Intervention Subcore

The UNC NORC Center is one of 11 centers in the country funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney

The Intervention Subcore is part of the UNC NORC Clinical & Community Assessment & Intervention Core. The subcore has existed as a part of the NIDDK-funded Nutrition Obesity Research Center since the year 2000. The Intervention Subcore fills a critical gap in existing resources for nutrition researchers by facilitating member access to a broad range of research services related to intervention development and evaluation integrated under one core.

The purpose, goals, and objectives of the subcore are to offer state-of-the-art resources and techniques for the development of high-quality and rigorously-evaluated behavioral science interventions aimed at improving nutrition, preventing and treating obesity, and general health promotion.

Collaborations with researchers have allowed us to hone specific expertise with technology, methods, and tools relevant within the areas of nutrition and obesity. For example, we are experts in helping faculty develop technology delivered interventions and recently using new methodology in native apps such as micro-randomizations, MOST, and online surveys using ADOPT measures. A few example projects include web interventions with Fitbit integration to increase physical activity; mobile apps using ecological momentary assessments and self-monitoring for improving food choices and tracking daily intake; and cognitive interviews with parents of preschool children to better understand services needed for healthy weight promotion in children.

Currently supporting over
$50M
 in grant-funded projects for over
40 researchers
 across
55+ projects
 [Dec 2018]
Currently supporting
researchers
 outside of UNC,
 for example, NIH,
University of Connecticut,
Duke University, Wake
Forest University.

Publication Highlights


  • Arandia, G., Vaughn, A. E., Bateman, L. A., Ward, D. S., & Linnan, L. A. (2018). Development of a Workplace Intervention for Child Care Staff: Caring and Reaching for Health’s (CARE) Healthy Lifestyles Intervention. Health promotion practice, 1524839918786214.
  • Creed‐Kanashiro, H., Wasser, H. M., Bartolini, R., Goya, C., & Bentley, M. E. (2018). Formative research to explore the acceptability and use of infant food grinders for the promotion of animal source foods and micronutrient powders in rural Peru. Maternal & Child Nutrition, e12600.
  • Valle, C. G., Queen, T. L., Martin, B. A., Ribisl, K. M., Mayer, D. K., & Tate, D. F. (2018). Optimizing tailored communications for health risk assessment: a randomized factorial experiment of the effects of expectancy priming, autonomy support, and exemplification. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 20(3).
  • Ward, D. S., Vaughn, A. E., Hales, D., Viera, A. J., Gizlice, Z., Bateman, L. A., ... & Linnan, L. A. (2018). Workplace health and safety intervention for child care staff: Rationale, design, and baseline results from the CARE cluster randomized control trial. Contemporary clinical trials, 68, 116-126.
  • Bhushan, N., Vu, M., Teal, R., Carda-Auten, J., Ward, D., & Erinosho, T. (2017). Assessing challenges in low-income families to inform a life skills–based obesity intervention. Health Promotion Practice, 19(6), 915-924. 1524839917746118.
  • Linnan, L., Arandia, G., Bateman, L. A., Vaughn, A., Smith, N., & Ward, D. (2017). The Health and Working Conditions of Women Employed in Child Care. Int J Envron Res Public Health, 14(3): 283. PDF Version: http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/3/283/pdf
  • Viera, A. J., Tuttle, L., Olsson, E., Gras-Najjar, J., Gizlice, Z., Hales, D., Linnan, L., Lin, F. C., Noar, S. M., & Ammerman, A. (2017). Effects of physical activity calorie expenditure (PACE) labeling: study design and baseline sample characteristics. BMC Public Health, PMID: 28899366
  • Comello, M. L., Qian, X., Deal, A. M., Ribisl, K. M., Linnan, L. A., & Tate, D. F. (2016). Impact of game-inspired infographics on user engagement and information processing in an ehealth program. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 18(9), e237. PubMed PMID: 27658469.
  • Leone, L. A., Allicock, M., Pignone, M. P., Walsh, J. F., Johnson, L. S., Armstrong-Brown, J., Carr, C. C., Langford, A., Ni, A., Resnicow, K., & Campbell, M. K. (2016). Cluster randomized trial of a church-based peer counselor and tailored newsletter intervention to promote colorectal cancer screening and physical activity among older African Americans. Health Education & Behavior, 43(5), 568-76. doi: 10.1177/1090198115611877. PubMed PMID: 26515276.
  • Dorn, S. D., Palsson, O. S., Woldeghebriel, M., Fowler, B., McCoy, R., Weinberger, M., & Drossman, D. A. (2015). Development and pilot testing of an integrated, web-based self-management program for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Neurogastronentrerol Motil, 27(1), 128-134. PMID: 25482042
  • Ramsden, C. E., Faurot, K. R., Zamora, D., Palsson, O. S., MacIntosh, B. A., Gaylord, S., Taha, A. Y., Rapoport, S. I., Hibbeln, J. R., Davis, J. M., & Mann, J. D. (2015). Targeted alterations in dietary n-3 and n-6 fatty acids improve life functioning and reduce psychological distress among patients with chronic headache: a secondary analysis of a randomized trial. Pain 156(4), 587-96. doi: 10.1097/01.j.pain.0000460348.84965.47. PubMed PMID: 25790451.
  • Leeman, J., Teal, R., Jernigan, J., Reed, J. H., Farris, R., & Ammerman, A. (2014). What evidence and support do state-level public health practitioners need to address obesity prevention. American Journal of Health Promotion, 28(3):189-96. doi: 10.4278/ajhp.120518-QUAL-266. Epub 2013 Apr 26. PubMed PMID: 23621811.
  • Sheridan, S. L., Draeger, L. B., Pignone, M. P., Rimer, B., Bangdiwala, S. I., Cai, J., Gizlice, Z., Keyserling, T. C., & Simpson, R. J. Jr. (2014). The effect of a decision aid intervention on decision making about coronary heart disease risk reduction: secondary analyses of a randomized trial. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 14(14). doi:10.1186/1472-6947-14-14. PubMed PMID: 24575882; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3943405
  • Allicock, M., Haynes-Maslow, L., Carr, C., Orr, M., Kahwati, L. C., Weiner, B. J., & Kinsinger, L. (2013). Peer Reviewed: Training Veterans to Provide Peer Support in a Weight-Management Program: MOVE!. Preventing Chronic Disease, 10.
  • Piernas, C., Tate, D. F., Wang, X., & Popkin, B. M. (2013). Does diet-beverage intake affect dietary consumption patterns? Results from the Choose Healthy Options Consciously Everyday (CHOICE) randomized clinical trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 97(3), 604-611.
  • Valle, C. G., Tate, D. F., Mayer, D. K., Allicock, M., & Cai, J. (2013). A randomized trial of a Facebook-based physical activity intervention for young adult cancer survivors. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 7(3), 355-368.
  • Ko, L. K., Allicok, M., Campbell, M. K., Valle, C. G., Armstrong-Brown, J., Carr, C., ... & Anthony, T. (2011). An examination of sociodemographic, health, psychological factors, and fruit and vegetable consumption among overweight and obese US veterans. Military Medicine, 176(11), 1281-1286.
  • Ramsden, C. E., Mann, J. D., Faurot, K. R., Lynch, C., Imam, S. T., MacIntosh, B. A., Hibbeln, J. R., Loewke, J., Smith, S., Coble, R., Suchindran, C., & Gaylord, S. A. (2011). Low omega-6 vs. low omega-6 plus high omega-3 dietary intervention for chronic daily headache: protocol for a randomized clinical trial. Trials, 12(97). doi:10.1186/1745-6215-12-97. PubMed PMID: 21496264; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3096579.
  • Sheridan, S. L., Draeger, L. B., Pignone, M. P., Keyserling, T. C., Simpson, R. J., Rimer, B., ... & Gizlice, Z. (2011). A randomized trial of an intervention to improve use and adherence to effective coronary heart disease prevention strategies. BMC Health Services Research, 11(1), 331.
  • Satia, J. A., Barlow, J., Armstrong-Brown, J., & Watters, J. L. (2010). A qualitative study to explore prospect theory and message framing and diet and cancer prevention-related issues among African American adolescents. Cancer Nursing, 33(2), 102-109.
  • Satia, J. A., Walsh, J. F., & Pruthi, R. S. (2009). Health behavior changes in white and African American prostate cancer survivors. Cancer Nursing, 32(2), 107-17. PMID: 19258825
  • Tate, D. F., Finkelstein, E. A., Khavjou, O., & Gustafson, A. (2009). Cost Effectiveness of Internet Interventions: Review and Recommendations. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 38(1), 40-5. [Epub ahead of print]
  • Ball, S. C., Benjamin, S. E., & Ward, D. S. (2008). Dietary intakes in North Carolina child-care centers: are children meeting current recommendations? Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 108(4), 718-21.
  • Campbell, M. K., Resnicow, K., Carr, C., Wang, T., & Williams, A. (2007). Process evaluation of an effective church based diet intervention: Body & Soul. Health Education & Behavior, 34(6), 864-80. [Epub 2006 Dec 15].
  • Finkelstein, E. A., Linnan, L. A., Tate, D. F., & Birken, B.E. (2007). A pilot study testing the effect of different levels of financial incentives on weight loss among overweight employees. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 49, 981-9. PMID: 17848854
  • Hart, A. Jr., Bowen, D. J., Kuniyuki, A., Hannon, P., & Campbell, M. K. (2007). The relationship between the social environment within religious organizations and intake of fat versus fruits and vegetables. Health Education & Behavior, 34(3), 503-16
  • Styles, J. L., Meier, A., Sutherland, L. A., & Campbell, M. K. (2007). Parents' and caregivers' concerns about obesity in young children: a qualitative study. Family & Community Health 30(4), 279-95.
  • Fuemmeler, B. F., Masse, L. C., Yaroch, A. L., Resnicow, K., Campbell, M., Carr, C., Wang, T., & Williams, A. (2006). Psychosocial mediation of fruit and vegetable consumption in the body and soul effectiveness trial. Health Psychology, 25(4), 474-83.
  • Sutherland, L. A., Wildemuth, B., Campbell, M. K., & Haines, P. S. (2005). Unraveling the web: an evaluation of the content quality, usability, and readability of nutrition web sites. Journal of Nutrition Education, 37(6), 300-5.