2024 LaunchPad Award Recipients
ASSESSING RESTAURANT AND INDIVIDUAL DIET QUALITY RELATED TO THE PURCHASE OF FOOD AWAY FROM HOME IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY
Lead PI: Dr. Alyssa Anderson (Education, Health, and Human Services)
Project Description: This research aims to collect preliminary data in Cuyahoga County that assess the nutritional quality of restaurant environments and the dietary quality and eating behaviors related to food away from home (FAFH) consumption of individuals frequenting those restaurants. This quantitative study aims to answer the following research questions: What are restaurants doing to promote healthy eating in food deserts versus non-food desert neighborhoods? How are diet quality and eating behaviors related to the FAFH consumption of individuals in food desert and non-food desert neighborhoods that frequent these restaurants? We will assess 100 restaurant environments (50 in food desert neighborhoods and 50 in non-food desert neighborhoods) in the summer of 2024 and survey approximately 500 individuals frequenting these restaurants to measure their dietary behavior, food choices, and quality. The findings will inform future policies and initiatives that promote healthy food environments.
HARMONEE - HARNESSING AI RESOURCES FOR MENTAL WELL-BEING FOR OLDER ADULTS AND NURTURING EMPATHY IN NURSING EDUCATION
Lead PI: Dr. Janet Reed (Nursing)
Project Description: HARMONEE aims to reduce social isolation and demoralization for older adults in long-term care facilities by enhancing psychological well-being through visualizing memories using Generative AI-created images. Nursing students will interview residents, and significant life memories and moments will be turned into images in color photobooks that promote reminiscence. This project incorporates undergraduate and graduate-level nursing research assistants, exposing students to all stages of the research process and enhancing the research environment at the College of Nursing. HARMONEE seeks to achieve the following aims: 1) test the feasibility and acceptability of a person-centered intervention using GenAI for reminiscence with older adults in LTC facilities; and 2) test the hypothesis that this intervention will increase positive emotions (hope, meaning, and purpose) and decrease negative factors (anxiety, social isolation) for older adults. We predict that reflection on GenAI Images created from life memories will induce prolonged positive changes in mood and emotions. Survey instruments and participant interviews will elicit a comprehensive range of information related to the social, psychological, and emotional effects of the HARMONEE intervention.