Prevention Matters

CDC PRC Announcements

PRC Program Receives APHA Epidemiology Section Public Health Practice Award

The Prevention Research Centers (PRC) Program was awarded the Public Health Practice Award by the Epidemiology Section at the American Public Health Association’s (APHA) recent meeting in San Diego. The award recognizes innovative public health programs or projects that use epidemiologic methods. The award highlights the research and evidence-based public health contributions of the PRC Program and the PRC network in improving population health during the past 32 years.

Brigette Ulin, PRC Program Director, CDC Division of Population Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (above center), accepted the award at APHA’s 146th annual meeting and expo, held November 11.

University of Iowa PRC Researcher Janz Contributes to Physical Activity Guidelines

National Public Radio interviewed Dr. Kathleen Janz of the University of Iowa PRC for a story about the recently released and updated federal Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.Professor Janz, who is also in the Department of Health and Human Physiology, was appointed to the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Scientific Advisory Committee. She is one of 17 nationally recognized experts in physical activity and health who were tasked with updating the guidelines.

“What we were amazed with is the amount of new research — really strong evidence — that supports the role of physical activity in preventing and reducing the progression of disease,” Dr. Janz said. She pointed out that although exercising today may help reduce the risk of heart disease decades from now, there also are immediate benefits. "Every time you're active, you feel better, think better, and sleep better.”

PUBLICATIONS

The University of California, San Francisco PRC

Strategies to Increase HIV Testing Among MSM: A Synthesis of the Literature (AIDS and Behavior)

Effectiveness of School-Based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs in the USA: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (Prevention Science)

HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use, familiarity, and attitudes among gay and bisexual men in the United States: A national probability sample of three birth cohorts(PLoS One)

“Like finding a unicorn”: Healthcare preferences among lesbian, gay, and bisexual people in the United States (Social Science & Medicine)

Interventions to reduce risk for sexually transmitted infections in adolescents: A meta-analysis of trials, 2008-2016 (PLoS One)
Using a Social Network Strategy to Distribute HIV Self-Test Kits to African American and Latino MSM (Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes).

The University of Iowa PRC

Active Ottumwa: Adapting Evidence-Based Recommendations to Promote Physical Activity in a Micropolitan New Destination Community (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health).

The University of Massachusetts at Worcester PRC

The Weight Literacy Scale tool, available in English and Spanish, PLoS ONE. Research has found that people who are able to understand health information are less likely to be obese, but there is limited research on weight literacy. This study created a weight literacy assessment scale, based on research evidence, to help learn what English- and Spanish-speaking people know and understand about weight loss.
A blog series for the Essential Elements blog of the National Association of County and City Health Officials. The PRC team developed capabilities for local health departments and other public health stakeholders to use in strategic planning for engagement in built-environment decision making to increase active transportation opportunity.

HONORS and AWARDS

The University of Illinois PRC Training Lead, Dr. Christina Welter, and her colleagues received the 2018 APHA Health Administration Section Runner-Up for Research to Practice Award.
The University of Iowa PRC’s Dr. Edith Parker has been appointed to the Iowa Public Health Advisory Council. The council provides recommendations to the Iowa Department of Public Health to support improved organization and delivery of critical public health services across the state.
The University of Minnesota PRC’s Dr. Barbara McMorris was awarded the 2018 Friend of Early Career Prevention Network Award at the annual Society for Prevention Research meeting. The award recognizes individuals who support early career activities and encourage and guide early career prevention scientists in their work.
The Morehouse School of Medicine PRC was a finalist for the Association of American Medical Colleges Spencer Foreman Award for Outstanding Community Engagement, which highlights community engagement as an important element of the academic mission.

CDC PRC SPECIAL INTEREST PROJECT RESEARCH

The Case Western Reserve University PRC

The Shared Use Implementation Guide is a new tool that provides steps and guidelines to help anyone prepare and organize opportunities for shared use sites within their community. Led by the PRC, this guide provides action steps, implementation methods, and suggestions for shared use through a community-focused lens.
The Healthy Food Retail Implementation Guide provides available resources and helpful tools when working with owners of corner stores to increase their selection of healthy foods and engage residents in the process.