Empowering Youth Vaccine Ambassadors to Promote COVID-19 Vaccination in Local Communities: A 7-Step Approach.

Despite the availability of COVID-19 vaccines for youth since 2021, vaccine hesitancy has resulted in suboptimal uptake. Public health campaigns that empower local youth ambassadors as trusted messengers who share their personal narratives related to getting vaccinated hold promise for promoting COVID-19 vaccination. We used a seven-step approach to develop, implement, and evaluate a youth-led ambassador campaign to promote COVID-19 vaccine uptake in communities experiencing COVID-19 disparities in Worcester, MA.

The Healthy Kids & Families study: Outcomes of a 24-month childhood obesity prevention intervention.

Socioeconomically disadvantaged children experience a high burden of obesity but few interventions address obesity prevention in this population subgroup. The Healthy Kids & Families study tested the effect of a parent-focused community health worker (CHW)-delivered lifestyle intervention to prevent childhood obesity. Participants were child-parent/guardian (Kindergarten to 6th grade at baseline) dyads (n = 247) recruited through schools located in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods in Worcester, MA, USA.

Development and Beta-Testing of the CONFIDENCE Intervention to Increase Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccination.

Introduction: Innovative strategies are needed to improve pediatric COVID-19 vaccination rates. We describe the process for developing a clinic-based intervention, CONFIDENCE, to improve pediatric COVID-19 vaccine uptake and present results of our beta-test for feasibility and acceptability.

Method: CONFIDENCE included communication training with providers, a poster campaign, and parent-facing educational materials.

High Prevalence and Lack of Parental Awareness of Pediatric Hypertension Among a Low-income Sample in Worcester, MA.

Objectives: To identify frequency and correlates of hypertension in a low income, ethnically diverse, sample of children as well as to assess parental awareness of hypertension.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included parent-child dyads (n = 228), from which physical measurements of the child, and parent reported survey measures were collected. Child's blood pressure percentile was determined via 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) clinical practice guidelines and categorized as normal (< 90th percentile), elevated (≥ 90th percentile to < 95th percentile), or hypertensive (≥ 95th percentile).

Parental perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine for 5- to 11-year-old children: Focus group findings from Worcester Massachusetts.

Vaccine hesitancy is a long-standing public health issue. The present work describes parental perceptions of COVID-19 vaccination for 5- to 11-year-old children, to aid in vaccination efforts. Parents of 5- to 11-year-old children residing in Worcester, Massachusetts, were recruited through community partner outreach to participate in semi-structured focus groups.

Clinician perspectives on pediatric COVID-19 vaccination: A qualitative study in central and western, Massachusetts.

We explored perspectives of clinicians in central and western Massachusetts about efforts to vaccinate pediatric patients against COVID-19 as well as best practices and challenges for vaccine delivery. We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews (n = 16) with family practice and pediatric clinicians between late October and early December 2021. Our interviews addressed: process for vaccination and vaccine promotion, parental receptivity to COVID-19 vaccination, receptivity to other pediatric vaccines, resources needed to support vaccine promotion, and best practices developed to encourage hesitant parents.

Design and methods of the Healthy Kids & Families study: a parent-focused community health worker-delivered childhood obesity prevention intervention.

Background: One third of U.S. children and two thirds of adults are overweight or obese.

Development and validation of a Weight Literacy Scale in English and Spanish.

Objectives: To develop and validate a Weight Literacy Scale in English and Spanish for adults.

Methods: The two-phase study utilized quantitative and qualitative methods. Phase 1 of the study consisted of developing an initial survey (English and Spanish versions) assessing weight literacy based on a review of the literature; conducting semi-structured interviews with content experts (N = 9) to refine survey items; and conducting in-person cognitive interviews with 20 study participants (N = 10 English-speaking and N = 10 Spanish-speaking adults) for survey pre-testing.

A Web-Based Treatment Decision Support Tool for Patients With Advanced Knee Arthritis: Evaluation of User Interface and Content Design.

Background: Data-driven surgical decisions will ensure proper use and timing of surgical care. We developed a Web-based patient-centered treatment decision and assessment tool to guide treatment decisions among patients with advanced knee osteoarthritis who are considering total knee replacement surgery.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine user experience and acceptance of the Web-based treatment decision support tool among older adults.

Navigating to health: Evaluation of a community health center patient navigation program.

Patient Navigators are trained, lay health care workers who guide patients in overcoming barriers to health care access and utilization. Little evidence exists regarding reach and impact of Patient Navigators for chronic disease management. This study evaluated a Patient Navigator program aimed at optimizing health care utilization among ethnically diverse patients with diabetes and/or hypertension at a community health center (CHC).

A randomized clinical trial of a peri-operative behavioral intervention to improve physical activity adherence and functional outcomes following total knee replacement.

Background: Total knee replacement (TKR) is a common and effective surgical procedure to relieve advanced knee arthritis that persists despite comprehensive medical treatment. Although TKR has excellent technical outcomes, significant variation in patient-reported functional improvement post-TKR exists. Evidence suggests that consistent post-TKR exercise and physical activity is associated with functional gain, and that this relationship is influenced by emotional health.

Randomized trial of a literacy-sensitive, culturally tailored diabetes self-management intervention for low-income latinos: latinos en control.

Objective: To test whether a theory-based, literacy, and culturally tailored self-management intervention, Latinos en Control, improves glycemic control among low-income Latinos with type 2 diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: A total of 252 patients recruited from community health centers were randomized to the Latinos en Control intervention or to usual care. The primarily group-based intervention consisted of 12 weekly and 8 monthly sessions and targeted knowledge, attitudes, and self-management behaviors.

Awareness of diabetes risk factors and prevention strategies among a sample of low-income Latinos with no known diagnosis of diabetes.

Purpose: This study assessed awareness of type 2 diabetes risk and severity, perceived risk factors, knowledge of diabetes prevention strategies, and challenges of and opportunities for prevention among low-income Latinos in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Methods: Qualitative research design. Latinos with no known diagnosis of diabetes participated in 4 focus groups, conducted in Spanish, which were recorded and transcribed for systematic analysis.

Translational research at community health centers: challenges and successes in recruiting and retaining low-income Latino patients with type 2 diabetes into a randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: To describe methods used to recruit and retain low-income Latinos in a randomized clinical trial (RCT) of a diabetes self-management intervention at 5 community health centers (CHCs) in Massachusetts.

Methods: Consent from primary care providers (PCPs) was obtained to screen their patients. Trained site research coordinators (SRCs) screened, recruited, and enrolled participants following a multistep process (medical record reviews, PCP approval, a patient eligibility interview) and provided support for retention efforts.

Step ahead a worksite obesity prevention trial among hospital employees.

Background: The worksite represents a promising venue in which to address the issue of obesity.

Design: Pair-matched, cluster-RCT. Data were collected from 2005 to 2008 and analyzed in 2008.

Contributions of weight perceptions to weight loss attempts: differences by body mass index and gender.

Previous studies have consistently observed that women are more likely to perceive themselves as overweight compared to men. Similarly, women are more likely than men to report trying to lose weight. Less is known about the impact that self-perceived weight has on weight loss behaviors of adults and whether this association differs by gender.