Michelle C Kegler
Biographic Data
| ID | 1740650 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Michelle C Kegler |
| GIVEN NAMES | Michelle C |
| FAMILY NAME | Kegler |
| SIGNATURE | KEGLER M C |
| AFFILIATIONS | Emory University |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-4898-5454 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 71 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 56 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 71 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1998 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Social capital's association with self-reported health outcomes in the rural south: Variations by demographic subgroup
Background: Limited information is known about how social capital is associated with self-reported measures of health in rural settings. Even less is known about how these associations may vary within demographic subgroups. While a large body of research demonstrates that social capital is associated with a variety of health outcomes, additional knowledge is needed to create appropriate interventions for rural communities in the United States. Me…
Comparing Risk Profiles of Nicotine Pouch and Smokeless Tobacco Use in U.S. Adolescents: A Machine Learning Analysis
Background: This study identified and compared the risk profiles associated with nicotine pouch (NP) and smokeless tobacco (ST) use among adolescents (12–17 years). Methods: We used publicly available data from the most recent wave (January 2022–April 2023) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study (N = 10,604 [48.9% female, 51.2% 12–14 years]). A penalized logistic regression framework was used to promote parsimony and redu…
Community readiness to address rural health equity: Progress and challenges across eleven Georgia communities
Rural communities face persistent health disparities as well as unique barriers to improving population health. The five-year Two Georgias Initiative sought to build local capacity to advance health equity in 11 rural communities from 2017 to 2022. This multi-method study used coalition member surveys to assess changes in community readiness to address health equity and qualitative interviews (n=121) with local coalition leaders, coordinators and…
Community Coalitions Implementing and Sustaining Policy, Systems and Environment Strategies for Rural Health Equity
121) revealed that implementation barriers included challenges with staff and partner transitions, and lack of capacity and resources. Staff engagement, community rapport and partner-provided resources facilitated the implementation of strategies across several coalitions, highlighting the important role partnerships and community buy-in have with community-based PSE implementation approaches. At Year 5, among nine coalitions who provided sustain…
Implementing nutrition policy, system and environmental change strategies in a rural food pantry to improve nutrition security: Contextual factors and outcomes
Objective: To describe and evaluate nutrition-related policy, system and environmental (PSE) change strategies implemented in a rural, volunteer-run Georgia food pantry, exploring facilitators and barriers and changes in clients’ perceptions of food distributed following implementation of nutrition-related PSE changes. Design: The mixed-methods evaluation used pre-post key informant interviews, client surveys and programme documents to assess imp…
Adapting a brief smoke-free homes intervention for communities in Armenia and Georgia
Evidence-based interventions (EBIs) often require adaptation to be effective for new communities and/or cultural contexts. This paper describes the process for adapting an evidence-based smoke-free homes (SFHs) intervention to be culturally appropriate for households in Armenia and Georgia. The intervention, including three mailed packages (“mailings”) and a coaching call, was adapted using a systematic multi-step adaptation process involving: (i…
Individual‐ and environmental‐level determinants of fruit and vegetable intakes in rural Georgia
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the ways in which food insecurity, food acquisition behaviors, and perceived and objective food access influence fruit and vegetable intakes among rural Georgians. DESIGN: A population-based survey was merged with USDA's Food Access Research Atlas, and multilevel modeling was used to determine individual-level (eg, food insecurity, food acquisition behaviors, perceived access) and environmental-level (eg, census tract fo…
A mixed methods analysis of community capacity to address health equity in the rural Southern U.S
Community coalitions are an effective mechanism for strengthening selected dimensions of community capacity for health equity in rural communities. Deeper engagement of those most affected by health inequities and actions toward addressing structural and policy drivers of these inequities may require the active centering of health equity from project inception. Clarity of purpose (i.e., racial/income inequities or rural/urban inequities), technic…
Changes in home food inventories and food procurement practices during the Covid-19 pandemic
Objective: To examine how home food inventories and food procurement practices changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: Cross-sectional baseline data from a randomised controlled trial of a home food environment intervention. Telephone interviews were conducted from October 2020 to December 2022. Setting: Four 2–1–1 United Way agencies in Georgia, USA. Participants: 2–1–1 clients ( n 602); 80·6 % identified as Black and 90·9 % as women. Mean…
Charting a path forward toward integrating macrolevel phenomena, marginalization, and health equity principles in into dissemination and implementation science
Examining the creation of synergy in community coalitions for smoke-free environments in Armenia and Georgia
Community coalitions depend on their members to synergistically pool diverse resources, including knowledge and expertise, community connections and varied perspectives, to identify and implement strategies and make progress toward community health improvement. Several coalition theories suggest synergy is the key mechanism driving coalition effectiveness. The Community Coalition Action Theory (CCAT) asserts that synergy depends on how well coali…
Examining local smoke-free coalitions in Armenia and Georgia: Context and outcomes of a matched-pairs community-randomised controlled trial
NCT03447912
Understanding the relationship between social capital, health, and well‐being in a southern rural population
PURPOSE: Social capital is thought to contribute to health and well-being, but its application to a rural context is poorly understood. This study seeks to examine how different forms of social capital relate to health and well-being among rural residents and the extent to which race and degree of rurality moderates these relationships. METHODS: Data from a population-based survey of 6 counties in rural Georgia (n = 1,385) are used. We examined 3…
Measuring Community Capacity Using an Environmental Justice Lens
Building capacity is fundamental for promoting development of local solutions and enacting broader policy change. However, in the field of environmental justice (EJ), understanding, measuring, and evaluating capacity from a theoretical lens are underutilized. In this study, we measure 10 dimensions of community capacity theory (CCT) and assess their salience in the EJ setting to influence policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) community change.…
Evaluation Design for The Two Georgias Initiative: Assessing Progress Toward Health Equity in the Rural South
As persistent inequities in health gained increased attention nationally due to COVID-19 and racial justice protests in 2020, it has become increasingly important to evaluate both the process and outcomes associated with coalition-based efforts to address health inequities. The Two Georgias Initiative supports coalitions in 11 rural counties to (1) achieve greater health equity, (2) improve health and health care, (3) build healthier rural commun…
Exploring dimensions of social capital in relation to healthy eating behaviours in the US rural south
Objective: This study examined relationships between dimensions of social capital (SC) (social trust, network diversity, social reciprocity and civic engagement) and fruit, vegetable, and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption among rural adults. Potential moderators (neighbourhood rurality, food security, gender and race/ethnicity) were explored to develop a more nuanced understanding of the SC–healthy eating relationship. Design: Data were …
Defining the Exposome Using Popular Education and Concept Mapping With Communities in Atlanta, Georgia
Introduction: The exposome concept provides a framework to better incorporate the environment into the study of health and disease and has been defined by academics to encompass all lifetime exposures including toxicants, diet, and lifestyle choices. However, initial applications of the exposome concept have been less apt at measuring social determinants of health, focusing primarily on conventional environmental exposures and lifestyle choices t…
Food Acquisition Practices, Body Mass Index, and Dietary Outcomes by Level of Rurality
Barriers to Creating Healthier Home Food Environments: Process Evaluation Results From 2 Home Food Environment Intervention Studies
Few studies have identified barriers to creating a home environment more supportive of healthy eating. We examined barriers faced by participants in a randomized controlled trial and an adaptation study of the Healthy Homes/Healthy Families intervention, which uses health coaches to support low-income families in creating healthier home food environments. Coaches maintained logs of participant interactions as part of a process evaluation. We them…
Home Snack Environments in the United States: Latent Class Analysis Findings From a Home Food Environment Survey
Snacking occasions have increased in frequency and energy density in recent decades, with considerable implications for diet. Studies have linked presence of foods in the home with intake of those foods. This study examines home snack food inventories among a large sample of U.S. adults using latent class analysis findings to present latent classes of home snack food inventories and multinomial regression to model classes as correlates of percent…
Home food environment and associations with weight and diet among U.S. adults: A cross-sectional study
Targeting these dimensions of the home food environment may be a promising approach for future intervention research
Psychosocial Factors, Smoke-Free Restrictions, and Media Exposure in Relation to Smoking-Related Attitudes and Behaviors among Adults in Armenia and Georgia
Findings support the importance of smoke-free policies but were counterintuitive regarding the roles of social and media influences, underscoring the need to better understand how to address these influences, particularly in countries with high smoking rates
Implementation of a community grant program to address community-driven environmental health concerns
Community-engaged approaches to research can increase trust, enhance the relevance and use of research, address issues of equity and justice, and increase community knowledge and capacity. The HERCULES Exposome Research Center sought to engage local Atlanta communities to learn about and address their self-identified environmental health concerns. To do this, HERCULES and their stakeholder partners collaboratively developed a community grant prog…
Smokers’ and Nonsmokers’ Receptivity to Smoke-Free Policies and Pro- and Anti-Policy Messaging in Armenia and Georgia
Garnering support for smoke-free policies is critical for their successful adoption, particularly in countries with high smoking prevalence, such as Armenia and Georgia. In 2018, we surveyed 1456 residents (ages 18–64) of 28 cities in Armenia (n = 705) and Georgia (n = 751). We examined support for cigarette and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)/heated tobacco product (HTP) smoke-free policies in various locations and persuasiveness of …
Reducing Socioeconomic Disparities in Comprehensive Smoke-Free Rules among Households with Children: A Pilot Intervention Implemented through a National Cancer Program
Most households with a smoker do not implement comprehensive smoke-free rules (smoke-free homes and cars), and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure remains prevalent among children and low-socioeconomic status (SES) populations. This pilot project aimed to assess implementation feasibility and impact of an intervention designed to increase smoke-free rules among socioeconomically disadvantaged households with children. The pilot was implemented throug…
Community-Based Interventions
The article Reconsidering Community-Based Health Promotion: Promise, Performance, and Potential by Merzel and D’Afflitti1 in this issue of the Journal makes a valuable contribution to the literature on community approaches to health promotion. The breadth of studies covered in this review article, combined with the prominence the Journal is giving to the subject in this issue, suggests how far the field has come in its understanding of the links …
Individual and environmental correlates of dietary fat intake in rural communities: A structural equation model analysis
Decision-making processes shaping the home food environments of young adult women with and without children
An activity space approach to understanding how food access is associated with dietary intake and BMI among urban, low-income African American women
A Minimal Intervention to Promote Smoke-Free Homes Among 2-1-1 Callers: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Objectives. We tested the efficacy of a minimal intervention to create smoke-free homes in low-income households recruited through the United Way of Greater Atlanta 2-1-1, an information and referral system that connects callers to local social services. Methods. We conducted a randomized controlled trial (n = 498) from June 2012 through June 2013, with follow-up at 3 and 6 months. The intervention consisted of 3 mailings and 1 coaching call. Res…
Results From an Intervention to Improve Rural Home Food and Physical Activity Environments
Coaching combined with a focus on the home environment may be a promising strategy for weight gain prevention in adults
Results From a Lay Health Advisor Intervention to Prevent Lead Poisoning Among Rural Native American Children
Objectives. We tested the effectiveness of a community-based lay health advisor intervention for primary prevention of lead poisoning among Native American children who lived in a former mining area. Methods. We conducted cross-sectional population-based blood lead assessments of Native American and White children aged 1 to 6 years and in-person caregiver interviews before (n=331) and after (n=387) a 2-year intervention. Results. Mean childhood b…
Using Community-Based Participatory Research to Shape Policy and Prevent Lead Exposure Among Native American Children
Using a CBPR approach that incorporated Native American social networks, TEAL played a major role in placing and maintaining lead poisoning on the policy agenda and in encouraging the local County Health Department and IHS to fully implement blood lead screening and parental notification for young children
Impact of Improving Home Environments on Energy Intake and Physical Activity: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Objectives. We assessed the effectiveness of an intervention targeting home food and activity environments to reduce energy intake and increase physical activity among overweight and obese patients from 3 community health centers in rural Georgia. Methods. We conducted a randomized controlled trial (n = 349) from 2011 to 2013, with follow-up at 6 and 12 months. Health coaches delivered the 16-week intervention by using tailored home environment p…
Roundtable Discussion and Final Comments
Roundtable discussion of: Berkowitz B. Studying the outcomes of community-based coalitions. Am J Community Psychol. 2001 Apr;29(2):213-27
Identifying and Defining the Dimensions of Community Capacity to Provide a Basis for Measurement
Although community capacity is a central concern of community development experts, the concept requires clarification. Because of the potential importance of community capacity to health promotion, the Division of Chronic Disease Control and Community Intervention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), convened a symposium in December 1995 with the hope that a consensus might emerge regarding the dimensions that are integral to commun…
Caregiver Beliefs and Behaviors in the Prevention of Childhood Lead Poisoning
Caregivers living in areas with environmental lead problems are often advised to engage in behaviors to protect their children from lead. This study investigates caregiver knowledge, beliefs, and barriers associated with lead poisoning prevention behaviors. Interviews were conducted with 332 caregivers of children ages 1 through 6 living in a mining area with large quantities of lead-contaminated soil. Findings indicated low to moderate levels of…
The Functional Value of Smoking and Nonsmoking from the Perspective of American Indian Youth
In spite of having the highest rate of smoking among major racial/ethnic groups in the U.S., very little research has been conducted on the initiation of smoking among American Indians. This research used focus groups to explore the functional value of smoking and nonsmoking from the perspective of American Indian youth. For smokers, the functional value of smoking was associated with peers, mood, image, addiction, family, and sensory pleasure. F…
Roundtable Discussion and Final Comments
Roundtable discussion of: Berkowitz B. Studying the outcomes of community-based coalitions. Am J Community Psychol. 2001 Apr;29(2):213-27
A Multiple Case Study of Neighborhood Partnerships for Positive Youth Development
Organizing neighborhoods around teen pregnancy prevention, even using a youth development approach, is challenging but can be accomplished when the right constellation of factors is in place
Community-Based Interventions
The article Reconsidering Community-Based Health Promotion: Promise, Performance, and Potential by Merzel and D’Afflitti1 in this issue of the Journal makes a valuable contribution to the literature on community approaches to health promotion. The breadth of studies covered in this review article, combined with the prominence the Journal is giving to the subject in this issue, suggests how far the field has come in its understanding of the links …
McLeroy Et Al. Respond
We wish to thank Rabin for observing that “[h]ealthy aging begins with the fetus, not the adult.” Clearly, community-based public health programs must take into account health and health-related issues throughout the life span and focus on strengthening communities to support the health of all age groups. We will respond to several inferences that might be drawn from Rabin’s letter. First is the implication that health comes from participating in…
Results From a Lay Health Advisor Intervention to Prevent Lead Poisoning Among Rural Native American Children
Objectives. We tested the effectiveness of a community-based lay health advisor intervention for primary prevention of lead poisoning among Native American children who lived in a former mining area. Methods. We conducted cross-sectional population-based blood lead assessments of Native American and White children aged 1 to 6 years and in-person caregiver interviews before (n=331) and after (n=387) a 2-year intervention. Results. Mean childhood b…
Prevalence and predictors of home and automobile smoking bans and child environmental tobacco smoke exposure: A cross-sectional study of U.S.- and Mexico-born Hispanic women with young children
This study of Hispanic mothers in the southwestern U.S. indicates that there are substantial differences between U.S.- and Mexico-born mothers in the prevalence of home and automobile smoking bans, and resulting child ETS exposure. Tobacco interventions to increase smoke-free environments for U.S. Hispanic children should focus on both home and automobile smoking practices, especially among U.S.-born mothers, and utilize strategies that impact sm…
Evaluation Findings from the Institute for Public Health and Faith Collaborations
OBJECTIVE: The Institute for Public Health and Faith Collaborations sought to cultivate boundary leadership to strengthen collaboration across religious and health sectors to address health disparities. This article presents findings from an evaluation of the Institute and its impact on participating teams of faith and public health leaders. METHODS: . Self-administered surveys were completed by participating team members (n = 243) immediately po…
A Qualitative Study of How Families Decide to Adopt Household Smoking Restrictions
Household smoking bans reduce exposure to secondhand smoke in adult nonsmokers and children. To explore the process families go through in adopting voluntary household smoking restrictions, qualitative interviews were conducted with rural African American and White adults in 102 households. The study investigated how families decide to restrict smoking in the home, who has significant influence in the decision-making process, the kinds of disagre…
Using Community-Based Participatory Research to Shape Policy and Prevent Lead Exposure Among Native American Children
Using a CBPR approach that incorporated Native American social networks, TEAL played a major role in placing and maintaining lead poisoning on the policy agenda and in encouraging the local County Health Department and IHS to fully implement blood lead screening and parental notification for young children
Achieving organizational change: Findings from case studies of 20 California healthy cities and communities coalitions
As part of an evaluation of the California Healthy Cities and Communities (CHCC) Program, we assessed the extent to which coalitions implementing the healthy cities and communities model demonstrated capacity to leverage financial resources, expand programs and influence organizational policies. The evaluation design was a multiple case study of 20 participating communities with cross-case analysis. Participating communities spanned the state's d…
Evaluation findings on community participation in the California Healthy Cities and Communities program
As part of an evaluation of the California Healthy Cities and Communities (CHCC) program, we evaluated resident involvement, broad representation and civic engagement beyond the local CHCC initiative. The evaluation design was a case study of 20 participating communities with cross-case analysis. Data collection methods included: coalition member surveys at two points in time, semi-structured interviews with key informants, focus groups with coal…
Facilitators, Challenges, and Collaborative Activities in Faith and Health Partnerships to Address Health Disparities
Interest in partnering with faith-based organizations (FBOs) to address health disparities has grown in recent years. Yet relatively little is known about these types of partnerships. As part of an evaluation of the Institute for Faith and Public Health Collaborations, representatives of 34 faith—health teams ( n = 61) completed semi-structured interviews. Interviews were tape recorded, transcribed, and coded by two members of the evaluation team…
How does community context influence coalitions in the formation stage? a multiple case study based on the Community Coalition Action Theory
Findings contribute to an ecologic and theory-based understanding of the range of ways community context influences coalitions in their formative stage
Primary Prevention of Lead Poisoning in Rural Native American Children: Behavioral Outcomes From a Community-Based Intervention in a Former Mining Region
The current study examined the effectiveness of a community-based lay health advisor intervention, combined with youth engagement, in improving lead poisoning prevention behaviors and associated beliefs in a rural Native American population located in and near a Superfund site containing mining waste. Three sequential (1997, 2000, and 2004) cross-sectional assessments involving in-person interviews with Native American and White caregivers of you…
Individual and environmental correlates of dietary fat intake in rural communities: A structural equation model analysis
Perceptions of Social and Environmental Support for Healthy Eating and Physical Activity in Rural Southern Churches
A Study of Rural Church Health Promotion Environments: Leaders’ and Members’ Perspectives
Results From an Intervention to Improve Rural Home Food and Physical Activity Environments
Coaching combined with a focus on the home environment may be a promising strategy for weight gain prevention in adults
Results From an Intervention to Improve Rural Home Food and Physical Activity Environments
Background-Ecological models of healthy eating and physical activity emphasize the influence of behavioral settings such as homes and worksites in shaping behavior.Research on home environments suggests that both social and physical aspects of the home may impact physical activity and healthy eating.Objective-Using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, the Emory Prevention Research Center (EPRC), Cancer Coalition of South Geor…
Results from an evaluation of tobacco control policies at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo
Tobacco control policies at the World Expo sites were generally well-enforced and accepted although compliance was not 100%, particularly in outdoor non-smoking areas
Zhonghua’ tobacco advertisement in Shanghai: A descriptive study
Zhonghua cigarettes are promoted directly and indirectly through a variety of channels. This study suggests there is an urgent need to establish comprehensive bans that prohibit all types of tobacco advertisements in China
Positive Deviants”: A Qualitative Study of Physically Active Adults in Rural Environments
Medicine (55 works) · Environmental health (43 works) · Public health (29 works) · Psychology (28 works) · Political science (26 works) · Nursing (25 works) · Gerontology (24 works) · Community Health and Development (21 works) · Sociology (21 works) · Geography (20 works)