A network survey among agencies that address cancer risk in rural Missouri and Illinois, conducted by the Brown School and School of Medicine’s Implementation Science Center for Cancer Control, was found to be useful in helping those practitioners identify gaps, plan for how to establish future relationships and strengthen collaboration.
News
PRC faculty awarded new grants
Congratulations to our PRC Faculty, Maura Kepper and Steph Mazzucca, for receiving new grant awards. Details about the grant awards are below. Maura Kepper Funder: Wash U Center for Dissemination & Implementation and Implementation Science Center for Cancer Control Title: Adapting and Implementing a Novel Digital Health Tool to Promote Behavior Change and Improve Cancer Risk […]
Staff presented at the International System Dynamics Conference during plenary session
Sarah Pritchard and Karina Marin presented during the conference plenary session in Frankfurt, Germany Thurs. afternoon, July 21. “Presenting at the conference was a fun experience and great opportunity to continue growing as a modeler and newly graduated student. The overwhelming positive feedback I received from more experienced system dynamists on our project was amazing […]
Maura Kepper’s Project Adapts a new Digital Health Tool called PREVENT to Help Patients Overcome Barriers to Healthy Behaviors
Because low-income residents in rural areas often face greater barriers to achieving healthy behaviors and reduced cancer risk, it is critical that we provide care tailored to their needs. Digital tools have the ability to support health care teams in delivering targeted behavior counseling and other necessary resources for sustaining good health. Maura Kepper, PHD, […]
Faculty Spotlight: Diana Parra
It wasn’t the toasted ravioli that drew Diana Parra Perez to St. Louis. Parra Perez began her journey in public health and to the PRC in Bogota, Colombia, where her interest in physical activity led to becoming a physical therapist who aimed to work with athletes. As she was introduced to the endeavors of public […]
Findings in new study highlight the importance of better disseminating evidence about anorexia/bulimia and can inform dissemination efforts about mental health parity laws to state legislators. (Links to an external site)
Abstract Mental health parity legislation can improve mental health outcomes. U.S. state legislators determine whether state parity laws are adopted, making it critical to assess factors affecting policy support. This study examines the prevalence and demographic correlates of legislators’ support for state parity laws for four mental illnesses- major depression disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), […]
Student Spotlight: Audrey Toler
Hometown: Oxford, Mississippi Undergraduate school and major/minor: University of Mississippi – Psychology major and chemistry minor Program at Brown: MPH Anticipated graduation date: May 2022 What are three things you have with you at all times: Nalgene water bottle, Burt’s Bees chapstick, Pilot Precise V5 pen What are your hobbies or activities when you aren’t […]
Study led by PRC Researcher, Deborah Salvo, finds that implementing high discounts on the cost of vegetables, or jointly increasing geographic and economic access to mobile markets or farm stands, can increase vegetable intake among low-income groups. (Links to an external site)
Abstract Modifying the food environment of cities is a promising strategy for improving dietary behaviors, but using traditional empirical methods to test the effectiveness of these strategies remains challenging. We developed an agent-based model to simulate the food environment of Austin, Texas, USA, and to test the impact of different food access policies on vegetable […]
Advancing Racial Equity in the PRC by Building the Capacity of the Individuals Who Comprise It
In fall 2020, the PRC established the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee focused on developing a plan to advance racial equity in our center and its work. The Committee formed as our PRC members were grappling with the numerous injustices and violence inflicted on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, on top of the […]
PRC Researchers Explored Parent Perception of Children’s Physical Activity and Screen Time During COVID-19 Stay-at-home Orders in Featured Study. (Links to an external site)
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. […]
Recent Study by PRC Researchers Captures Perceptions of Covid-19 mitigations’ efficacy (Links to an external site)
This study captures the perceptions of COVID-19 mitigations’ efficacy of rural and non-rural participants, using the health belief model (HBM), and describes where public health nursing may be able to fill behavior gaps in rural communities.
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 […]
Recent Study by PRC Researchers Provides Approaches for Ending Ineffective Programs in Public Health Agencies (Links to an external site)
Public health agencies are increasingly concerned with ensuring they are maximizing limited resources by delivering effective evidence-based programs to enhance population-level chronic disease outcomes. Despite the focus on use of effective interventions, ineffective programs too often continue at public health agencies. This analysis provides insight into how experienced state health department practitioners recommend ending ineffective […]
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 […]
PRC Researchers, Rodrigo Reis and Deborah Salvo, Examine in Recent Publication What the Physical Activity Community Can Do for Climate Action and Planetary Health (Links to an external site)
This study found that physical activity promotion strategies need to be aligned with climate action commitments, incorporating the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scenarios in physical activity action plans. The promotion strategies must consider equity a core value and promote physical activity to the most vulnerable populations so that they are protected from the ill-health […]
PRC Faculty, Diana C Parra, Recently Published a Paper on School Feeding Programs in Latin America and the Caribbean during the COVID-19 Pandemic (Links to an external site)
School feeding programs (SFPs) can play a crucial role in the emergency food and nutrition response, but there is a dearth of information on how SFPs operate during emergencies. The Results of this study showed that during the pandemic, all SFPs continued (although continuation plans varied from a few days in Chile to > 1 […]
Student Spotlight: Karina Marin
Hometown: Skokie, IL Undergraduate school and major/minor: Double major in Anthropology and Spanish Program at Brown: MSW Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2022 Three things you have with you at all times: Snacks, headphones, a book What are your hobbies or activities when you aren’t studying or working? I love reading books for fun! I’ve been […]
PRC’s Research Assistant, Zoe Miller, presented a poster at the Brown School’s Graduate Research Symposium
Zoe presented at the Brown School’s annual “Research without Walls” event. You can learn more about the research symposium and see other students’ posters here.
Ross Brownson featured in St. Louis Public Radio article: “St. Louisans are brushing the dust off their dancing shoes after two cautious years.” (Links to an external site)
Staff Spotlight: Renee Parks
Renee Parks got a first-hand glimpse of the importance of evidence-based public health practice just after graduate school, when she became the health educator for Missouri University of Science & Technology. “It was a really important position for me,” she said. “I saw how challenging it was to actually engage in evidence-based practice and put […]
Maggie Padek Kalman to give talk describing her decade of research staff experience at WashU.
This seminar will feature Maggie Padek, who has a decade of experience as research staff at Washington University and is an integral member of many research teams. She will discuss her career path and share lessons learned, including her roles and responsibilities in different positions, when and how to take the next steps, and more. […]
Student Spotlight: Ebuwa Evbuoma-Fike
Hometown: Benin City & Apa, Nigeria Undergraduate school and major/minor: University of Lagos: Medicine & Surgery Program at Brown: MPH/MSP Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2022 Three things you have with you at all times: Phone, purse, glasses What are your hobbies or activities when you aren’t studying or working? I enjoy tinkering with recipes, watching […]
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) […]
Staff Spotlight: Aine O’Connor
Hometown: St. Louis, MO Undergraduate school: Washington University in St. Louis Majors: Political Science and Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology Minor: History Graduate school: Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis Program: MPH (Graduated May 2021) Three things you have with you at all times: A good pen, a notebook or scrap of paper, and a hair tie. […]
Staff Spotlight: Rebekah Jacob
Got data? Rebekah Jacob is your go-to person at the PRC.Jacob is the PRC’s Data Manager, helping researchers to analyze data whenever needed. She’s worked in a variety of roles at the center and elsewhere since graduating from the Brown School in 2013 with a joint MSW/MPH degree: Project manager, evaluator, analyst. But whatever her […]
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 […]
Student Spotlight: Sarah Kang
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA Undergraduate University and Major: Wesleyan University – Double major in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Science in Society Program Minor in East Asian Studies Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2021 Three things you have with you at all times: Phone, Keys, Costco Membership card What are your hobbies or activities when you aren’t […]
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.”