Chronic Disease Prevention
About the UPenn PRCQ & A
What are the challenges in creating messages that persuade people to take up healthy behaviors?
Karen Glanz, PhD, MPH: The key is to ultimately get people to embrace the idea that changing their behavior is something they want to do. If you scare them or pressure them into changing, it usually will not lead to a lasting change, so the central challenge is to help them see the benefits that are associated with that particular change in behavior.
The UPenn PRC is a catalyst for research in chronic disease prevention and a leader in advancing the science and practice of prevention research. Along with our ongoing studies in cancer prevention, cognitive health, and new strategies for weight loss, we’re researching adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancers, the economic impact of clinical trials, and a Penn-community partnership, the Philadelphia Health Leadership Institute. We invite you to learn more about these projects and our dedicated investigators and staff on this website.