Newsroom

PRC Network Reports on Policy Research at APHA
The PRC’s Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research and Evaluation Network (NOPREN) joined colleagues from CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, which funds the network, in sharing policy research results at the 2011 American Public Health Association Meeting held in Washington, DC, October 31 - November 2, 2011. Issues addressed included sugar-sweetened beverages, obesity policy, access to healthy food, and point-of-decision guidance in small stores. Read the session summary and presentation abstracts

. For more information about NOPREN and its working groups (Water Access, Communicating with Policymakers, Rural Food Access, and Food Policy Councils), visit www.nopren.org

Study Shows Promoting Physical Activity May Improve Teen Smoking Cessation
West Virginia University PRC researchers found that promoting physical activity within the Not on Tobacco program, an evidence-based teen smoking cessation program, may increase participants smoking cessation. See “Effects of Physical Activity on Teen Smoking Cessation,” published online September 19, 2011, in Pediatrics, a journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

American Journal of Public Health Publishes PRC Research Ahead of Print

Community Health Workers Improved Use of Protective Eyewear among Citrus Harvesters
Using a community health worker model, the University of South Florida PRC improved the use of protective eyewear among citrus harvesters. Researchers trained full-time citrus workers to disseminate eye safety information and encourage the wearing of safety glasses among workers in the citrus groves. This model may be applicable to preventing injuries in similar agricultural settings. See abstract (through PubMed) for “Preventing Eye Injuries Among Citrus Harvesters: The Community Health Worker Model.”

Identifying Health Inequities of Deaf Sign Language Users through Innovative Survey
The University of Rochester PRC developed and conducted a health survey among deaf people who use American Sign Language (ASL). Initial data identified obesity, partner violence, and suicide as health issues affecting the deaf community disproportionate to the general public. This knowledge may contribute to deaf ASL users receiving health promotion and disease prevention programs to meet their health needs. See abstract (through PubMed) for “Community Participatory Research With Deaf Sign Language Users to Identify Health Inequities.”

Promotores-Led Physical Activity Program Improved Participants’ Health Indicators
A train-the-trainer, promotores-led physical activity program, developed by San Diego State University (with University of California at San Diego) PRC, improved several fitness and health indicators of participants. These indicators included blood pressure, waist circumference, hamstring flexibility, and mood. See abstract (through PubMed) for “Effects of a Promotor-Based Intervention to Promote Physical Activity: Familias Sanas y Activas.”

Community Assessment Enhances Resource Guide
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill PRC researchers conducted a community audit to inform revisions to a guide on nutrition and physical activity resources for residents of a rural, eastern North Carolina county. The approach may serve as a model for health-promotion professionals in other rural communities. In the November 2011 issue of Preventing Chronic Disease, see “Conducting Community Audits to Evaluate Community Resources for Healthful Lifestyle Behaviors: An Illustration From Rural Eastern North Carolina.”

PRC Comparative Effectiveness Research Preliminary Data Presented
The four PRC Comparative Effectiveness Research grantees described their projects and preliminary data during a session at the American Public Health Association’s Annual Meeting in November 2011. Read presentation abstracts.