Chronic and Infectious Diseases

Although almost half the adult U.S. population has one or more chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and addiction, they can often be prevented and treated successfully. AIR’s work draws on effective strategies that aim to prevent these diseases, increase access to quality care, and mitigate health disparities. 

For more than 15 years, AIR has developed award-winning communications and behavior-change campaigns and led outreach to clinicians, patients, and caregivers on cardiovascular health, nutrition, and obesity for the National Institutes of Health and other HHS agencies. Our staff works to prevent and control breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and childhood cancers for CDC, the National Cancer Institute, and advocacy organizations. We have developed and implemented CDC HIV prevention campaigns, developed important immunization safety information for HHS’ National Vaccine Program Office, and supported HHS’ development of public information to prepare for and respond to emerging threats, such as pandemic flu and Ebola.

Related Topics

HIV/AIDS

 

Latest Work

Infographic: 43% of respondents feel everyone should be required to get the vaccine
23 Mar 2021
In the Field

Understanding Patients’ Feelings on COVID-19 Vaccinations and Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy

Despite promising vaccine trial data, some individuals, particularly Black Americans and people living in rural areas, remain hesitant to be vaccinated against COVID-19. A nationally representative survey from the American Institutes for Research provides additional data on how the public feels about vaccine access, prioritization, and requirements.
Infographic: 50% of respondents feel safer when patients and staff are required to wear a mask
16 Mar 2021
In the Field

What Health Care Providers Should Know about Patients’ Hesitancy to Seek in-Person Care

Considering the decline in preventive care services and the continuing pandemic, it is important that health care providers ensure that their patients understand the continued need for preventive care and the efforts health care providers and systems have taken to make health care seeking behavior safe. Because they have likely established trust with their patients, providers are best positioned to communicate when a patient should receive in-person care or whether telehealth is sufficient; AIR’s survey provides further insights.
19 Feb 2021
Brief

COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions, In Plain Language

AIR has created a plain-language FAQ that addresses a variety of topics related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is designed to make information accessible and comprehensible to everyone, regardless of education level or background.
Infographic: Health Care Hesitancy During the COVID-19 Pandemic Survey Results
14 Jan 2021
In the Field

How Willing Are People in the U.S. to Seek Health Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Besides the direct impact of COVID-19 on daily life, the pandemic has affected how individuals approach their personal health and well-being, including if and how they seek health care services.
30 Dec 2020
Report

To What Extent Does In-Person Schooling Contribute to the Spread of COVID-19? Evidence from Michigan and Washington

The instructional modality of schools (in-person, hybrid, or remote instruction) has implications not only for the health and safety of students and staff, but also student learning and the degree to which parents can engage in job activities. In this working paper, we consider the role of instructional modality in disease spread among the wider community.
4 Dec 2020
Commentary

Building Community Trust Essential to COVID Vaccine Acceptance

This commentary by Amanda Latimore appeared in the Baltimore Sun on December 4, 2020. "With most states now much higher than the 5% COVID-19 test positivity limit recommended for reopening—and at least 10 states exceeding 20% positivity—announcements of vaccine deployment as early as December couldn’t come soon enough. But for public health experts, concerns about community acceptance of vaccines cast a shadow over the promising news..."
23 Jul 2020
Podcast

AIR Informs: Responding to the Challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic

AIR takes an evidence-based approach to its research, evaluation, training, and technical assistance work on a daily basis. For our latest podcast series, AIR Informs, AIR experts explore the different ways the coronavirus pandemic is affecting our lives and how we can address the challenges it presents.
Project

Investigating Health Care Hesitancy During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, rates for routine preventive care and chronic condition monitoring have dropped as efforts have increased to limit exposure and spread of the COVID-19 virus. Through administration of a national survey, researchers at AIR seek to understand and assess changes in individuals’ usage of medical and dental services before and after the public health emergency.
Image of colorful masks
28 May 2020
In the Field

AIR’s Megan Eccleston Launches Find the Helpers, Builds a “Mask Empire” for COVID-19 Response

When the COVID-19 crisis hit, AIR’s Megan Eccleston plunged unexpectedly into a once-in-a-lifetime extracurricular challenge: organizing a grassroots volunteer initiative to help hospitals desperate for face masks and other supplies. With her professional expertise—and a can-do spirit—Megan has built a multi-state coalition of thousands of volunteers that has delivered nearly one million masks to hospitals in just three months.
18 Mar 2020
Podcast

AIR Informs Episode #1: Focusing on Facts and Evidence During a Health Crisis

Dr. Elizabeth Salisbury-Afshar, a practicing physician, researcher, and director of the AIR Center for Addiction Research and Effective Solutions (AIR CARES), provides some advice for finding reliable sources of information, rooted in science and evidence, while avoiding a sense of panic.
Project

Improving Assessment of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) for People with Disabilities and Chronic Arthritis Pain

The rapid growth in opioid overdoses has put a spotlight on prescribing patterns, with increased pressure on clinicians to reduce opioid prescribing, especially for long-term management of chronic, noncancer pain. As part of a grant provided by National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), AIR is working to lay the groundwork for primary care providers and specialists to accurately assess opioid use disorder in people with disabilities who are taking opioids long term to manage musculoskeletal pain.
Project

Southwest Americans with Disabilities Act Center Research Collaboration

All people with cancer are eligible to apply for vocational rehabilitation (VR) services but many do not know it. In collaboration with AIR’s client the Southwest ADA Center, and researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, AIR staff are developing a protocol healthcare providers can use to screen patients for referral to disability-related programs and services.
Stressed woman
1 Dec 2015
Commentary

Rising Death Rates Bring New Meaning to Mid-Life Crisis for Americans—Especially White Women

A recent high-profile study of sharply rising mortality rates for some Americans brought to light the hazards of chronic stress. Principal researcher Kathryn Paez explores why the health of middle-aged white women in particular is suffering.
Project

Understanding Sickle Cell Patients’ Health-Related Quality of Life

An estimated 90,000 Americans have sickle cell disease (SCD), and increased infant screening, improved disease management throughout childhood, and better therapies have all led to much longer lives for people with this rare blood disorder. With funding from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, AIR led a team of researchers to develop an Sickle Cell Disease Patient-Reported Outcome measurement system called ASCQ-Me that would help to bridge the gaps in understanding about adult patients’ experiences and long-term needs.
Surgeon General 50 Yrs of Progress logo
17 Jan 2014
Report

AIR a Key Partner in the 2014 Surgeon General's Report on Smoking & Health

The latest Surgeon General’s Report, “The Health Consequences of Smoking – 50 Years of Progress,” marks the 50th anniversary of the landmark reports warning about the health hazards of smoking. Fifty years, 20 million American deaths, and 32 Surgeon General Reports later, smoking has retained its decades-old spot as the largest single cause of preventable death and disease for U.S. citizens.
Mandy David
5 Jun 2013
Video

A Voice for Sickle Cell Disease

In this video, Mandy David, a certified physician assistant and senior communications specialist at AIR, talks about issues that adult sickle cell patients face as she evaluates and treats them at the Johns Hopkins Sickle Cell Center for Adults.
Project

National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Communications Support

For nearly ten years, AIR has supported the Office of Communications and Government Relations at the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the strategy and tactics of translating, tailoring and disseminating research findings and funding opportunities to a diverse audience of researchers, policy makers, clinicians, providers and caregivers.

Project

Sickle Cell Guidelines

AIR is working alongside the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to develop, implement, and evaluate the National Blood Disorders Program (NBDP). The NBDP’s initial focus is on sickle cell disease and the release of the first evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage the condition.

Project

The Community Health Worker Health Disparities Initiative Program

AIR’s evaluation of two National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) community-based initiatives will contribute to improved service delivery and a better understanding of the effectiveness of community-based programs for health promotion.

Project

Vaccine Safety

AIR conducted media and influencer analyses that examined the content and tone of traditional and online media coverage of vaccines and vaccine safety, identified supportive individuals and organizations, and recommended influential and vocal allies. Our findings helped inform the National Vaccine Program Office's messaging and media outreach strategy.

Project

Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Network Center

The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) is an NIH-funded initiative to develop and validate patient reported outcomes (PROs) for clinical research and practice. As the initial PROMIS network center, AIR has been at the forefront of developing and implementing PROs to inform research and clinical care.
Project

CMS Integrated Chronic Disease Quality Performance Measurement at the Level of the Physician’s Office

Defining overall quality measures of physician performance with respect to chronic disease management and preventive care for older adults and to define strategies for quality improvement and physician recognition programs.