Tag: Health Promotion & Wellness

Your Road to Health

Title:Your Road to Health
Status:Completed
Topic:Health Promotion & Wellness;Nutrition / Diet;Program or Product Development;School-based
Funding Source:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with supplemental funding from Griffin Hospital
Funding Period:2013-2017
Study Design:Pre/post combined with program opinion surveys.
Purpose: This study was a subset of the Valley Initiative to Advance Health & Learning in Schools (VITAHLS). The purpose was to develop, pilot test, evaluate, and revise a nutrition education program for use in middle and/or high schools. The goals were to motivate, teach, and help students develop skills to make healthful food choices and adopt an active lifestyle.
Further Study Details:This project focused on developing and offering a pilot version of the program, and evaluating its feasibility and effectiveness when taught by health teachers in 3 middle schools and 1 high school in two VITAHLS districts (Shelton and Seymour). The pilot program included a lesson plan, PowerPoint, and 2 hands-on activities.  A total of 237 students and 4 health teachers took part in the evaluation.We used the pilot study findings to guide revisions, and implement and evaluate a refined version of the program participating VITAHLS school districts. We replaced the PowerPoint with a Prezi presentation (using cloud-based software that is more interactive and engaging), and edited the content to reduce the potential for misconceptions about nutrition. The revised program also includes a lesson plan and 7 hands-on activities.  
Findings:After exposure to the pilot program, students’ mean nutrition knowledge scores (maximum possible score of 100%) increased from 52% at baseline to 78% on the post quiz (p<0.0001). Students’ responses to additional open-ended questions provided insight regarding potential misconceptions about nutrition concepts. Students’ suggestions to improve the program included: eliminating repetition of content; making the presentation more entertaining; and adding more facts, activities, and tips. Teachers’ suggestions included: shortening the PowerPoint and/or replacing it with a smart board or Prezi presentation; and adding more activities.
Eligibility: Students and teachers in participating health classes in two middle schools and one high school
Changed at:11/30/2017 8:12 AMChanged by:Lisa Seaberg
Created at:3/1/2017 4:54 AMCreated by:Lisa Seaberg

Wellness Initiatives For Improved Tomorrows (WINFIT)

Title:Wellness Initiatives For Improved Tomorrows (WINFIT)
Status:Completed
Topic:Health Promotion & Wellness;Program or Product Development;Worksite Wellness
Funding Source:Griffin Hospital / CDC
Funding Period:2005-2016
Study Design:N/A
Purpose:To assist Griffin Hospital in developing a comprehensive employee wellness program with a core focus on nutrition, physical activity and chronic disease management.
Further Study Details:Griffin Hospital is committed to promoting the health and well-being of its employees and their families. The WINFIT initiative fostered a workplace environment to encourage environmental and social support for a healthy lifestyle and a mind/body/spirit approach to health. WINFIT was designed to be a comprehensive employee wellness program with a core focus on nutrition, physical activity, and chronic disease management. Components included: on-site weight loss/management programs; a carpeted stairwell with motivational signs; exercise classes; pedometers; monthly nutrition talks; nutrition information for cafeteria selections; depression screening; and financial management classes. In 2009, the PRC designed a Health Makeover Program for Griffin employees at greatest risk for developing chronic diseases. It offered an intensive 3-month intervention followed by 3 to 9 months of ongoing support to help participants adopt healthier lifestyle habits, including physical activity, nutrition, and weight management. Participants received web-based and group support, nutrition counseling, opportunities for physical activity at the worksite, and tools to set goals and track progress. In 2010, the PRC partnered with the hospital on a Healthy Dining program to encourage employees to make healthful food choices. In 2016, the WINFIT program was transformed into the AgeLess Program, which also aims to promote personal well-being and a healthy workplace through education and program offerings.
Eligibility:Griffin Hospital employees and their families.
Changed at:3/2/2017 7:51 AMChanged by:Lisa Seaberg
Created at:8/31/2010 11:12 AMCreated by:Griffin Hospital

Promising Health Interventions Inventoried by a Network of Diverse Experts for Regional Application (PHINDER)

Title:Promising Health Interventions Inventoried by a Network of Diverse Experts for Regional Application (PHINDER)
Status:Completed
Topic:Health Promotion & Wellness;Program or Product Development
Funding Source:Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the CT Cancer Partnership
Funding Period:2010
Study Design:N/A
Purpose:To develop and pilot test  an online searchable database to serve as a clearinghouse of best practices for health promotion in New England, and as a national model to disseminate programs considered effective in addressing chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, or cancer.  
Further Study Details:PHINDER was a collaborative effort of the Yale-Griffin PRC, the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease/CT Chapter, and the Connecticut Cancer Partnership/CT State Department of Public Health, with funding provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the CT Cancer Partnership. Under the leadership of a 6-8 member advisory panel, Health Directors and Deans of Schools of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing in New England with the assistance of their health department staff/ university faculty, were asked (via electronic survey) to identify and submit qualifying programs to populate the PHINDER database. The goal was to collect a wide variety of tested programs (promising and/or established) to address particular areas of interest identified on the best practice inventory grid (e.g., diabetes prevention in the workplace).   The online survey was designed to populate cells on a master grid that would ultimately be converted to a searchable database housed on the PRC website. Database users have the option of searching for health promotion programs based on criteria such as targeted health conditions (diabetes, cancer, etc.), settings (worksite, schools, etc.), and/or evaluation of intervention approaches (educational, community organizing, etc.). 
Findings:Please note that this was designed in 2010 as a prototype of a searchable database, and that it has not been continually updated since that time.Go to PHINDER Database
Eligibility:N/A
Changed at:5/15/2019 11:05 AMChanged by:Lisa Seaberg
Created at:1/18/2011 12:09 PMCreated by:Judy Treu

Online Physical Activity Resource Guide: Active Valley CT

Title:Online Physical Activity Resource Guide: Active Valley CT
Status:Completed
Topic:Community;Health Promotion & Wellness;Physical Activity;Program or Product Development
Funding Source:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Funding Period:2016-2019
Study Design:N/A
Purpose:The purpose was to: (1) create an online guide for residents of Lower Naugatuck Valley communities featuring low-cost and no-cost resources for physical activity; and (2) promote awareness and use of this guide. The ultimate goal was to improve Valley residents’ health, fitness, and quality of life through regular physical activity. This online guide served as a community portal for our 5-year (2014-2019) core research project titled Community Health Opportunities Organized with Schools at the Epicenter (CHOOSE).
Further Study Details:An advisory group of local stakeholders directed the development process.  Partners included the Naugatuck Valley Health Department, Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG), Valley YMCA, a former CEO of the Valley United Way, and a local physician. The NVCOG contributed in-kind staffing and access to ESRI Story Map, a customized web app hosted in the ArcGIS Online Cloud. The PRC recruited and provided oversight to public health interns and volunteers who worked on this project.The completed guide, Active Valley CT: Your Active Lifestyle Resource for the Lower Naugatuck Valley  (AVCT), features resources in Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton on an interactive map. It provides brief descriptions of resources, along with links to their official websites and driving directions on Google Maps. Users can search (based on the category of activity) for places to walk, run, hike, bike, swim, paddle a boat, play ball sports, or enjoy winter sports. AVCT also features playgrounds, open fields, state parks, nature centers, parks & recreation departments, and senior centers. This customized web app can be viewed on web browsers on computers, tablets and mobile phones. In 2019, we conducted an initial dissemination campaign to promote awareness of the guide.
Findings:Sustainability has been addressed via having the NVCOG house the platform.  Also, the NVCOG has decided to adopt Active Valley CT to serve its entire region of 19 municipalities, by building upon our own online guide to include points of no-cost and low-cost activities in all 19 member towns and cities.  This will be done by the NVCOG without the need for support from the PRC.AVCT can serve as a model for the creation of online portals by other PRCs or other public health experts in partnership with county governments, Councils of Government, or other government entities working together in a mutually beneficial way to service the residents of the communities that they represent. 
Eligibility:N/A
Evaluation:During the first four months after the guide was first posted (August-December 2019), the average number of online views exceeded 280 per month. We continue to track online views on a monthly basis. Another indicator of success has been the positive reaction to and planned uptake of the guide within several Griffin Hospital departments, including Cardiac Rehab, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Occupational Medicine, Bariatrics, Community Outreach, and Outpatient Case Management), and the planned use of the guide by Griffin’s employee wellness program for local employers. Ongoing promotion by our community partners is planned as part of the dissemination plan.
Changed at:3/27/2020 3:44 PMChanged by:
Created at:11/30/2017 6:42 AMCreated by:Lisa Seaberg

Music Video Health Education Project

Title:Music Video Health Education Project
Status:Completed
Topic:Health Promotion & Wellness;School-based
Funding Source:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Funding Period:2014
Study Design:Qualitative evaluation using focus groups
Purpose:To help guide the creation of a video library/curriculum to encourage ‘tweens & teens to adopt healthy lifestyles, we conducted 10 focus groups with middle and high school students to obtain their reactions to 6 health promotion videos.
Further Study Details:Three of the videos were 3-4 minutes in length and used rap music, other music, and/or dance to convey messages about making healthful food choices; the other 3 videos were 30-second public service announcements that used metaphors (e.g. bullying, loss of teeth) to convey anti-smoking messages. The focus groups were held at schools and Boys & Girls Clubs in Ansonia and Shelton CT. We asked questions to learn students’ opinions of the videos, their perceptions of the videos’ age-appropriateness, their preferences for video length and style, and their recommendations for producing our own videos. 
Findings:Overall, students seemed to prefer videos that are short in length (length of a commercial or PSA), and that get their point across without continually repeating the message.  Students varied in response to the use of music and dance, with some enjoying it and some finding it distracting from the main message.  In most cases, messages delivered this way seemed to be less inspiring of actual change than those that focused on facts and on potentially harmful outcomes of making choices that could negatively impact health.  Some students liked upbeat music and messages if combined with guidelines on what to do. Compared to 8thgrade and high school students, students in 6th and 7th grade seemed to have a difficult time understanding metaphorical messages and to prefer more literal messages. Their advice focused on making videos “short and to the point” and relatable to their age group. 
Eligibility:Middle school and high school students in participating schools and Boys & Girls Club sites
Changed at:3/2/2017 9:29 AMChanged by:Lisa Seaberg
Created at:3/2/2017 9:29 AMCreated by:Lisa Seaberg

Automated Guidance Tool for Medical Encounters Addressing Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (AuGMEnT)

Title:Automated Guidance Tool for Medical Encounters Addressing Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (AuGMEnT)
Status:Completed
Topic:Health Promotion & Wellness
Funding Source:VioCare Technologies, Inc. through funding by NIH/SBIR
Funding Period:2007-2011
Study Design:Non-Randomized
Purpose:To create an automated web-based program to support healthcare providers who want to help patients develop healthier lifestyles, but lack adequate resources and time to do so.
Further Study Details:The PRC provided technical, scientific, and programmatic direction to VioCare, and coordinated research efforts. The program component included online assessment and counseling tools to complement healthcare providers’ own assessment and treatment plans.
Findings:A total of 75 adults (10 men, 65 women) enrolled in the program, and 56 completed the program.  Based on self-reported dietary intake data, there were significant improvements in overall Healthy Eating Index scores, and intake of fruits and vegetables, along with significant reductions in intake of cholesterol, fat, and saturated fat. Project participants and healthcare providers provided feedback to improve the design of the website portal.
Eligibility:Adults of both genders
Changed at:3/1/2017 11:07 AMChanged by:Lisa Seaberg
Created at:8/31/2010 11:13 AMCreated by:Griffin Hospital

Addressing Chronic Conditions in Elementary and Secondary Schools (ACCESS)

Title:Addressing Chronic Conditions in Elementary and Secondary Schools (ACCESS)
Status:Completed
Topic:Community;Health Promotion & Wellness;Program or Product Development;School-based
Funding Source:Valley Community Foundation
Funding Period:2018-2020
Study Design:Cross-sectional survey
Purpose:The purpose of this project was to improve ways to identify and manage K-12 students with chronic health conditions (CHCs) in public schools in Ansonia, Derby, and Shelton, CT. CHCs such as obesity, asthma, seizure disorders, hearing problems, and behavioral and learning problems are prevalent among school-aged children. The ultimate goal was to improve health and academic outcomes for students by increasing access to services. This was done by identifying the greatest needs and addressing them with evidence-based intervention strategies.
Further Study Details:During Year 1, we established a working group of school nurses, teachers, and administrators from the Ansonia, Derby, and Shelton school districts; staff from the Naugatuck Valley Health District; and staff from Griffin Health Services. We conducted needs assessment surveys with school nurses and school mental health professionals (psychologists, counselors and social workers) regarding current practices, needs, and resources related to managing CHCs among students. Based on the survey results, the working group identified behavioral/mental health, specifically screening, as a top priority.During Year 2, we focused on mental/behavioral health screening for incoming students and on creating a family resource guide.Mental/behavioral health screening: The ACCESS working group selected a 17-item version of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC-17) as the best screening instrument. The Ansonia Public Schools volunteered to pilot test the PSC-17 and develop a protocol to integrate behavioral health screening for new students. The PRC worked with the district to implement the screening with students entering the 2020-2021 academic year. School staff faced challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but nonetheless were able to develop and implement the protocol. The district is committed to expanded use of the PSC-17 to place students evenly across all grade levels by taking into consideration their behavioral strengths and weaknesses, as well as their current level of social and emotional learning.Family resource guide: In response to a reported need for a centralized information source on available services for families, the working group created a resource guide written in both English and Spanish. The format enabled each school district to add its logo to personalize the guide. In Ansonia, the resource guide is now distributed to all families at the start of the school year, and is posted on the school district’s website. Copies of the guide are used by all staff, primarily by the school psychologists, social workers and guidance counselors who work most closely with students and families. The guide has proven to be a much needed resource, even more so due to challenges faced by families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligibility:N/A
Evaluation:A process evaluation was conducted to assess fidelity to the project goals and timeline. A needs assessment survey was developed and administered to school health professionals in Year 1 to assess the perceived prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed student CHCs, current practices related to managing CHCs, and perceived adequacy of existing resources and practices identifying and managing CHCs in school children. One survey was administered to school mental health professionals (psychologists, counselors and social workers). The other survey was administered to school nurses. In year 2, the use of the PSC-17 in the Ansonia School District was tracked and will continue to be followed over time.
Changed at:1/5/2021 9:09 AMChanged by:
Created at:3/27/2020 2:54 PMCreated by:

REALIST REVIEW: What Does it Take for Type 2 Diabetes Prevention/Lifestyle Management Virtual Interventions to Work among Low-Income Communities?

Title:REALIST REVIEW: What Does it Take for Type 2 Diabetes Prevention/Lifestyle Management Virtual Interventions to Work among Low-Income Communities?
Status:Current
Topic:Community;Diabetes / Insulin Resistance;Health Promotion & Wellness;Nutrition / Diet;Physical Activity
Funding Source:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Funding Period:2020-2023
Study Design:Realist review of published literature
Purpose:Concurrent with our core research project, a team led by Associate Research Scientist Amber Hromi-Fielder, PhD, MPH is conducting a realist review of published research articles on Type 2 diabetes prevention/ lifestyle management interventions in low-income communities. The purpose of this review is to determine how, why and in what circumstances diabetes prevention programs (DPPs) delivered virtually can effectively improve diabetes risk factors among adults with lower incomes. The team will search for articles on: (1) diabetes prevention and lifestyle management programs, (2) virtual services, and (3) community health workers (CHWs), and will then look for areas of overlap between these topics to help address these questions. Adults with lower incomes are at increased risk for Type 2 diabetes, but face barriers to participating in programs to help reduce this risk. Virtual services have been proposed as a way to reduce these barriers. Although they’ve been found effective in improving diabetes self-management among adults in general, less is known about their effectiveness in preventing diabetes in adults with lower incomes.CHWs can serve as a critical link to providing health services to these adults. Research has been published on virtual delivery of DPPs, and the roles of CHWs in diabetes prevention. However, there is a gap in knowledge concerning the role of CHWS in the virtual delivery of DPPs. The realist review is intended to help fill in this gap.
Further Study Details:Realist reviews, unlike traditional systemic reviews, are not intended to locate every published paper. Rather, searches become refined as the conceptual framework guiding the search is continually improved.
Eligibility:Journal articles that meet criteria for selection as established by the Realist Review team.
Evaluation:The team will search for published articles on three research topics and look for areas of overlap between these topics to help address our research questions. See “Purpose” for more details.
Changed at:4/12/2023 4:17 PMChanged by:Christian Meagher
Created at:1/5/2021 9:07 AMCreated by: