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Current Activities of the Prevention Research Center Current funded projects include improving primary care coalitions and global networks, prevention of tobacco use in schools, tobacco cessation for pregnant women, improving birth outcomes for high risk mothers and lowering infant mortality through decreasing perinatal depression, physical abuse and tobacco use. Funded evaluation studies include evaluation of a screening and referral program to prevent perinatal depression, evaluation of safe and drug free school programs, youth advocacy programs to prevent tobacco use, and evaluation of geriatric provider training programs. Six key areas of research in the PRC include:
The Center for Health and Health Care in the Schools, directed by Dr. Julia Lear, is affiliated with the Prevention Research Center. The Center is a policy and program resource center for school health co-sponsored by the SPHHS and the GWU Graduate School of Education and Community Development. The Center has two priorities: 1) directing an RWJF national grant initiative to expand access to mental and dental health services for school-age children and 2) to provide technical assistance and other analytical services to support continued development of school-based health programs across the nation. In the area of minority health, Project DC HOPE, directed by Dr. Ayman El Mohandes, is a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional community-based research program addressing multiple risks in minority pregnant women. Now in its fifth year, the program is designed to test the efficacy of an integrated behavioral intervention to reduce the risk of smoking (both active and passive exposure), depression, and intimate partner violence during pregnancy. Eight hundred and twenty minority pregnant women from the District of Columbia have been recruited to this study so far and the project has been given a funded extension by NICHD for an additional year. In the area of tobacco use prevention, Dr. Caroline Sparks directs an evaluation of a school-based advocacy curriculum to prevent tobacco use among middle school students. The development and evaluation of the Kids ACT! curriculum, developed by the National Education Associate Health Information Network, is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In the area of tobacco cessation and reduction, Drs. El Mohandes, Windsor, Boyd and Blake are currently engaged in proposing to the NICHD another multi-institutional clinical trial to test the efficacy of nicotine replacement therapy in reducing smoking during pregnancy in a highly addicted group of pregnant mothers. This project will include the department of Pharmacology in the School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Institute at Children’s Hospital. Dr. Richard Windsor directs two projects to increase smoking cessation and reduction among pregnant women who receive prenatal care through the Alabama Department of Health. The Smoking Cessation and Reduction in Pregnancy (SCRIPT) program is a Phase IV dissemination study of best practice methods in smoking cessation for pregnant women. The Alabama Tobacco Free Families (ATOFF) project is a Phase V study to assess social marketing approaches to reducing smoking prevalence among families of child bearing age. The Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a project funded by NIAAA and is in a pilot phase. This project is designed to assess the prevalence of alcohol exposure in minority district pregnant women in the District of Columbia, linking these behaviors to pregnancy complications and reproductive outcomes. This is a collaborative project with Georgetown University and Dr. El Mohandes is the PI for the GWU site. In the area of adolescent sexuality, Dr. Izabel Ricardo participates in the Building Futures for Youth project which is a collaborative project including participants from Howard University and Georgetown University. The project addresses choices for sexual behaviors in adolescent minority students in the DC Public School system. Interventions designed for students, staff and parents of adolescent and pre-adolescent children are currently being tested for efficacy. In the area of youth violence prevention, Dr. Caroline Sparks is the evaluator of a school-based violence prevention project for the Talbot County, Maryland school system which has introduced mental health, social service support and juvenile justice programs for students. In the area of cancer screening and early intervention, Dr. Mona Sarfaty serves as the Medical Director for the Montgomery County Colorectal Cancer Program, a program of education, prevention, screening and treatment for colorectal cancer targeted for low income, uninsured, and minority residents of Montgomery County, Maryland. This program, a community collaboration funded through the Maryland Department of Health, is reaching the end of its second year of operations and will continue until 2010. General Relationship of PRC activities to Academic Programs of the University The Prevention Research Center and the Department of Prevention and Community Health are closely linked. The Department of Prevention and Community Health trains undergraduate and graduate students in three areas of public health: Health Promotion, Maternal and Child Health and Community Oriented Primary Care. The department currently includes 15 full time regular and research faculty members and a number of part-time and adjunct faculty. The faculty includes doctoral trained professionals in health education, maternal and child health, psychology and other behavioral and social sciences, and medicine. All faculty are engaged in research which offers students opportunities for training and professional practice. The PRC's research, training and consulting activities benefit
faculty, staff and students. The PRC scholars often work on externally
funded projects with faculty from other departments within the SPHHS
as well as from other schools within the George Washington University.
For example, our researchers work closely with researchers in the
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the Biostatistics
Center. The Center for Health and Health Care in the Schools has
collaborated with the GWU Department of Education. A number of graduate
students have and are working on externally funded projects for
the PRC which enhances their training. Current Research PI: Abroms, L. Issue/Problem: Using tailored e-mails to enhance phone counseling at a smoking cessation quitline Population: Current adult smokers participating in National Cancer Institute’s Quitline Funder: National Cancer Institute Goals/Objectives: Explore a way in which e-mail might enhance the offerings of a smoking cessation quitline. Methodology: The research will consist of formative research and the development and testing out of a tailored, proactive, email message service at the NCI Quitline. Included will be phone interviews and written surveys with Quitline staff and Quitline callers. A randomized trial will be conducted to evaluate phone counseling with emails. PI: Abroms, L. Issue/Problem: Inner City Families who Successfully Adopt New Food Behaviors Population: Chicago African American and Latino families Funder: CDC Goals/Objectives: To investigate how a sample of African American and Latino parents who participated in a previous survey study achieved a significant increase in the number of fruits and vegetables consumed over the course of each week. Methodology: Qualitative evaluations through field notes and interviews PI: Edberg, M Issue/Problem: Safer Latinos Project Population: Latino youth in Langley Park, MD Funder: HHS/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Goals/Objectives: To determine if the SAFER Latinos (Seguridad, Apoyo, Familia, Educacion, y Recursos) prevention program and community-tailored model can positively impact mediating factors for youth violence and if such positive impacts occur, reduce the incidence of violence by and among Latino youth. Methodology: Participants were randomly selected for 14 focus groups and to complete surveys from youth, young adults, and parents. Results to date: Surveys and focus groups have been conducted and analyzed. Baseline data findings have been gathered and analyzed; focus group findings are as follows: Based on focus groups and on discussions with Latino students involved in the intervention, there may be two important risk groups for gang involvement among immigrant Latino youth. The first group, recent arrivals, are at lower risk because they usually come with a purpose (to join family, find work, etc.), are typically not yet gang-involved, are less acculturated, and have a limited peer social network. Youth in this category have reported to project staff that they quickly become a target of intimidation by Latino gangs, at school and in the community. Within 6 months to a year, some of these youth then become gang involved, in part because of a need for protection, in part because of the perceived attractions of and involvement including social support, money, etc. The second category includes Latino youth who have been in the U.S. for more than a year, or who were even born in the U.S. These youth at higher risk for violence/gang activity because they may have already experienced school problems, been recruited by gangs, experienced significant difficulties at home or lack of available support at home, are more acculturated with respect to community norms, and have a larger peer network that includes peers involved in high risk, violent or gang activity. PI: Edberg, M. Issue/Problem: Evaluations of at-risk populations Goals/Objectives: Under a contract to Development Services Group, Inc. (DSG), a research and evaluation firm in Bethesda, MD, Dr. Edberg is (and has been) involved in the following projects:
PI: Edberg, M. Issue/Problem: Community-based hygiene promotion/education program Population: Rural community of Santa Clara, El Salvador Funder: American Public Health Association Goals/Objectives: To implement and evaluate an 18-month community-based hygiene promotion/education program coupled with the construction of a potable water system in the rural community of Santa Clara, El Salvador. This study also aims to identify which knowledge, skill and practice predictor variables are correlated with reduction in disease incidence rates. Methodology: Household questionnaire surveys, observational spot-checks and process data will be collected. PI: El-Mohandes, A. Issue/Problem: Reduction of Tobacco Exposure to the Unborn Child and Infant Population: Pregnant mothers, unborn children, and infants Funder: NIH Goals/Objectives: This study has two arms: (1) The first one titled: “The Efficacy of Nicotine Replacement Therapy to Reduce the Risk of Nicotine Exposure in Pregnant Minority Smokers” will attempt to reduce the rate of pregnant smokers; (2) the second arm titled: “Prevention of Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure in Children Age 0-12 Months” will attempt to reduce environmental tobacco smoke during infancy through teaching mothers techniques to reduce exposure. Methodology: Randomization of pregnant minority women who smoke and minority mother-infant dyads where the infant is at risk for exposure to ETS in the first year of life. Qualitative and quantitative formative research will be conducted. Research methods include individual interviews followed by focus groups, and pre- and posttests. PI: El-Mohandes, A., Anthony, R. Issue/Problem: The NICHD DC Initiative to Reduce Infant Mortality in Minority Population Population: Pregnant women with diagnosed preeclampsia Funder: HHS/National Institutes of Health Goals/Objectives: To determine whether increased levels of serum soluble fims-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt) contribute to adverse preeclmpsia outcomes in minority women. To determine whether differences in health care utilization patterns, socioeconomic status, and access to care contribute to adverse preeclampsia outcomes in minority women. Methodology: Women with diagnosed preeclampsia will be classified by ethnic/racial affiliation. sFlt levels will be measured in women presenting with preeclampsia and measured serially until delivery in addition to blood pressure, renal and liver functions, and in utero growth. Also, detailed information across groups will be obtained regarding health coverage and existing resources of support. Mothers will respond to detailed questionnaires regarding barriers to care. PI: El-Mohandes, A., Johansson, P. Issue/Problem: The efficacy of NRT to reduce the risk of nicotine exposure in pregnant minority smokers Population: American Indian pregnant smokers Funder: HHS/NIH Goals/Objectives: To investigate the specificities of Infant Mortality Rates among American Indian population. Methodology: Consultations with tribal advisory boards, focus groups PI: Evans, W. Issue/Problem: Evaluation of the Parents Speak Up National Campaign Population: Parents of children ages 10-14 Funder: Research Triangle Institute Goals/Objectives: To evaluate whether the Parents Speak Up Campaign improves parent/child communication about abstinence. Methodology: Will conduct the final two surveys- 12- and 18- month follow ups of the campaign's efficacy study. PI: Lear, J. Issue/Problem: Developing a "gold-standard" for Colorado School Based Health Centers Population: Colorado School Based Health Centers Funder: The Colorado Health Foundation Goals/Objectives: Identify strategies to establish financial viability for the centers, arrange for on-going technical assistance to Colorado SBHCs, as well as plan for supportive communications, advocacy and evaluation activities PI: Lear, J. Issue/Problem: Caring Across Communities Population: Children and youth residing in immigrant and refugee families with mental health needs Funder: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Goals/Objectives: To support school connected mental health services for students who require them, with an emphasis on overcoming the cultural and language barriers of children residing in immigrant and refugee families. PI: Lear, J. Issue/Problem: School Health Policy Forum Population: Delaware's school based wellness centers (SBWC) Funder: The Nemours Foundation Goals/Objectives: Explore ways to increase health promotion and disease prevention in the school health system using SBWC models in high school and, potentially, middle schools. PI: Miller, V. Issue/Problem: Biomedical Interventions for HIV prevention and pharmacovigilance projects Population: Experts and stakeholders on HIV-related issues, specifically, related parties to the Forum for Collaborative HIV Research, stakeholders surrounding the issue of adult male circumcision, and adverse drug reactions. Funder: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Goals/Objectives: To support three projects involving the Foundation's work in the areas of biomedical interventions for prevention of HIV infection and pharmacovigilance of antiviral drugs. Methodology: Organizing meetings to discuss the above mentioned topics, form a Prevention Advisory Group PI: Price, O. Issue/Problem: Building on Caring Across Communities Population: Communities, Educators and Health Professionals Seeking to Provide Effective Mental Health Programs for Children of Immigrants and Refugees and Their Families Funder: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Goals/Objectives: To serve additional audiences beyond the 15 grantee sites (educators, health professionals, community members) who could not be funded under this initiative but still aim to address the mental health needs of immigrant and refugee youth and their families through school-connected programs and supports. PI: Price, O. Issue/Problem: Caring Across Communities Grantee Evaluation Population: Caring Across Communities (CAC) National Program Office Funder: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Goals/Objectives: to assist the Caring Across Communities (CAC) National Program Office (NPO) in developing and implementing an evaluation that will provide information on the overall impact of the CAC national program PI: Price, O. Issue/Problem: Caring Across Communities and Fresh Ideas Grantee Meeting Population: Fresh Ideas Grantee Funder: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Goals/Objectives: The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools will expand their annual 3rd year grantee meeting to include all the grantees from Fresh Ideas program initiative and additional guest speakers. The annual conference to build a network of colleagues committed to immigrant and refugee health, share important lessons learned through the grant program, and learn about cutting-edge strategies and techniques that can be used to address the health and mental health needs of new Americans. PI: Price, O. Issue/Problem: Youth Health Coordinating Council for Ward 8 of the District of Columbia Population: Ward 8 residents Funder: Horning Family Fund Goals/Objectives: The Youth Health Coordinating Council would actively involve youth advocacy organizations and youth leaders/peer health educators interested in jointly developing a coordinated health strategy for Ward 8 around key health issues impacting its residents; sexual health (teen pregnancy and HIV/STD prevention), behavioral health (depression and trauma specifically), and obesity PI: Pomerantz, K. Issue/Problem: MidAtlantic Public Health Training Center Population: Public Health Professionals the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Funder: HRSA, through the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health Goals/Objectives: To organize and conduct professional development workshops for public health professionals Methodology: Conduct needs assessment surveys, interviews, evaluation questionnaires Results to date: Staff at the SPHHS organize the workshops based on recommendations from practitioners in the field and provide continuing education credits for public health nurses, health educators, and social workers. Topics have included health inequalities, evaluations, proposal development, logic models, risk communications, and health literacy. A post workshop evaluation will determine how participants are using these workshops for their jobs. PI: Pomerantz, K. Issue/Problem: Health Information Partners (HIPS) Population: Populations with low access to health and low literacy skills Funder: the University of Maryland through the National Library of Medicine Goals/Objectives: addresses inequalities in access to health information and health literacy Methodology: HIPS connects health, library, and adult education practitioners to collaborate on health literacy activities. Results to date: Based on adult learning principles, HIPS has developed online health information workshops for workforce development programs, health center patients, and the public; taught a pre-GED science class at the Academy of Hope; trained people to teach their peers; and staffed health fairs. Over the last 8 years, HIPS has trained 1000s of people to conduct health information searches on a variety of topics, worked with GWU students to create instructional modules, trained 10 peer trainers, and involved many of our students in health advocacy and community outreach. PI: Windsor, R. Issue/Problem: The W.V. smoking cessation or reduction in pregnancy treatment (SCRIPT) dissemination trial Population: Infants and Mothers Funder: HHS/NIH Goals/Objectives: (1) To document SCRIPT effectiveness, cost, and adoption rates, institutionalizing SCRIPT as part of the West Virginia Right from the Start (RFTS) Program, (2) to assess the utility of the Rogers "Diffusion of Innovation in Organizations" Model, and (3) to develop, have peer-reviewed, and distribute to state-level programs in the US "Guidelines for SCRIPT Dissemination". Methodology: A formative assessment, formative effectiveness evaluation, a process evaluation, and an adoption evaluation will be completed. |
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Center, Prevention Research Center Site Maintained by: Biomedical Communications | Last updated: March 16, 2009 |