Bridging Public Health Research and State-Level Policy: The Texas Research-to-Policy Collaboration Project.

Purpose And Objectives: Significant barriers to the implementation of evidence-based policy exist. Establishing an infrastructure and resources to support this process at the state level can accelerate the translation of research into practice. This study describes the adaptation and initial evaluation of the Texas Research-to-Policy Collaboration (TX RPC) Project, focusing on the adaptation process, legislative public health policy priorities, and baseline researcher policy knowledge and self-efficacy.

The development and validation of a novel COVID19 stigma scale among healthcare workers (COVISS-HCWs).

Background And Aim: Fear of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its complications may result in stigmatization of individuals who may carry the virus. This is of special concern to healthcare workers who tolerate additional physical and emotional stress at times of pandemic. The aims of this study are to (1) develop and validate the COVID-19 Stigma Scale (COVISS-HCWs) survey; and (2) investigate the experience of stigma among healthcare workers possibly dealing with COVID-19 patients in five major public hospitals in Damascus, Syria.

Validation and results of a novel survey assessing decisional balance for a whole food plant-based diet among US adults.

Importance: Consuming a whole food plant-based diet (WFPBD) is a promising, low-risk strategy for reducing risk of prevalent chronic disease and certain cancers, with synergistic benefits for climate and environment. However, few US adults report consuming a WFPBD. Understanding the reasons for this inconsistency is important for developing and implementing interventions for promoting a WFPBD.

The associations of plant-based food and metabolic syndrome using NHANES 2015-16 data.

Background: Consuming a diet rich in plant-based foods (PBFs) may be protective for risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and chronic disease. However, the impact of consuming healthy versus all types of PBF on MetS is unknown.

Methods: The relationship between consumption of PBF (both healthy and all) was examined using data from the 2015 to 2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Validation of the FRESH Austin food frequency questionnaire using multiple 24-h dietary recalls.

Objective: The purpose of the current study was to examine the validity of an FFQ utilised in the Food Retail: Evaluating Strategies for a Healthy Austin (FRESH Austin) study, designed to evaluate changes in the consumption of fruits and vegetables (FV) in diverse low-income communities in Austin, TX.

Design: The FRESH Austin FFQ was validated against three 24-h dietary recalls (24hDR). All dietary assessments were administered (in-person or by telephone) by trained investigators.

Outcomes of a Community-Wide Health Intervention in a Low-Income, Primarily Hispanic Community: The Go! Austin/Vamos! Austin (GAVA) Initiative.

Objectives: To describe outcomes of a 4-year physical activity (PA) and nutrition intervention (2013-2017) in Dove Springs, a low-income urban community in Texas.

Method: Go! Austin/Vamos! Austin is a place-based intervention targeting the built and social environments of PA and nutrition. Baseline and follow-up measures related to PA and nutrition were obtained from 357 parent-child dyads (final = 236) in the intervention community and a control community.

Impact of a Gardening and Physical Activity Intervention in Title 1 Schools: The TGEG Study.

The purpose of the Texas!Grow!Eat!Go! (TGEG) study was to assess individual and combined effects of school-based gardening and physical activity (PA) interventions on children's eating and PA behaviors and obesity status. Using a 2 × 2 design, 28 low-income schools in Texas were randomized to 1 of 4 conditions: (1) School Garden intervention (Learn!Grow!Eat!Go! [LGEG]), (2) PA intervention (Walk Across Texas [WAT!]), (3) both Garden and PA intervention (), or (4) neither Garden nor PA intervention (). Participants included 1326 third grade students and parents (42% Hispanic; 78% free/reduced lunch).

Design and evaluation of a coalition-led obesity initiative to promote healthy eating and physical activity in low-income, ethnically diverse communities: the Go! Austin/Vamos! Austin initiative.

Background: Go! Austin/Vamos! Austin (GAVA) is a coalition-led health initiative that targets low-income communities with disparities in access to healthy food and physical activity The purpose of this initiative was to increase healthy eating and physical activity among residents by facilitating access to food and physical activity opportunities through environmental and policy changes. Although GAVA is ongoing, this paper describes the original GAVA intervention and the 5-year evaluation study (2013-2018), presenting selected baseline data obtained through its cohort sub-study.

Methods: To assess the impact of GAVA, the evaluation plan included multiple sub-studies and involved collection of quantitative, qualitative, and observational data at different levels.

Neighborhood Food Environment and Physical Activity Among U.S. Adolescents.

Introduction: Few U.S. adolescents meet physical activity guidelines.