Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University
Dr. Weber conducts mixed methods studies, including techniques to gather and analyze both qualitative and quantitative data. Her recent research in these areas includes the South Asian Health and Prevention Education study (SHAPE) and the Diabetes Community Lifestyle Improvement Program (D-CLlP). SHAPE is a planning and pilot feasibility study. They conducted 17 focus group discussions with adult South Asians living in Atlanta to better understand views of diabetes and other chronic diseases, diet and physical activity behaviors, and preferences for diabetes prevention efforts in this community. They then used this information to modify the U.S. Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP, a lifestyle intervention program which significantly reduced incidence of diabetes in high risk groups) to be culturally appropriate and acceptable to the U.S. South Asian community. They then tested the feasibility of identifying, recruiting, enrolling, and maintaining South Asians in the program in a small before and after pilot study.