Thomas Lehman

• Master of Arts
• Managing Director at FHI 360

We conducted a content analysis of newspaper and television news coverage in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grantee locations from June 2011 through May 2013. After searching 2 databases for news stories related to overweight or obesity, we coded and analyzed stories for valence (how the author/reporter framed overweight and obesi...

Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funds state/local governments, tribes, territories, and nonprofit organizations to reduce chronic diseases and achieve health equity. Awardees focus on tobacco-free living, active living and healthy eating, clinical-community preventive services (high blood pressure, high cholesterol), soci...

The CDC Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) initiative supported 50 state and local grantees in their efforts to promote and institutionalize healthy behaviors related to obesity control and prevention, nutrition, physical activity, and tobacco control and prevention. Grantees implemented activities to support environmental change in thei...

CDC's Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) aims to achieve broad reaching, highly impactful, and sustainable change to reduce chronic disease morbidity and mortality associated with obesity and tobacco use. The National Prevention Media Initiative for CPPW supports and maximizes community activities, as well as complements efforts of other...

The National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Public Health Genomics Interest Group, in collaboration with NCI's Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS) and Office of Communications and Education (OCE), developed eight draft messages to help communicate key information about personal genomics and genetic testing to members of the general...

From 2004 to 2008, in four U.S. test markets, Planned Parenthood Federation of America implemented Real Life. Real Talk.®, an initiative designed to foster open, honest, and balanced communication about sex and health among parents/caregivers, their children, and the general public. Funded by private donors and foundations, including the Ford Found...

As genetic tests have become more widely available to the public, particularly with the recent emergence of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing services, there has been considerable reaction to them. Questions have been raised regarding the potential benefits and risks of these tests, as well as the appropriate response by various sectors, inc...

To explore laypersons' responses to the communication of uncertainty associated with individualized cancer risk estimates and to identify reasons for individual differences in these responses. A qualitative study was conducted using focus groups. Participants were informed about a new colorectal cancer risk prediction model, and presented with hypo...

To explore laypersons' understanding of individualized cancer risk estimates, and to identify conceptual problems that may limit this understanding. Risk prediction models are increasingly used to provide people with information about their individual risk of cancer and other diseases. However, laypersons may have difficulty understanding individua...

This article describes a formative strategy for developing effective tractor safety messages aimed at small crop and livestock farmers in New York. This population accounts for the highest proportion of tractors lacking rollover protective structures (ROPS), which reduce the risk of overturn injury or death. To encourage ROPS installation on unprot...

A national-level needs assessment of high school psychologists, social workers, counselors, and nurses was conducted to identify training and educational resource material needs of these staff relevant to providing health and mental health services to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and questioning (GLBQ) youth. Systematic sampling procedures were employed...

The Academy for Educational Development, a nonprofit organization specializing in social change communications, implemented a campaign to reduce nutrient pollution flowing into the Chesapeake Bay from the greater Washington D.C. area. Funded by the Chesapeake Bay Program, the primary campaign goal was to convince area residents not to fertilize the...

This study compared sexual risk behaviors of gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) and heterosexual adolescents and evaluated associations between gay-sensitive HIV instruction and risk behaviors of GLB youths. A random sample of high school students and HIV education teachers completed surveys. Self-reported risk behaviors of heterosexual and GLB adole...

This study examined gender differences among Caucasian college students in reactions to receiving unsolicited help from a similar peer on an educational task. We found that women, but not men, were more likely to attribute their relatively poor performance to a lack of ability when they received help than when they did not. Also, women who received...