Online social media sites are increasingly used in public health efforts1 and may represent a valuable avenue to target messages discouraging use of indoor tanning (IT) beds to young women, a group with high levels of engagement in social media and the highest rates of IT.2 This study aimed to examine the association between use of social media sites and IT behavior.

Skin cancer is a major public health concern, and tanning remains a modifiable risk factor. Multidimensional influences, including psychosocial, individual, environmental, and policy-related factors, create the milieu for individuals to engage in tanning. Parents and physicians can modify the behavior of teens and young adults using strategies based on harm reduction. Environmental and policy-related factors similar to those used to limit smoking by restricting access of minors to cigarettes in the United States in the 20th century need to be created. Federal regulations can restrict direct advertising and the excise tax can be increased to a prohibitive amount. Social networking may assist with affect regulation.

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Objectives: Explain ideas to achieve meaningful, synergistic partnerships in combating the opioid crisis by leveraging unique areas of healthcare expertise (i.e., medical, payer, pharmacy) in collaboration with other key healthcare and policy experts. Describe innovative, results-driven solutions in development or in the marketplace to address opioid prescribing practices from the unique perspective of providers, pharmacists, health plans, patients and caregivers. Learn about the system breakdowns from patient and family member perspectives. Share possibilities for better integrating the voice and role of individuals living with addiction and caregivers into important solutions combating the opioid crisis. Identify the greatest, most near-term opportunities for improvements or system-wide changes, generally and for PQA.

This webinar will describe East Tennessee State University’s efforts to curb the opioid epidemic along the continuum of addiction. ETSU’s Academic Health Science Center has engaged multiple constituents to conduct federally funded research, community based practice and more importantly, to foster cross-sector engagement and education. The team hosts monthly meetings to facilitate partnerships across sectors with multiple aims. These aims include regional health improvement, research capacity development and community outreach. By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to: Describe multiple evidence-based approaches for the prevention and treatment of opioid use disorder. Describe techniques for engagement in community and cross-sector collaboration to address the opioid use disorder crisis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate challenges faced by high schools in rural Appalachia in implementing the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA). Methodology: We used qualitative, secondary analysis to analyze a collection of thirteen focus groups and 22 interviews conducted in 2013-14 among parents, teachers, and high school students in six counties in rural Appalachian Tennessee (n=98). Results: Five basic themes were identified during the thematic analysis: poor food quality prior to implementation of the HHFKA school nutrition reforms; students’ preference for low-nutrient energy-dense foods; low acceptance of healthier options after implementation of the HHFKA school nutrition reforms; HHFKA school nutrition reforms not tailored to unique needs of under-resourced communities; and students opting out of the National School Lunch Program after implementation of the HHFKA school nutrition reforms. Rural communities face multiple and intersecting challenges in implementing the HHFKA school nutrition reforms. Conclusion: As a result, schools in rural Appalachia may be less likely to derive benefits from these reforms. The ability of rural schools to take advantage of school nutrition reforms to improve student health may depend largely on factors unique to each community or school.

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is linked to health status in a variety of conditions. Less is known about the relation between quality of life and modifiable health behaviors, especially among medically underserved populations.ObjectiveThe purpose of the current study was to examine HRQoL as it relates to physical activity, sedentary behavior, and eating patterns in youth residing in Southern Appalachia.MethodsThe Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory and questions on physical activity and eating behaviors was completed by 152 sixth grade students in a regional sample of schools participating in the Winning with Wellness child obesity prevention project.ResultsThe current study found higher physical activity levels and lower levels of screen time to be associated with reports of more positive HRQoL.ConclusionsA more comprehensive understanding of factors surrounding health behavior may hold implications for obesity prevention/intervention programs.

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