and policy, (2) identifying interdisciplinary methodological approaches for the study of the complex association between BE and PA, and (3) presenting case studies of PA-promoting BE programs.
Student Spotlight: Bill Effah
“I realized the problem was in the community and that there was a disconnect between clinical medicine and the determinants of health in the communities I worked in.”
Ebuwa ‘Ria Evbuoma accepted into the 2021 Clinton Global Initiative University
Ebuwa’s initiative works to improve health and education outcomes of child farmworkers in Illinois using a systematic review and mixed methods research. They aim to increase knowledge about the impact of agricultural hazards, find access to healthcare, ensure equitable pay, and see that the educational rights of the child workers are adhered to.
Evaluation of a multidisciplinary lipid clinic to improve the care of individuals with severe lipid conditions: a RE-AIM framework analysis (Links to an external site)
Completed a program evaluation of the first year of a newly implemented MDLC utilizing the RE-AIM (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance) framework. Despite limited reach and adoption of the MDLC, a large intervention effect included improved diagnosis, increased prescribing of guideline-recommended treatments, and clinically significant reduction of lipid levels.
Implementation science should give higher priority to health equity (Links to an external site)
With a stronger commitment to health equity from funders, researchers, practitioners, advocates, evaluators, and policy makers, we can harvest the rewards of the resources being invested in health-related research to eliminate disparities, resulting in health equity.
Development of a Health Information Technology Tool for Behavior Change to Address Obesity and Prevent Chronic Disease Among Adolescents: Designing for Dissemination and Sustainment Using the ORBIT Model (Links to an external site)
The ORBIT model stands for Obesity-Related Behavioral Intervention Trials. This article reports the application of the ORBIT model to (1) describe the characteristics and design of a novel HIT tool (the PREVENT tool) using behavioral theory, (2) illustrate the use of stakeholder-centered “designing for dissemination and sustainability” principles, and (3) discuss the practical implications and directions for future research.
Disparities in Text Messaging Interventions to Improve Diabetes Management in the United States (Links to an external site)
The goals of this study were to 1) summarize characteristics of diabetes SMS interventions implemented in the United States and 2) identify the extent to which disadvantaged populations are represented in SMS-based diabetes management intervention studies.
Y-PATHS: A Conceptual Framework for Classifying the Timing, How, and Setting of Youth Physical Activity (Links to an external site)
The Y-PATHS is a comprehensive classification framework that can help researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to better understand youth physical activity.
Health Information Technology Use Among Healthcare Providers Treating Children and Adolescents With Obesity: a Systematic Review (Links to an external site)
A systematic review was performed to synthesize the latest evidence of health information technology (HIT) used by healthcare professionals to address overweight/obesity among children and adolescents.
The Relationships Between State Health Department Practitioners’ Perceptions of Organizational Supports and Evidence-Based Decision-Making Skills (Links to an external site)
Evidence-based decision making (EBDM) allows public health practitioners to implement effective programs and policies fitting the preferences of their communities. To engage in EBDM, practitioners must have skills themselves, their agencies must engage in administrative evidence-based practices (A-EBPs), and leaders must encourage the use of EBDM. This longitudinal study to quantifies perceptions of individual EBDM skills and A-EBPs, as well as the longitudinal associations between the two.
Six-Minute Walking Test Performance Relates to Neurocognitive Abilities in Preschoolers (Links to an external site)
This study investigated the relationship between six-minute walking test (6MWT) distance walked and preschool-aged children’s academic abilities, and behavioral and event-related potentials (ERP) indices of cognitive control. The findings indicate that the positive influence of cardio-respiratory fitness on cognitive function is evident in 4-6-year-olds.
PRC awarded grant to help St. Louisans, Missourians at high risk for COVID-19. (Links to an external site)
Diana Parra Perez has been awarded a grant to develop programs to address high-risk populations for COVID-19 in St. Louis. The Center in St. Louis will work with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services in the Building Resilient Inclusive Communities (BRIC) program to boost existing efforts of partners and communities with a focus on health equity in nutrition security, access to safe physical activity and social connectedness.
The Food Chain – Has coronavirus changed school meals for ever? – BBC Sounds (Links to an external site)
Congrats to Gabby on this excellent podcast on food insecurity!
Save the Date: Rhonda MaGee (Links to an external site)
The Mindfulness Working Group is putting together an event with support from CRE2!
Student Spotlight: Fatemeh Naghiloo
Hometown: Hidaj, Iran Undergraduate Major/Minor: Architecture Program at Brown: MPH Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2021 Three things you have with you at all times: Phone, credit card, a mug filled with hot tea Hobbies/Activities: Walking, cooking, hanging out with friends, video chatting with family, and traveling What first made you interested in studying Public Health? […]
Brownson, Powell, Proctor Among Most Highly Cited Researchers (Links to an external site)
Congratulations Elizabeth Singh (Budd) for receiving the Steven P. Hooker Research Award (Links to an external site)
Congratulations to Elizabeth Budd for receiving the Steven P. Hooker Research Award for outstanding physical activity research in the field of public health. This award recognizes Professor Budd’s presentation at the AATSP conference in October.