The CDC Healthy Aging Research Network: Advancing Science toward Action and Policy for the Evidence-Based Health Promotion Movement

Background:Midlife and older adults use shopping malls for walking, but little research has examined mall characteristics that contribute to their walkability.Methods:We used modified versions of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-Healthy Aging Research Network (HAN) Environmental Audit and the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) tool to systematically observe 443 walkers in 10 shopping malls. We also observed 87 walkers in 6 community-based nonmall/nongym venues where older adults routinely walked for physical activity.Results:All venues had public transit stops and accessible parking. All malls and 67% of nonmalls had wayfinding aids, and most venues (81%) had an established circuitous walking route and clean, well-maintained public restrooms (94%). All venues had level floor surfaces, and one-half had benches along the walking route. Venues varied in hours of access, programming, tripping hazards, traffic control near entrances, and lighting.Conclusions:Despite diversity in location, size, and purpose, the mall and nonmall venues audited shared numerous environmental features known to promote walking in older adults and few barriers to walking. Future research should consider programmatic features and outreach strategies to expand the use of malls and other suitable public spaces for walking.

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Essential elements to “design for dissemination” within a research network—a modified Delphi study of the Community-Academic Aging Research Network (CAARN)

Implementation Science Communications ◽

10.1186/s43058-021-00122-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Maria C. Mora Pinzon ◽

Shannon Myers ◽

Jill Renken ◽

Erin Eggert ◽

Betty Chewning ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Scale Up ◽

Essential Elements ◽

Research Network ◽

Community Research ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Aging Research ◽

Community Partners ◽

Modified Delphi ◽

Evidence Based Programs

Abstract Background The Community-Academic Aging Research Network (CAARN) was developed in 2010 to build partnerships, facilitate research, and ultimately accelerate the pace of development, testing, and dissemination of evidence-based programs related to healthy aging. CAARN has facilitated development and testing of 32 interventions, two of which are being packaged for scale-up, and three of which are being scaled up nationally by non-profit organizations. The purpose of this study is to describe CAARN’s essential elements required to replicate its success in designing for dissemination. Methods We conducted a modified Delphi technique with 31 participants who represented CAARN’s organization (staff and Executive Committee) and academic and community partners. Participants received three rounds of a web-based survey to rate and provide feedback about the importance of a list of potential key elements compiled by the authors. The criterion for establishing consensus was 80% of responses to consider the element to be extremely or very important. Results Response rate was 90% in Round 1, 82% in Round 2, and 87% in Round 3. A total of 115 items were included across rounds. Overall, consensus was achieved in 77 (67%) elements: 8 of 11 elements about academic partners, 8 of 11 about community partners, 29 of 49 about the role of the community research associate, 16 of 21 about the role of the director, 9 of 17 about the purveyor (i.e., the organization that scales up an intervention with fidelity), and 7 of 7 about the overall characteristics of the network. Conclusions The development of evidence-based programs designed for dissemination requires the involvement of community partners, the presence of a liaison that facilitates communications among academic and community stakeholders and a purveyor, and the presence of a pathway to dissemination through a relationship with a purveyor. This study delineates essential elements that meet the priorities of adopters, implementers, and end-users and provide the necessary support to community and academic partners to develop and test interventions with those priorities in mind. Replication of these key elements of the CAARN model may facilitate quicker development, testing, and subsequent dissemination of evidence-based programs that are feasible to implement by community organizations.

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Healthy Aging Research Network (HAN) Nutrition Interest Group

Journal of Nutrition for the Elderly ◽

10.1300/j052v25n03_11 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 25 (3-4) ◽

pp. 173-174

Keyword(s):

Interest Group ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Research Network ◽

Aging Research

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The Healthy Aging Research Network: Modeling Collaboration for Community Impact

American Journal of Preventive Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.amepre.2016.09.035 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 52 (3) ◽

pp. S228-S232 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Basia Belza ◽

Mary Altpeter ◽

Matthew Lee Smith ◽

Marcia G. Ory

Keyword(s):

Healthy Aging ◽

Network Modeling ◽

Research Network ◽

Aging Research ◽

Community Impact

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Recruiting and Engaging Older Men in Evidence-Based Health Promotion Programs: Perspectives on Barriers and Strategies

Journal of Aging Research ◽

10.1155/2016/8981435 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Chelsie Anderson ◽

Laura R. Seff ◽

Anamika Batra ◽

Chintan Bhatt ◽

Richard C. Palmer

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Focus Group ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Public Support ◽

Older Men ◽

South Florida ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Program Coordinators ◽

Male Participation ◽

Health Promotion Programs

Evidence-based health promotion programs are effective at reducing health risks and healthcare costs among older adults, but few men participate in the programs. This mixed methods study aimed to gain insight into the barriers to recruiting and engaging older men in evidence-based health promotion programs offered by the Healthy Aging Regional Collaborative of South Florida (HARC). Fourteen program coordinators participated in a focus group to identify barriers and strategies to improve male participation, and 49 instructors participated in a survey to triangulate the findings. Themes among barriers to male participation included women outnumbering men in the implementation sites and programs, conflict between male gender roles and the programs, and preference for other activities. Themes among strategies included public support of programs by male community leaders, program advertisements featuring males, and adapting program content. Survey results supported themes identified in the focus group. Nearly 78% of the survey respondents agreed that the perception of exercise programs as feminine was a barrier and over 90% of the survey respondents believed program advertisements featuring men would increase male participation. Findings indicate that health promotion programs and recruiting strategies need to be tailored to the unique needs and preferences of older men to improve participation.

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Promoting Cognitive Health: A Formative Research Collaboration of the Healthy Aging Research Network

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gnp085 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 49 (S1) ◽

pp. S12-S17 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

J. N. Laditka ◽

R. L. Beard ◽

L. L. Bryant ◽

D. Fetterman ◽

R. Hunter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthy Aging ◽

Research Collaboration ◽

Formative Research ◽

Research Network ◽

Aging Research ◽

Cognitive Health

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The Healthy Aging Research Network: Resources for Building Capacity for Public Health and Aging Practice

American Journal of Health Promotion ◽

10.4278/ajhp.121116-cit-564 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 2-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Sara Wilcox ◽

Mary Altpeter ◽

Lynda A. Anderson ◽

Basia Belza ◽

Lucinda Bryant ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Research Network ◽

Network Resources ◽

Aging Research ◽

Building Capacity

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Essential Dental Public Health

10.1093/oso/9780199679379.001.0001 ◽

2013 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Blánaid Daly ◽

Paul Batchelor ◽

Elizabeth Treasure ◽

Richard Watt

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Promotion ◽

Vital Role ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Dental Public Health ◽

Oral Health Promotion ◽

Dental Practitioners ◽

The World ◽

The Subject ◽

Based Medicine

Public health is a key concern of modern dental practitioners as they continue to play a vital role in the health of populations across the world. The second edition of Essential Dental Public Health identifies the links between clinical practice and public health with a strong emphasis on evidence-based medicine. Fully revised and updated for a second edition, this textbook is split into four parts covering all the need-to-know aspects of the subject: the principles of dental public health, oral epidemiology, prevention and oral health promotion, and the governance and organization of health services. Essential Dental Public Health is an ideal introduction to the field for dentistry undergraduates, as well as being a helpful reference for postgraduates and practitioners.

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Health and longevity studies in C. elegans: the “healthy worm database” reveals strengths, weaknesses and gaps of test compound-based studies

Biogerontology ◽

10.1007/s10522-021-09913-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 215-236

Author(s):

Nadine Saul ◽

Steffen Möller ◽

Francesca Cirulli ◽

Alessandra Berry ◽

Walter Luyten ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthy Aging ◽

Model Organism ◽

Research Field ◽

Aging Research ◽

Genetic Manipulations ◽

C Elegans ◽

Starting Point ◽

Health Related ◽

Phenotype Measurement ◽

Or Gene

AbstractSeveral biogerontology databases exist that focus on genetic or gene expression data linked to health as well as survival, subsequent to compound treatments or genetic manipulations in animal models. However, none of these has yet collected experimental results of compound-related health changes. Since quality of life is often regarded as more valuable than length of life, we aim to fill this gap with the “Healthy Worm Database” (http://healthy-worm-database.eu). Literature describing health-related compound studies in the aging model Caenorhabditis elegans was screened, and data for 440 compounds collected. The database considers 189 publications describing 89 different phenotypes measured in 2995 different conditions. Besides enabling a targeted search for promising compounds for further investigations, this database also offers insights into the research field of studies on healthy aging based on a frequently used model organism. Some weaknesses of C. elegans-based aging studies, like underrepresented phenotypes, especially concerning cognitive functions, as well as the convenience-based use of young worms as the starting point for compound treatment or phenotype measurement are discussed. In conclusion, the database provides an anchor for the search for compounds affecting health, with a link to public databases, and it further highlights some potential shortcomings in current aging research.

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A Qualitative Study toward Technologies for Active and Healthy Aging: A Thematic Analysis of Perspectives among Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary End Users

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18147489 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (14) ◽

pp. 7489

Author(s):

Margherita Rampioni ◽

Adrian Alexandru Moșoi ◽

Lorena Rossi ◽

Sorin-Aurel Moraru ◽

Dan Rosenberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Perceived Usefulness ◽

Research Network ◽

Political Agenda ◽

User Centered Design ◽

Sensing Technology ◽

Care Systems

It is expected that, by 2050, people aged over 60 in 65 nations will constitute 30% of the total population. Healthy aging is at the top of the world political agenda as a possible means for hindering the collapse of care systems. How can ICT/sensing technology meet older people’s needs for active and healthy aging? This qualitative study carried out in Italy and Romania in 2020 involved 30 participants: older adults, caregivers, and stakeholders. Based on a user-centered design approach, this study aimed to understand which requirements of ICT/sensing technologies could match people’s needs of active and healthy aging. Findings highlighted that ICT/sensing technology needs to focus on six major themes: (1) learnability, (2) security, (3) independence, empowerment, and coaching values, (4) social isolation, (5) impact of habit, culture, and education variables, and (6) personalized solutions. These themes are consistent with the Active Aging framework and the factors that influence perceived usefulness and potential benefits among older adults. Consequently, this study shows how well-known, but still unresolved, issues affect the field of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to promote active and healthy aging. This suggests that the reinforcement of the public health system, especially considering the pandemic effect, requires a concrete and formidable effort from an interdisciplinary research network.

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