Physicians', nurses' and community health workers' knowledge about physical activity in Brazil: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To measure knowledge of current recommendations of physical activity and consequences of physical inactivity among healthcare providers throughout Brazil.

Methods: A phone survey of 1600 randomly selected primary healthcare units in Brazil was conducted between January and July 2011. At each unit, a physician, nurse or community healthcare worker (n = 798) responded to a 40-minute survey, eliciting information about demographics, knowledge, and health behaviors pertaining to physical activity.

Changes in Body Mass Index and the Trajectory of Depressive Symptoms Among Rural Men and Women.

Purpose: This study examined the association between body mass index (BMI) changes over time and the risk of elevated depressive symptoms in a cohort of Midwestern rural adults.

Methods: The longitudinal study used data from a telephone survey in 2005 including 1,475 men and women enrolled in the Walk the Ozarks to Wellness Project from 12 rural communities in Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Multilevel random intercept mixed models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between BMI calculated from self-reported height and body weight and elevated depressive symptoms, adjusting for sociodemographic, behavioral, and medical variables.

Exploring Associations Between Perceived Measures of the Environment and Walking Among Brazilian Older Adults.

Objective: To investigate the associations between perceived environment features and walking in older adults.

Method: A cross-sectional population-based study was performed in Florianopolis, Brazil, including 1,705 older adults (60+ years). Walking was measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and perceived environment was assessed through the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale.

A review of policy dissemination and implementation research funded by the National Institutes of Health, 2007-2014.

Background: Policy has a tremendous potential to improve population health when informed by research evidence. Such evidence, however, typically plays a suboptimal role in policymaking processes. The field of policy dissemination and implementation research (policy D&I) exists to address this challenge.

Evaluating a train-the-trainer approach for improving capacity for evidence-based decision making in public health.

Background: Evidence-based public health gives public health practitioners the tools they need to make choices based on the best and most current evidence. An evidence-based public health training course developed in 1997 by the Prevention Research Center in St. Louis has been taught by a transdisciplinary team multiple times with positive results.

A review of diabetes prevention program translations: use of cultural adaptation and implementation research.

The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) has been shown to prevent type 2 diabetes through lifestyle modification. The purpose of this study was to describe the literature on DPP translation, synthesizing studies using cultural adaptation and implementation research. A systematic search was conducted.

Concocting that Magic Elixir: Successful Grant Application Writing in Dissemination and Implementation Research.

Background: This paper reports core competencies for dissemination and implementation (D&I) grant application writing and provides tips for writing a successful proposal.

Methods: Two related phases were used to collect the data: a card sorting process among D&I researchers and an expert review among a smaller set of researchers. Card sorting was completed by 123 respondents.

Dissemination of health-related research among scientists in three countries: access to resources and current practices.

Objectives: In public health and clinical settings insufficient dissemination of evidence-based practices limits the reach of new discoveries to broad populations. This study aimed to describe characteristics of the dissemination process by researchers across three countries (Brazil, United Kingdom, and United States), explore how designing for dissemination practices has been used, and analyze factors associated with dissemination.

Methods: A similar online survey was used to query researchers across the three countries; data were pooled to draw cross-country conclusions.

State legislators' sources and use of information: bridging the gap between research and policy.

Research can inform policymakers of public health issues and shape policy decisions, hopefully benefiting public health; thus, improving dissemination of research to policymakers is important for developing effective public health policies that improve health and health equity. However, the utilization of research among policymakers is often not fully realized. This study builds upon current knowledge about what types of information legislators seek when working on health issues and where they go for information.

Providers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to colorectal cancer control in Brazil.

In Brazil, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death among men, and the third most common among women. We aimed to examine CRC screening-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices among physicians and nurses working in Brazil's network of health units, and to describe the capacity of these units for CRC screening. In 2011, 1600 health units were randomly selected from all 26 states and the Federal District.

Evidence-Based Diabetes Prevention and Control Programs and Policies in Local Health Departments.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to: (1) assess implementation of evidence-based programs and policies (EBPPs) related to diabetes prevention and control in local health departments, (2) assess feasibility of non-implemented diabetes prevention and control EBPPs, and (3) examine individual- and organizational-level factors associated with implementation of diabetes prevention and control EBPPs.

Methods: An online survey was administered in January 2015 to key representatives of all local health departments in Missouri. Descriptive statistics were used to describe implementation and perceived feasibility of 20 diabetes prevention and control EBPPs.

Developing educational competencies for dissemination and implementation research training programs: an exploratory analysis using card sorts.

Background: With demand increasing for dissemination and implementation (D&I) training programs in the USA and other countries, more structured, competency-based, and tested curricula are needed to guide training programs. There are many benefits to the use of competencies in practice-based education such as the establishment of rigorous standards as well as providing an additional metrics for development and growth. As the first aim of a D&I training grant, an exploratory study was conducted to establish a new set of D&I competencies to guide training in D&I research.

A group randomized controlled trial integrating obesity prevention and control for postpartum adolescents in a home visiting program.

Background: Adolescence represents a critical period for the development of overweight that tracks into adulthood. This risk is significantly heightened for adolescents that become pregnant, many of whom experience postpartum weight retention. The aim of this study was to evaluate Balance Adolescent Lifestyle Activities and Nutrition Choices for Energy (BALANCE), a multicomponent obesity prevention intervention targeting postpartum adolescents participating in a national home visiting child development-parent education program.

Promoting Evidence-Based Decision Making in a Local Health Department, Pueblo City-County, Colorado.

Background: Evidence-based decision making (EBDM) is an effective strategy for addressing population health needs. Assessing and reducing barriers to using EBDM in local health departments may improve practice and provide insight into disseminating EBDM principles among public health practitioners.

Community Context: Administrative leaders at the Pueblo City-County Health Department, Pueblo, Colorado, used a systematic approach for implementing EBDM.

State Legislation Related to Increasing Physical Activity: 2006-2012.

Background: Strategies to improve physical activity prevalence often include policy and environmental changes. State-level policies can be influential in supporting access and opportunities for physical activity in schools and communities. The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of state legislation related to physical activity and identify the correlates of enactment of this legislation.

Choice of commuting mode among employees: Do home neighborhood environment, worksite neighborhood environment, and worksite policy and supports matter?

Background: Promoting the use of public transit and active transport (walking and cycling) instead of car driving is an appealing strategy to increase overall physical activity.

Purpose: To quantify the combined associations between self-reported home and worksite neighborhood environments, worksite support and policies, and employees' commuting modes.

Method: Between 2012 and 2013, participants residing in four Missouri metropolitan areas were interviewed via telephone (n = 1,338) and provided information on socio-demographic characteristics, home and worksite neighborhoods, and worksite support and policies.

Priorities of Municipal Policy Makers in Relation to Physical Activity and the Built Environment: A Latent Class Analysis.

Objective: To examine policy makers' public policy priorities related to physical activity and the built environment, identify classes of policy makers based on priorities using latent class analysis, and assess factors associated with class membership.

Design: Cross-sectional survey data from municipal officials in 94 cities and towns across 6 US states were analyzed.

Participants: Participants (N = 423) were elected or appointed municipal officials spanning public health, planning, transportation/public works, community and economic development, parks and recreation, and city management.

A Participatory Regional Partnership Approach to Promote Nutrition and Physical Activity Through Environmental and Policy Change in Rural Missouri.

Background: Rural residents are less likely than urban and suburban residents to meet recommendations for nutrition and physical activity. Interventions at the environmental and policy level create environments that support healthy eating and physical activity.

Community Context: Healthier Missouri Communities (Healthier MO) is a community-based research project conducted by the Prevention Research Center in St.

Sustainability of evidence-based healthcare: research agenda, methodological advances, and infrastructure support.

Background: Little is known about how well or under what conditions health innovations are sustained and their gains maintained once they are put into practice. Implementation science typically focuses on uptake by early adopters of one healthcare innovation at a time. The later-stage challenges of scaling up and sustaining evidence-supported interventions receive too little attention.

Implementing administrative evidence based practices: lessons from the field in six local health departments across the United States.

Background: Administrative evidence based practices (A-EBPs) are agency level structures and activities positively associated with performance measures (e.g., achieving core public health functions, carrying out evidence-based interventions).

Charting a future for epidemiologic training.

Purpose: To identify macro-level trends that are changing the needs of epidemiologic research and practice and to develop and disseminate a set of competencies and recommendations for epidemiologic training that will be responsive to these changing needs.

Methods: There were three stages to the project: (1) assembling of a working group of senior epidemiologists from multiple sectors, (2) identifying relevant literature, and (3) conducting key informant interviews with 15 experienced epidemiologists.

Results: Twelve macro trends were identified along with associated actions for the field and educational competencies.

Review of measures of worksite environmental and policy supports for physical activity and healthy eating.

Introduction: Obesity prevention strategies are needed that target multiple settings, including the worksite. The objective of this study was to assess the state of science concerning available measures of worksite environmental and policy supports for physical activity (PA) and healthy eating (HE).

Methods: We searched multiple databases for instruments used to assess worksite environments and policies.

Assessing Capacity for Sustainability of Effective Programs and Policies in Local Health Departments.

Context: Sustainability has been defined as the existence of structures and processes that allow a program to leverage resources to effectively implement and maintain evidence-based public health and is important in local health departments (LHDs) to retain the benefits of effective programs.

Objective: Explore the applicability of the Program Sustainability Framework in high- and low-capacity LHDs as defined by national performance standards.

Design: Case study interviews from June to July 2013.

Workplace social and organizational environments and healthy-weight behaviors.

Background: The workplace is an important setting for health promotion including nutrition and physical activity behaviors to prevent obesity. This paper explores the relationship between workplace social environment and cultural factors and diet and physical activity (PA) behaviors and obesity among employees.

Methods: Between 2012 and 2013, telephone interviews were conducted with participants residing in four Missouri metropolitan areas.