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Paul E. Terry	127	Editorial The “Best of 2019 List” of Health Promotion Researchers Each year the editorial team of the American Journal of Health Promotion selects our “Best of List” of health promotion science from the prior year. This editorial features the Editor’s picks, the Editor in Chief’s favorites and other award categories for the research and writing published in 2019 in this journal. Our criteria for selection include such factors as whether the study addresses a topic of timely importance in health promotion, the research question is clearly stated and the methodologies used are well executed, whether the paper is often cited and downloaded, if the study findings offer a unique contribution to the literature, and that the paper is well-written and enjoyable to read. Awardees in 2019 shared study findings that demonstrated the vital role of health policies in affecting behaviors and offered new insights into how to engage voices from communities, how intervention dose and reach impact outcomes and how to better engage the most difficult to reach.
the Science of lifestyle change
William G. Shadel Joan S. Tucker Rachana Seelam Daniela Golinelli Daniel Siconolfi	132	Quantitative Research Associations of Tobacco Advertising Appeal with Intentions to Use Alternative Tobacco Products Among Young Tobacco Users Experiencing Homelessness Virtually nothing is known about the potential effects of tobacco advertising on tobacco use among youth experiencing homelessness, a vulnerable population with high tobacco use rates. This study examines, using a cross-sectional design, associations between the appeal of advertising for 5 classes of tobacco product (electronic cigarettes, hookah, cigars, cigarillos, and smokeless tobacco) and future intentions to use those products among homeless youth. A probability sample of 469 young tobacco users experiencing homelessness completed assessments that included product-specific tobacco advertising appeal and future intentions to use the product, as well as a range of covariate controls (eg, demographics, homelessness severity, current tobacco use, general advertising exposure). Linear regression tested for associations between the appeal of advertising for a specific tobacco product and intentions to use that product in the future, controlling for myriad covariates. Advertising appeal was positively associated with future intentions to use electronic cigarettes and hookah, but not cigars, cigarillos, or smokeless tobacco. Common themes in electronic cigarette and hookah advertising include messaging regarding harm reduction and that the product is a healthier alternative to cigarette smoking. The appealing flavor and taste of these products are also thematically relevant. Results suggest that advertising appeal may have an impact on the decision to use certain tobacco products among youth experiencing homelessness. However, differences in themes emphasized by advertising for specific tobacco products could differentially influence use in this population. Public policy efforts designed to lessen the influence of tobacco advertising need to reach homeless young people if their high levels of tobacco use are to be reduced.
GracieLee M. Weaver Daniel L. Bibeau Kelly Rulison Jeremy Bray William N. Dudley Nilay Unsal	142	Quantitative Research Tracking Changes in US Organizations’ Workplace Health Promotion Initiatives: A Longitudinal Analysis of Performance Against Quality Benchmarks This study examined longitudinal changes in performance against seven quality workplace health promotion (WHP) benchmarks among a convenience sample of 577 US organizations that completed the Well Workplace Checklist (WWC) across multiple years. Multilevel Modeling was used to examine changes in overall WWC scores as well as individual benchmark scores associated with repeated assessments over time. We found significant increases in overall WWC scores (β = 2.93, P < .001) associated with the repeated WWC assessments, after controlling for the year of assessment and organizational characteristics. There were significant increases associated with reassessment across all seven benchmarks, though rates of change varied across benchmarks. Compared to other benchmarks, operating plan (β = 6.18, P < .001) and evaluation (β = 4.91, P < .001) scores increased more with each reassessment. Results of this study also identify organizational characteristics associated with varying rates of longitudinal changes in benchmark scores. Findings suggest that organizations can make changes that impact their benchmark performance over time.
Stephanie T. Child Andrew T. Kaczynski Katrina M. Walsemann Nancy Fleischer Alexander McLain Spencer Moore	150	Quantitative Research Socioeconomic Differences in Access to Neighborhood and Network Social Capital and Associations with Body Mass Index among Black Americans Social capital is inextricably linked with health, including chronic health outcomes such as obesity, although some research indicates the links between social capital and health are not always beneficial. Most studies only examine a single dimension of social capital. Further, access to social capital is hypothesized to vary based on socioeconomic status. The current study examines associations between socioeconomic status and 2 forms of social capital, namely neighborhood and network measures, as well as how these distinct forms of social capital are associated with body mass index (BMI) among black residents of low-income communities in the Southeastern United States. The Greenville Healthy Neighborhoods Project collected self-reported data on neighborhood and network measures of social capital, height and weight, and sociodemographic characteristics using respondent driven sampling. Multilevel regression models were used to examine relationships between (1) socioeconomic status (ie, household income, educational attainment) and both neighborhood and network social capital, and (2) neighborhood and network social capital and BMI (n = 337). Household income was positively associated with neighborhood capital (eg, social cohesion and collective efficacy), whereas educational attainment was positively associated with network capital (eg, network diversity). Moreover, while social cohesion was associated with lower BMI (b = −1.25, 95% CI: −2.39 to −0.11), network diversity was associated with higher BMI (b = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.08-0.55). The findings underscore the need to assess various dimensions of social capital among diverse populations to better inform policies and interventions aimed at leveraging social relationships and environments to improve population health.
Anna V. Wilkinson Amanda Davé Elif Ozdemir Limairy Rodriguez Belinda M. Reininger	161	Quantitative Research Make Your Move Experience: A Worksite Wellness Pilot in South Texas Make Your Move Experience (MYME) is a worksite wellness program in South Texas designed to be culturally sensitive and encourage sedentary workers to engage in physical activity. UTHealth School Public Health in Brownsville staff identified local organizations, and individuals within the organization, to serve as the team captain. Referred to as “the champion,” the captain recruited other employees to join MYME, logged each employee’s physical activity, and served as a contact between UTHealth and the organization. At the end of the 3 months, organizations in which employees met MYME goals, earned an incentive—bike racks or hydration stations—selected to be permanent features of the local environment and facilitate physical activity. Make Your Move Experience was launched in fall 2015 and offered again in fall 2016 and spring 2017. Participants provided self-reported data on gender, physical activity level prior to joining MYME (beginner or experienced), and the weekly totals of miles biked, walked or ran. Beginners initiated their health change by walking. No gender-based differences were observed in miles walked or ran. However, men biked more miles than women did (P < .05 all 3 years). In fall 2016, bike riders cycled fewer miles (20.2 vs 44.9 miles, P = .03) and walkers covered fewer miles (195.4 vs 266.7 miles; P = .04) compared to spring 2017. Participation in MYME, a culturally appropriate intervention delivered at the worksite, facilitated an increase in physical activity levels among sedentary individuals. Currently MYME is the largest worksite wellness program in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, and has the potential to continue its growth into other communities, evident by existing partner interventions and their expansion.
Alla M. Hill Danielle L. Nunnery Alice Ammerman Jigna M. Dharod	169	Quantitative Research Racial/Ethnic Differences in Diet Quality and Eating Habits among WIC Pregnant Women: Implications for Policy and Practice Adequate dietary intake during pregnancy is critical for supporting both maternal and child health. This study of low-income pregnant women participating in the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) examines their overall quality of dietary intake and eating behaviors. Although WIC is a national program, the research on pregnant participants’ dietary intake is lacking, and our study aims to contribute information to fill this gap. The findings highlight an overall poor quality diet among study participants in comparison to the recommendations made in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. We also identify specific population subgroups that may be at an increased risk for poor diet quality and nutrition in pregnancy. Continued support of targeted nutrition interventions and policy efforts from practitioners, researchers, and public health advocates is necessary in order to promote optimal nutrition in this group of low-income pregnant women.
Sai Krupa Das Shawn T. Mason Taylor A. Vail Caroline M. Blanchard Meghan K. Chin Gail T. Rogers Kara A. Livingston Jennifer L. Turgiss	177	Quantitative Research Sustained Long-term Effectiveness of an Energy Management Training Course on Employee Vitality and Purpose in Life This worksite-based randomized controlled trial was conducted in 240 employees across 12 worksites (8 randomized to the intervention group and 4 to the wait-listed control group). The intervention involved a 2.5-day group-based behavioral intervention designed to enhance vitality and purpose in life. Long-term effectiveness in employees from the 8 intervention worksites was evaluated by assessing changes in quality of life and health-related behaviors at 12- and 18-month follow-up. At 18 months, employees receiving the program demonstrated sustained improvements in vitality, general health, and mental health. Improvements were also sustained for purpose in life and sleep quality in the absence of notable changes in weight, diet, physical activity, and cardiometabolic risk factors. Our findings underscore the value of subscribing to programs that have undergone rigorous testing to enhance employee well-being over the long term.
Aditi Srivastav Mindi Spencer James F. Thrasher Melissa Strompolis Elizabeth Crouch Rachel E. Davis	189	Qualitative Research Addressing Health and Well-Being Through State Policy: Understanding Barriers and Opportunities for Policy-Making to Prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in South Carolina Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) refer to traumatic experiences (eg, abuse, neglect, household dysfunction) that can harm a child’s brain and development, leading to long-term health problems including increased likelihood risk behavior engagement and chronic health conditions in adulthood. Overwhelming evidence suggests that ACEs can be considered a root cause of many preventable public health outcomes. As ACEs receive growing recognition in public health as a crucial issue, we sought to understand policy-making barriers and opportunities for the prevention and mitigation of ACEs, by exploring the perspectives of state legislators in South Carolina. In 2018, we conducted semistructured interviews with 24 state legislators. Our data collection and analysis were guided by the Multiple Streams Theory, which identifies 3 key components of policy-making: attention to the problem, the policy options, and the political landscape. Legislators identified several factors that can influence the passage of legislation on ACEs, including the framing and awareness of ACEs, the use of data and stories that contextualize the problem of ACEs, the continued gaps in understanding about what can be done about ACEs, varying perspectives on the political climate as it relates to public health, and possible policy windows in the upcoming legislative session. This study provides an illustrative example of the complex policy-making processes on the state-level and insights on how public health advocates can encourage and push forward policies that address ACEs and its related health issues in the state. Public health professionals can use this study to understand ways in which they are more likely to be successful in translating research into policy action.
Thomas E. Strayer III Lauren E. Kennedy Laura E. Balis NithyaPriya S. Ramalingam Meghan L. Wilson Samantha M. Harden	198	Qualitative Research Cooperative Extension gets moving, but how? Exploration of Extension Health Educators’ Sources and Channels for Information-Seeking Practices The purpose of this work was to understand through what channels and sources community-based health educators seek information. Specifically, this work was completed within the Cooperative Extension system (Extension). Extension’s mission is to bring university-produced evidence to community members. Community-based health educators are the intermediaries who deliver the interventions, but how they learn about interventions is not yet understood. Health educators reported mostly commonly relying on information from Extension state specialists (source) and technology was the most used channel (eg, Internet, email). This study identifies community-based health educators’ information structures and justifies the need for future research on the role of specialists in communication efforts for educators. A comprehensive understanding of how intervention information is communicated within Extension nationally will allow intervention developers to be in a better position to disseminate new evidence-based practices. Better dissemination practices have the potential to increase the public impact of Extension and reduce the time lag of getting evidence-based practices implemented.
Sara S. Johnson	TAHP-206	Editor’s Desk: The Employer’s Role in Addressing Social Determinants of Health There is an increasing recognition of the large impact that social determinants have on health and well-being; healthcare utilization; and healthcare costs. Employers have an important role to play in supplementing emerging efforts to create innovative interventions to address critical social needs.
Alexandria Blacker Stephen Dion Jessica Grossmeier Rick Hecht Elizabeth Markle Les Meyer Sarah Monley Bruce Sherman Nicole VanderHorst Emily Wolfe	TAHP-207	Social Determinants of Health—an Employer Priority Workplace wellness is ever evolving and increasingly recognizes that addressing social determinants of health (SDOH), social risk factors, and social needs makes good business sense given their connection to important outcomes (e.g., well-being employee performance). This paper 1) introduces the implications social risk factors and social needs have on well-being programming by providing examples from employers; and 2) outlines specific actions employers can take to address these needs within their workforces.
Michael T. Compton Ruth S. Shim	TAHP-215	Why Employers Must Focus on the Social Determinants of Mental Health The same societal problems that comprise social determinants of health are also social determinants of mental health, increasing risk for psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders. A workforce with better mental health can only really be achieved in the long-term by addressing the social determinants of mental health both within the workplace and in the community at large.
Mary Jane Osmick Marcella Wilson	TAHP-219	Social Determinants of Health—Relevant History, A Call to Action, An Organization’s Transformational Story, and What Can Employers Do? The article presents a brief history of social determinants of health and a health equity call to action; shares the story of one CEO’s experience in an organization’s transformational journey in health equity; and provides a summary of practical lessons learned that can be applied to other employer organizations.
Kristi Jenkins Karen Schmidt Ashley Weigl	TAHP-224	Addressing Social Determinants of Health—A Large Employer Perspective The University of Michigan recognizes the importance of SDOH in their work. As such, MHealthy, the University of Michigan’s (U-M’s) Health and Wellbeing program, has initiated an effort to understand and address unmet social needs within U-M’s faculty and staff. In addition, MHealthy has focused on building a healthy culture that fosters staff development in this area.