Go Sun Smart

Go Sun Smart (GSS) was a sun safety program developed for outdoor workers and guests of North American ski resorts. Working with 28 resorts, the GSS team trained managers to educate their employees about sun safety and promoted sun safety to resort guests with posters, lift pole signage, and interpersonal communication from employees. Sun protection behaviors increased among employees and guests, including children enrolled in ski and snowboard schools (National Cancer Institute, CA104876, David Buller, PI).

The Advanced Go Sun Smart program developed and tested the efficacy of a comprehensive, sun safety program for guests visiting U.S. warm weather resorts. The program augmented existing sun safety approaches with a new strategy using narrative persuasive messages and targeting comprehensive sun protection behaviors, such as pre-application and reapplication of sunscreen, using shade, and wearing protective clothing. The program produced significant improvements in sun protection at waterside venues (pools, marinas, and beaches). The study was a collaborative effort between Klein Buendel and San Diego State University. (National Cancer Institute; CA152411; Peter Andersen, PI)

Selected Publications

• Buller DB, Andersen PA, Walkosz BJ, Scott MD, Cutter GR, Dignan MB, Zarlengo EM, Voeks JH, Giese AJ. Randomized trial testing a worksite sun protection program in an outdoor recreation industry. Health Educ Behav. 2005;32:514-535.


• Walkosz BJ, Buller DB, Andersen PA, Scott MD, Liu X, Cutter GR, Dignan MB. Translation of a ski school sun safety program to North American ski and snowboard schools. Health Promot Pract. 2015;16(4):560-70. PMCID: PMC4485589.


• Buller DB, Andersen PA, Walkosz BJ, Scott MD, Beck L, Cutter GR. Rationale, design, samples, and baseline sun protection in a randomized trial on a skin cancer prevention intervention in resort environments. Contemp Clin Trials. 2016;46:67-76. PMCID: PMC4714565

Sun Safe Workplaces

Sun Safe Workplaces (SSW) promoted the adoption of sun safety policies for outdoor workers to 98 public sector employers in cities, counties, and special districts in Colorado. The recommended policies included actions for administrative and environmental controls for sun safety, such as employee training and the provision of shade, as well as for personal protection like using sunscreen with an SPF 30+ and wearing a wide-brimmed hat. (National Cancer Institute; CA134705; David Buller and Barbara Walkosz, PIs)

A follow-up study, Sun Safe Workplaces: Costs and Benefits, was conducted two years following the SSW project and examined the effects of the program on both employers and employees through review of employers’ actions to improve workers’ sun safety, implementation rates of sun safety by both employers and employees, as well as the overall economic cost and benefits of implementation. It was shown that the SSW program decreased two risk factors of skin cancer, sun exposure and sunburns, in the organizations that adopted a new sun safety policy and/or received the SSW program as compared to the organizations that did not. The improvements in sun protection among employees witnessed two years after the conclusion of the SSW program, suggests that the promotion and adoption of policy creates sustained occupational sun safety. (National Cancer Institute; CA187191; David Buller and Barbara Walkosz, PIs)

Selected Publications:

• Buller, DB., Walkosz, BJ, Buller, MK, Wallis, A., Andersen, PA, Scott, MD, & Cutter, G. Results of a Randomized Trial on an Intervention Promoting Adoption of Occupational Sun Protection Policies. Am J Health Promot. 2017: 0890117117704531 [epub: Ahead of print]


• Wallis A, Andersen P, Buller D, Walkosz B, Liu X, Buller M, Scott MD, Jenkins R. Adoption of sun safe work place practices by local governments. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2014;20:608-16. PMCID: PMC4019714

Go Sun Smart at Work (Versions 1 & 2)

Go Sun Smart at Work

Based on Sun Safe Workplaces, Go Sun Smart at Work (GSSW) is a skin cancer prevention program for outdoor workers in the United States. The program, which includes policy development, implementation, and employee training, has been implemented in Departments of Transportation in 19 states. The study will help determine the cost-benefit analysis of delivering sun safety training delivered virtually compared to in-person delivery. (National Cancer Institute; CA210259; David Buller, PI)

Selected Publications:

• Buller, D. B., Buller, M. K., Meenan, R., Cutter, G. R., Berteletti, J., Eye, R., Walkosz, B. J., & Pagoto, S. (2020). Design and baseline data of a randomized trial comparing two methods for scaling-up an occupational sun protection intervention. Contemporary clinical trials, 97, 106147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2020.106147

Go Sun Smart at Work Version 2

GSSW Version 2 (GSSW2) aims to virtually transform the Sun Safe Workplaces (SSW) program, a comprehensive occupational sun safety program that was effective in increasing the number of employers adopting sun safety policies and increasing employees’ sun safety. GSSW2 will focus on two primary components: designing a virtual training environment to help employees implement skin cancer prevention practices and developing a virtual chatbot for managers to help guide and shape their existing workplace policies pertaining to sun safety. Additionally, this project will incorporate new elements into GSSW2, such as a revised content to better target low-risk populations such as Hispanic and African American outdoor workers, as well as content on heat stress and heat illness. (National Cancer Institute; CA257778; Mary Buller, PI)

Sun Safe Schools

The Sun Safe Schools project worked with 112 school districts in California and Colorado to pass sun safety policies for students. The district-wide policies included environmental and personal protection actions such as the provision of shade structures and ways to improve sun safety for students while they were outdoors. (National Cancer Institute; CA100285; David Buller, PI).

To boost implementation of the policies, the Sun Safe Schools Translation project is assisting school districts in California that passed sun protection policies to activate them at the school level. (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: HD074416; Kim Reynolds and David Buller, PIs)

Selected publications:

• Buller DB, Reynolds KD, Ashley JL, Buller MK, Kane IL, Stabell CL, Massie KL, Liu X, Cutter GR. Motivating public school districts to adopt sun protection policies: A randomized controlled trial. Am J Prev Med. 2011;41:309-16. PMCID: PMC316769


• Reynolds KD, Buller DB, French SA, Buller MK, Ashley JL. School sun protection policies: Measure development and assessments in two regions of the United States. J Sch Health. 2012;82:499-507. PMCID: PMC3475509

Indoor Tanning (IT) Policy

In collaboration with Rutgers University, the Indoor Tanning Policy project is a multi-faceted approach to examine indoor tanning in the United States. This includes clarifying the indoor tanning legislation adoption process, employing a pseudo-patron assessment, national survey, and archival data to investigate legislation implementation, and integrating data to assess economic effects relevant to policy. (National Cancer Institute; R01CA244370 ; David Buller and Carolyn Heckman, Multiple PIs.)

Selected Publication:

• Dobbinson S, Niven P, Buller DB, Allen M, Gies P, Warne C. Comparing handheld meters and electronic dosimeters for measuring uv levels under shade and in the sun. Photochem Photobiol. 2016;92:208-14. Needs PMCID.

Health Chat

Health Chat was a Facebook community designed for mothers interested in learning about teen health. Klein Buendel partnered with East Tennessee State University and the University of Connecticut to offer Health Chat to mothers and daughters in 34 states across the country. In a private Facebook group, Health Chat provided expert-reviewed health information and offered tools for improving how mothers and daughters talk about health, including indoor tanning. Health Chat shared valuable resources on physical activity, nutrition, vaccinations, mental health, tobacco, drug use, and more. At the completion of the main trial, an administrative supplement was funded to re-enroll 303 mothers into private Facebook groups that delivered information about the COVID-19 pandemic. (National Cancer Institute; CA192652; Sherry Pagato and David Buller, PIs)

Selected publications:

• Buller DB, Reynolds KD, Ashley JL, Buller MK, Kane IL, Stabell CL, Massie KL, Liu X, Cutter GR. Motivating public school districts to adopt sun protection policies: A randomized controlled trial. Am J Prev Med. 2011;41:309-16. PMCID: PMC316769


• Reynolds KD, Buller DB, French SA, Buller MK, Ashley JL. School sun protection policies: Measure development and assessments in two regions of the United States. J Sch Health. 2012;82:499-507. PMCID: PMC3475509

Sun Safety Ink

Sun Safety Ink! is developing a skin cancer prevention program for tattoo studios. Tattoo studios offer an opportunity to promote sun safety because sun protection is recommended for tattoo aftercare. Sun Safety Ink! will train tattoo artists to recommend full body sun protection, including use of sunscreen, hats, and cover-up clothing to their clients. (National Cancer Institute; CA206569; Barbara Walkosz and Robert Dellavalle, PIs)

FitBrothers

FitBrothers is a physical activity mobile app specifically designed for African American men to combine fitness, health parameter data tracking and culturally tailored health messaging to help combat the barriers to physical activity maintenance and promote healthy living. (National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities; MD014947; Robert Newton and Dave Buller, PIs)

Strava

This research project will test the feasibility of delivering location-based, ecologically valid sun safety advice to Strava users at times when they are predicted by an algorithm to be engaged in outdoor physical activity, by utilizing Strava’s public open-source Applications Programming Interface (API). (National Cancer Institute; CA241637; Dave Buller and Julia Berterlleti, PIs)

Caminamos

The Caminamos project developed a smartphone app prototype that uses location-based services to promote physical activity by connecting Hispanic women within geographically proximal neighborhoods as a way to provide social support for increased walking. (National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities; MD009652; Valerie Myers, PI)

Momzing®

Momzing® is an evidence-based physical activity program for new moms who want to start working out after having a baby. Momzing features over 90 workouts with babies (from 11 to 22 pounds) allowing for simultaneous mommy-baby bonding and exercise. The interactive website streams the workout videos in 10-minute segments, making it easy to workout, even with a busy schedule. Momzing incorporates recommendations for physical activity from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to ensure that workouts are appropriate for new moms.

A randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare the effectiveness of the customizable streaming Momzing videos to a packaged exercise DVD. The results showed that women who received the Momzing program had a higher rate of compliance with the national recommendation of 150 minutes per week of moderate or higher intensity exercise when compared to the women who received the DVD. This research was conducted jointly with the University of Hawaii. (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; HL091592; Cheryl Albright, PI).

Pinpoint

Pinpoint is an interactive gaming app that was tested to determine whether the app assists teens with sickle cell disease with improving their communication and identification skills for pain self-report. (National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities; MD010746; Julia Berteletti, PI)

iTRAC-SRP

iTRAC-SRP, which stands for Internet Based-Talking about Risk and Adolescent Choices for Sexual Risk Prevention, is a new project that builds upon the previous TRAC program by adapting it to a web app format and including new information on self-efficacy for sexual risk prevention behaviors. This program is designed for early adolescences (12-14 years) to enhance the likelihood that the emotion regulation and sexual health education provided can be applied to experiences that are emotionally arousing and lead to risk. It utilizes gaming as a teaching strategy and incorporates engaging, interactive games, puzzles, and video scenarios. (National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities; HD110333; Chris Houck and Julia Bertelleti, PIs)

STAC-T

The STAC-T project will translate a school-based bullying bystander intervention for middle school students (STAC) into a media-rich and highly interactive computer-based learning program. The bullying bystander intervention uses four strategies to reduce bullying perpetration, victimization, and negative mental health outcomes for bystanders: "Stealing the show," "Turning it over," "Accompanying others," and "Coaching compassion." By translating the curriculum into a technology-based intervention, STAC-T can significantly improve access to the program (especially in rural, low-income communities) by addressing significant implementation barriers, such as eliminating the need for training and delivery by school personnel, in-class time, and required expert support. (National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities; MD014943; Aida Midgett and Mary Buller, PIs)

Selected Publication:

• Technology-Based Bullying Intervention for Rural Schools: Perspectives on Needs, Challenges, and Design. Aida Midgett, Diana M Doumas, Valerie H Myers, Steve Moody, Anna Doud. Rural Mental Health. Jan. 2021. 45(1):14-30. 10.1037/rmh0000151.
• Usability of a Technology-Based Bystander Bullying Intervention for Middle School Students in Rural, Low-Income Communities: Mixed Methods Study. Diana M Doumas, Aida Midgett, Valerie Myers, Mary Klein Buller. JMIR Formative Research. Oct. 2021. 5(10):e32382. 10.2196/32382.
• Posttraining Outcomes, Acceptability, and Technology-Based Delivery of the STAC Bystander Bullying Intervention Teacher Module: Mixed Methods Study. Aida Midgett, Diana M Doumas, Mary K Buller. JMIR Formative Research. Aug. 2022. 6(8):e40022. 10.2196/40022.

HPV Boys

The HPV Boys project will develop and evaluate an intervention delivered by a mobile web app that addresses parent and adolescent male concerns about HPV vaccination and promotes HPV vaccine uptake. (National Cancer Institute/National Institutes of Health; CA210125; W. Gill Woodall, PI).

4Corners

This study is a multi-risk factor campaign that will be developed to reduce cancer risk behaviors and delivered to young adults living in rural areas over social media, a popular channel that can reach nearly all young adults (aged 18-26). The campaign will be evaluated for effectiveness in a rigorous randomized trial with measures of moderate to vigorous physical activity, healthy eating patterns, nicotine product use, alcohol intake, sunburn prevalence, and HPV vaccination uptake. (National Cancer Institute; CA268037; Dave Buller and Andrew Sussman, PIs)

IMST

The rapid increase in systolic blood pressure (SBP) that occurs in middle and older aged adults is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. A new form of physical training called high-resistance inspiratory muscle strength training (IMST) has been established by the University of Colorado Boulder (CU) as a method to decrease SBP in this population. This project aims to use digital health technology to create a smartphone app that will guide users through an IMST program. The program will be created in conjunction with experts in cardiovascular health, aging, and IMST from the University of Colorado Boulder. (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; 1 R41 HL167375-01A1; Douglas Seals, PI)

Just Care

The Just Care project is developing a computer-based interactive training system to provide inmate peer caregivers with proper training in geriatric and end-of-life (EOL) care. As prison demographics dramatically shift to reflect the aging of the Baby Boom generation in prisons and statutes impose stiffer sentences, there is an increased need for these type of peer caregivers to assist correctional staff with older and dying inmates. This project is placing a particular emphasis on developing a scalable unit for commercialization in order to reach a larger number of state prisons in this underserved market. (National Institute on Aging; AG049570; Susan Loeb, PI)

Selected Publication:

• Developing educational modules to enhance care of aged and dying inmates: Set-up phase. Erin Kitt-Lewis, Susan J Loeb, Valerie H Myers, Rachel K Wion, Brenda Baney, Sophia Strickfaden. Public Health Nursing. May 2019. 36(3):401-410. 10.1111/phn.12583
• Developing Computer-Based Learning on Care of Aged and Dying Incarcerated People. Erin Kitt-Lewis, Susan J Loeb, Rachel K Wion, Valerie H Myers, Tiffany Jerrod, Sophia Strickfaden. Journal of Forensic Nursing. Jan. 2022. 16(1):36-46. 10.1097/JFN.0000000000000248.
• Inmates Care: Computer-Based Training for Geriatric and End-of-Life Care in Prisons. Susan J Loeb, Julie L Murphy, Erin Kitt-Lewis, Rachel K Wion, Tiffany Jerrod, Valerie H Myers. Journal of Correctional Health Care. June 2021. 27(2):132-144. 10.1089/jchc.20.03.0016.
• Large-scale evaluation of a computer-based learning program to increase prison staff knowledge on geriatric and end-of-life care. Valerie Harwell Myers, Susan Loeb, Erin Kitt-Lewis, Tiffany Jerrod. International Journal of Prison Health. Mar. 2022. Online ahead of print. 10.1108/IJPH-08-2021-0078

Just Care for Dementia

Just Care for Dementia is a standardized educational program developed from the Just Care project designed to fulfill the demands of caring for older people in prison, specifically those with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD). This program is designed to educate both prison staff and peer caregivers on topics related to ADRD care using media rich learning modules. (National Institute on Aging; AG078103; Susan Loeb, PI)

B-SMART

The B-Smart project has developed an app to provide Ignition Interlock Device information, coping and communication skills for families, and information on avoiding DWIs. This project involves concern family members (CFM) supporting the DWI client to not drink and drive. Using this app may provide support for families. The app may help DWI clients and their CFM handle a difficult period in their lives by reducing family conflict. All materials are available in both English and Spanish. (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; AA022850; W. Gill Woodall, PI)

Responsible Alcohol Server Training

A media-rich interactive alcohol server training program was developed to ensure the safe and legal sale of alcohol at bars, restaurants, and casinos. The program was found to be very effective and satisfying for servers in 120 premises in four New Mexico communities. The training resulted in the WayToServe® program that is now offered in multiple states, including New Mexico. This effort was a collaboration with the University of New Mexico and the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; AA014982; W. Gill Woodall, PI)

The WayToServe® Plus project was developed to reach alcohol servers trained by WayToServe® on a continuous schedule to provide professional development in one of their most popular mediums, social media. This project will fill a large gap in responsible beverage service (RBS) practices by providing in-service training and creating a community of servers on Facebook that support implementation and habituation of RBS and professionalism among servers trained by WayToServe®. (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; AA029364; W. Gill Woodall and Dave Buller, PIs)

The WayToServe® ESPAÑOL project is developing and testing the first online responsible beverage server training program for predominantly Spanish-speaking servers. The culturally- and linguistically-appropriate program will fill a gap in evidence-based alcohol prevention interventions for this underserved population. (National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities; MD010405; W. Gill Woodall, PI)

Selected Publication:

• Woodall WG, Starling R, Saltz RF, Buller DB, Stanghetta P. Results of a Randomized Trial of Web-Based Retail Onsite Responsible Beverage Service Training: WayToServe. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2018;79(5):672-679. doi:10.15288/jsad.2018.79.672

Responsible Marijuana Vendor Training (Train to Tend)

The Responsible Marijuana Vending Project is continuously creating and evaluating Train To Tend™, a media-rich, interactive, online responsible marijuana vendor training program for recreational marijuana retailers in three states with legalized retail recreational cannabis. Train To Tend is designed to keep communities safe by keeping cannabis out of the hands of children, adolescents, and intoxicated patrons through effective retailer training. (National Institute of Drug Abuse; DA038933; David Buller, PI)

Selected Publication:

• Buller, D. B., Woodall, W. G., Saltz, R., Grayson, A., & Buller, M. K. (2019). Implementation and effectiveness of an online responsible vendor training program for recreational marijuana stores in colorado, oregon, and washington state. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 25, 238-244.
• Buller, D. B., Woodall, W. G., Saltz, R., Grayson, A., Buller, M. K., Cutter, G. R., Svendsen, S., & Liu, X. (2021). Randomized Trial Testing an Online Responsible Vendor Training in Recreational Marijuana Stores in the United States. Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs, 82(2), 204–213. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.2021.82.204