Core Labs

Health Behavior Research Core

PRIME CONTACT

Director: Ed Fisher, PhD (286-1901)
Core Manager: Helen Todora, MPH, RD (286-1906)

LOCATION

4444 Forest Park, Suite 6700

CAPABILITIES

The Division is devoted to research and training in the areas of education and behavioral and social sciences in health. Faculty provide consultation services to researchers throughout the medical center in aspects of their work related to the broad field of health behavior research. Resources available are organized into four sections:

• Epidemiology & Statistics
  • Development of study designs
  • Instrument development and data collection coordination
  • Data entry
  • Data management
  • Epidemiological and statistical analysis
  • Epidemiological aspects of studies
  • Geocoding and analysis
  • Access to and merging of Administrative Databases. This will entail locating and extraction of data from large data sets (e.g., Medicare) or from cooperating providers' medical records.

• Health Education and Communication
• Development and evaluation of health promotion and education programs
• Development and evaluation of medical school curricula
• Development and evaluation of health education materials for readability, cultural appropriateness, ease of use, etc.
• Development and evaluation of kiosk- and web-based communication and education programs
• Planning and conducting qualitative research (e.g., focus groups, individual interviews, content analysis and thematic analysis of narrative data)
• Identifying or developing assessment tools for measuring health-related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors
• Training staff in patient interview techniques, peer coaching, etc.
• Creating tailored and non-tailored print communication
• Providing services in illustration, graphic design and layout
• Psychological Aspects of Illness & Quality of Life
• Measurement of Quality of Life
• Measurement of psychological characteristics (e.g., depression, anxiety, personality factors, cognitive functioning)
• Assessment, counseling, and supportive interventions to increase adherence and retention in clinical research and chronic disease care
• Database of standardized measures of psychological and emotional adjustment to breast cancer and quality of life
• In addition, staff provides psychosocial services for the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center as part of a multidisciplinary care approach to treatment. (These services are also available for inclusion in care for other chronic diseases.)
• Cotinine Assay Section - (Referal provided for service)
• Cotinine assays for determination of smoking status and exposure to secondary tobacco smoke

Additionally, the Division includes a Masters Program in Health Care Services, and Pre- and Post-doctoral training program in behavior science and cardiovascular disease prevention.

COST STRUCTURE

$45 / hour for Faculty
$35 / hour for Staff

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

These resources are also available through the Diabetes Research Training Center as its Prevention & Control Core and through the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center as the Health Behavior Research Core

Washington University School of Medicine
Department of Medicine