PRC Core Research Project
2019-2024
The purpose of the Core Research Project is to develop and disseminate approaches that will increase the use of evidence-based policies to reduce obesity disparities and advance health equity, at the local-level.
Project Goals
- Describe factors influencing policy decision-making for health at the local-level in a sample of communities experiencing obesity disparities
- Identify the most important local-level policies for community health equity
- Assess different versions of a policy brief (text-based, risk framing, narrative, and risk framing + narrative) for translation of research about policies to address obesity among local policymakers
- Evaluate the impact of strategies (social network- and community-informed) on local policy processes for obesity prevention and health equity in a sample of communities
Implications for Research and Practice
This project will help to better define the local policy process, content, and outcomes, which are fundamental to use of effective policies and poorly understood.
Our project will impact the field by enhancing abilities to: (1) measure implementation of evidence-based policies, (2) understand communication and network drivers in the local policy process, and (3) accelerate the translation of effective policies to local public health policy and practice, thus promoting health equity.
Project Contact
Renee Parks, renee.parks@wustl.edu
Project Staff
Principal Investigator: Ross C. Brownson, PhD
Co-Investigators: Elizabeth Dodson, PhD, MPH; Amy Eyler, PhD; Debra Haire-Joshu, PhD; Rebekah Jacob, MPH, MSW; Alex Morshed, PhD, MS; Mary Politi, PhD; Rachel Tabak, PhD, RD; Ian Thomas, PhD; Yan Yan, MD, PhD; Fanice Thomas, PhD and Edward Tsai, PhD, MPH
Research Assistants: Breana Wayne and Masoomeh Faghankhani, MD
Project Manager: Renee Parks, MS
Project Partners
PRC Community Advisory Board
Funding Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): U48DP006395
Related Resources
Qual Research: Municipal officials’ perspectives on policymaking for addressing obesity and health equity
Parks, Renee G.; Thomas, Fanice; Morshed, Alexandra B.; Dodson, Elizabeth A.; Tian, Ruiyi; Politi, Mary C.; Eyler, Amy A.; Thomas, Ian; and Brownson, Ross C., “Qual Research: Municipal officials’ perspectives on policymaking for addressing obesity and health equity” (2023). Data and Supporting Files. Paper 5. https://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/data/5
Testing policy brief versions among local policymakers across the U.S.
Survey of local policymakers (testing policy brief versions) reference guide – includes survey description and questionnaire
Municipal Officials’ Views on Policymaking for Health: Findings from interviews with local elected and appointed officials from municipalities across the U.S. with high chronic disease disparities for their region to understand factors affecting their policymaking for community health.
- Infographic
- Blog post based on the Evidence & Policy article
Research brief with CivicPulse, Two policy domains where local governments can make a difference
Community Health Through Policy Change webinars, recordings and resources:
- Public Health Policymaking, Part 1: Defining the Issue
- Public Health Policymaking, Part 2: Assessing Policy Actions
Parks RG, Thomas F, Morshed AB, Dodson EA, Tian R, Politi MC, Eyler AA, Thomas I, & Brownson RC (2023). Municipal officials’ perspectives on policymaking for addressing obesity and health equity, Evidence & Policy (published online ahead of print 2023). https://doi.org/10.1332/174426421X16793276974116
Dodson EA, Parks RG, Jacob RR, An R, Eyler AA, Lee N, Morshed AB, Politi MC, Tabak RG, Yan Y, & Brownson RC (2024). Effectively communicating with local policymakers: a randomized trial of policy brief dissemination to address obesity. Frontiers in Public Health. 2024;12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1246897