The Emory Prevention Research Center (EPRC) is a collaboration between the Southwest Georgia Cancer Coalition and the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. The EPRC conducts research on cancer prevention and promotes evidence-based cancer prevention and control in Southwest Georgia. Funded by a five-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control, the research and activities of the EPRC are planned with the participation and input of our community partners to ensure sensitivity to the needs, interests, and culture of Southwest Georgians. The main behavioral focus for the first five years of the EPRC will be on primary prevention – specifically on reducing health risks related to tobacco, physical activity, and nutrition, including reducing overweight and obesity. The EPRC seeks to understand and improve social-environmental contexts in rural communities that influence these major cancer risk factors.The EPRC’s five-year research plan involves a series of studies that build logically upon one another:
Study 1: In 2005, the EPRC conducted qualitative interviews with 60 older adults in Calhoun and Terrell Counties to determine how environments at home/with family, at church or other faith environments, and at work influence people’s behaviors around nutrition, physical activity and tobacco use.Study 2: A one-time survey of a larger group, with a later follow-up of a smaller subgroup, will examine how environmental, social and individual factors contribute to individual behaviors. Key questions include: How much do individual characteristics matter? How much do social environments matter?
Study 3: The final study will seek to determine how changing different environments may improve healthy behaviors among Southwest Georgia citizens. Key question: Can we harness the power of home and/or community environments to promote healthy lifestyles?The EPRC’s main goals can be found at http://www.sph.emory.edu/EPRC/about/index.html
For information on other EPRC studies in Southwest Georgia, click here.