Tag: Program or Product Development

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

Worksite Smoking Cessation Program: Creating Healthy and Nicotine-free Griffin Employees (CHANGE)

Title:Worksite Smoking Cessation Program: Creating Healthy and Nicotine-free Griffin Employees (CHANGE)
Status:Completed
Topic:Program or Product Development;Smoking Cessation;Worksite Wellness
Funding Source:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Griffin Hospital
Funding Period:2/02-2/03
Study Design:Intervention Study
Purpose:To create a work-site smoking cessation program utilizing the impediment profile approach developed and tested in prior studies conducted by the PRC.
Further Study Details:This program was based on a successful smoking cessation pilot study (TISC; see below) developed by the PRC in 1999. As in the TISC study, participants completed an impediment profile questionnaire, were provided with their individual results, and were offered as many as 7 different “interventions” or programs to assist in their attempt to quit smoking. The CHANGE program used a personalized approach for its participants – tailoring the treatment to each person based on their needs. All therapies were offered at the worksite, during regular work hours, at no cost to employees and included medications and nicotine replacement, group counseling, dietary counseling, acupuncture, stress management and others.
Findings:At the end of the one-year program, 45% of participants were smoke free; those who were still smoking reported having cut down considerably on the number of cigarettes smoked daily. The success of the CHANGE program has led to incorporation of the program as a permanent benefit to hospital employees and family members.
Eligibility:Employees of Griffin Hospital, Derby, CT
Changed at:3/1/2017 11:04 AMChanged by:Lisa Seaberg
Created at:8/31/2010 12:03 PMCreated by:Griffin Hospital

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

Overall Nutrition Quality Index (ONQI)

Title:Overall Nutrition Quality Index (ONQI)
Status:Completed
Topic:Nutrition / Diet;Program or Product Development
Funding Period:3/2006-2008
Study Design:A multidisciplinary expert panel independent of all food industry interests was convened to develop the Overall Nutritional Quality Index (ONQI). Dietary guidelines, existing nutritional scoring systems, and other pertinent scientific literature were reviewed. An algorithm based on the overall nutritional quality of food was developed and subjected to consumer research and validation testing.
Purpose:The purpose of this research is to establish, validate, apply, and disseminate a measure of overall nutritional quality that can be applied to virtually any food on a supermarket shelf or restaurant menu. Consumer understanding of nutrition information is key to making dietary choices consistent with guidelines. The development of an objective, science-based, and universally applicable system of nutrition guidance would be of considerable potential value to the public health.
Further Study Details:The project involved several steps. These included:Review of existing nutritional scoring systems;Development of an algorithm for the classification of food based on their nutritional quality. The general principles of the algorithm include creating a trajectory score for each nutrient in the numerator and denominator. Each trajectory score is weighted by public health implication of prevalence and severity thus establishing the relative impact of each nutrient; and aValidation of the index by comparing the ONQI scores to scores generated by an expert panel of renowned nutritionists.
Findings:The resulting ONQI algorithm incorporates over 30 entries representing both micronutrient and macronutrient properties of foods, as well as weighting coefficients representing epidemiologic associations between nutrients and health outcomes. The basic entry in the algorithm is a weighted trajectory score, which compares nutrient concentration in a food to the recommended concentration of a given nutrient in a healthful diet. In content validity testing, ONQI rankings and expert panel rankings correlated highly (R = .92; p < .001). In regression analysis, aggregated ONQI scores for total diet corresponded well with the Healthy Eating Index (p < .001) in the National Health and Nutrient Examination Survey 2003-2006 cohort (n = 15,900). Consumer research indicated strong appeal to consumers of the ONQI system in general, and the scores on a 1 to 100 scale specifically. A system for acquiring nutrient data, meeting U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture standards, has been established so that virtually any food, beverage, meal, or recipe can be scored. Combined with a consumer education program, the ONQI has considerable potential to improve dietary patterns, and consequently the public health.
Eligibility:N/A
Changed at:12/6/2018 5:28 PMChanged by:Judy Treu
Created at:8/31/2010 11:16 AMCreated by:Griffin Hospital

Online Weight Management Counseling for Healthcare Providers (OWCH)

Title:Online Weight Management Counseling for Healthcare Providers (OWCH)
Status:Completed
Topic:Obesity / Weight Management;Program or Product Development
Funding Source:DHHS, Sanofi Aventis, ProHealth
Funding Period:2007-2008
Study Design:N/A
Purpose:To: Develop a self-study CME educational program for a standardized approach to routine lifestyle counseling;Develop a comprehensive website consisting of a registry of patients, pertinent health information, BMI, and waist circumference; Establish standardized quality control indicators to track changes in counseling physical activity and nutritional counseling;Provide physician and patient resources, up-to-date clinical guidelines, and strategies to overcome common impediments to physical activity and a healthful diet;Utilize contacts throughout New England to create pilot programs in which insurers reimburse physicians; andEvaluate whether reimbursing physicians increases lifestyle counseling,improves standardized techniques for lifestyle interventions, and has an impact on patient health.
Further Study Details:N/A
Eligibility:N/A
Changed at:3/1/2017 11:03 AMChanged by:Lisa Seaberg
Created at:8/31/2010 11:35 AMCreated by:Griffin Hospital

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

Adolescent Smoking Cessation Program: Amity High School

Title:Adolescent Smoking Cessation Program: Amity High School
Status:Completed
Topic:Program or Product Development;School-based;Smoking Cessation
Funding Source:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Connecticut Southwest Area Educational Council; Orange Drug and Alcohol Action Council (in Orange, CT)
Funding Period:2000-2001 school year
Study Design:Intervention Study
Purpose:This adolescent smoking cessation program was developed in collaboration with the Amity Regional Senior High School to address the worsening problem of regular tobacco use by high school students. The program was evaluated to determine feasibility and impact of a smoking cessation program tailored specifically to the needs of high school students.
Further Study Details:A total of 22 students participated in the first program. Feedback from focus groups conducted with students was used to develop a tailored smoking cessation program. The therapies offered as part of the program included stress management, educational sessions lead by a physician, weekly group meetings, and a smoking cessation program for parents; students also had the option of taking a medication (bupropion) to reduce the urge to smoke. Parental counseling was offered to help parents understand how household smoke affects their child’s ability to quit and to increase awareness of ways they could support their teenager’s efforts to quit.
Findings:At the end of the 8-week program, 27% of the participants reported being smoke-free, while the average number of cigarettes smoked per day among students who were not able to quit decreased from 22 (per day) prior to the program to 9. Because of the initial program’s successes and the effective partnership with the Yale-Griffin PRC, Amity Regional Senior High School continued to offer this program to students on a yearly basis.
Eligibility:High school students enrolled at Amity Regional Senior High School (Woodbridge,CT) with a desire to quit smoking.
Changed at:3/1/2017 11:02 AMChanged by:Lisa Seaberg
Created at:8/31/2010 12:05 PMCreated 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:

Community Health Profile (CHP)

Title:Community Health Profile (CHP)
Status:Completed
Topic:Community;Program or Product Development
Funding Source:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Funding Period:1998-2012
Study Design:N/A
Purpose:To track trends in the health of our local communities and to help address programming and policy-making decisions. This detailed report on area health trends and statistics has been widely distributed to health agencies at the state and local level.
Further Study Details:The CHP was first produced in 1998 under its original title of Valley Health Profile to provide health-related information pertaining to Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton, CT. Over the years, it was periodically revised to include more data from a broader geographic area. The 2009-2010 edition included data from communities served by the Naugatuck Valley Health District (Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck, Seymour, Shelton), and the Pomperaug Health District (Oxford, Southbury, Woodbury), along with data from Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, and the state of Connecticut. It included a searchable database with the ability to generate custom reports to track trends at the local, regional, or state level. It included data on population statistics; prenatal statistics; lead poisoning; communicable diseases; cancer incidence and mortality; and the leading causes of death. In 2014, in response to the local desire for more comprehensive data collection, the Valley Community Foundation convened a new Advisory Committee and engaged DataHaven to produce The Valley Community Index. 
Findings:n/a
Eligibility:n/a
Changed at:3/1/2017 11:14 AMChanged by:Lisa Seaberg
Created at:8/30/2010 11:32 AMCreated by:Griffin Hospital