Center for Health Policy and Public Health
To provide knowledge for better health.
About the Center
Mission
To provide knowledge for better health.
Vision
Our rigorous and interdisciplinary research will inform evidence-based practices and policies across real-world settings.
Strategic goals & objectives
- Develop, test, and support the uptake of evidence-based knowledge, practices, and policies across real-world settings.
- Use information technology to meet healthcare needs through effective, affordable, and accessible solutions.
- Support investigators and students in conducting public health research and foster national and international collaboration.
Members
OB
Oana Blaga
Assistant ProfessorDD
Diana Dulf
Assistant ProfessorCM
Cristian Meghea
Collaborating ResearcherKF
Prof. Kristie Foley
Collaborating ResearcherAG
Anca Gurzău
MD
Marina Dascăl
Research TechnicianTF
Teodora Frățilă
Research TechnicianIA
Ionuț Amota
PhD StudentAO
Alexandra Onișor
Research AssistantAB
Alexandra Brînzaniuc
PhD StudentCP
Prof. Corinne Peek-Asa
Collaborating ResearcherAA
Adelina Aniței-Micu
StudentPM
Patricia Maria Marga
StudentPartners
Projects
A Smartphone Intervention for Pregnancy Smoking Cessation with Peer Support (Smoke-Free Together 2.0)
The objectives of this project are to develop, implement, and test the feasibility and effectiveness of an AI adaptive mobile pregnancy tobacco cessation app-based intervention using deep tailoring and a self-nominated support person, and to build mHealth research capacity in Romania.
Ethical considerations related to e-cigarette use for pregnancy smoking cessation (TESSA)
E-cigarettes have the potential to help smokers who cannot or will not quit tobacco smoking, by delivering nicotine without the toxicity of tobacco smoke. Anecdotal evidence, including from our ongoing work, suggests that e-cigarettes may have helped tobacco smoking cessation during pregnancy.
Supplement: Mobile Health Intervention for Family Smoking Cessation in Romania (IFF Notifications)
This supplement will contribute to the advancement of a program of research focused on the translation of health discoveries into clinical applications with the potential to increase pregnancy tobacco smoking cessation and prevent postnatal smoking relapse.
A Mobile Health Intervention for Family Smoking Cessation in Romania (Smoke-Free Together)
The project aims to develop and test the first couples' pregnancy smoking cessation Romanian language mobile app. The long term goal is to develop, implement, and disseminate effective and sustainable mHealth interventions to prevent and reduce smoking in families.
A mHealth Intervention to Prevent Smoking Relapse After Pregnancy (RESPREMO)
This project aims to develop an adapted and enhanced mHealth couple intervention to prevent postpartum smoking relapse. The main goal is to develop, implement, and disseminate effective and sustainable interventions to prevent and reduce smoking in families over their reproductive life span.
Increasing Capacity in Research in Eastern Europe project (iCREATE)
The goals are to create a critical mass of injury researchers from multiple disciplines and to engage injury and violence agencies and stakeholders. Specific aims include training researchers from Armenia, Georgia, and Moldova to conduct innovative injury and violence research.
Copil Iubit la Bord
The project aims to increase the correct use of child passenger safety products by providing educational content relative to child safety restraints and the Romanian legislation regarding them.
Read moreElectronic-cigarettes (e-cigs) and Heat-Not-Burn-Products (HNBPs) among Romanian young adults aged 18-25 (SONA)
Evaluating knowledge, attitudes, and hypothetical purchase tasks to assess behavioral economic demand for e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn products among Romanian young adults aged 18–25.
Exploring experiences and attitudes towards breastfeeding among mothers, midwives and lactation consultants from Romania
Breastfeeding plays an important role in both mother's and children's health, with numerous short-term and long-term benefits. This qualitative study explores experiences and attitudes towards breastfeeding among mothers, midwives and lactation consultants in Romania.
Academic Output
2022
- Dascăl M, Kallay E. The investigation of changes in health-related quality of life before and after giving birth in a sample of Romanian women. Psychological Thought 2022.
- Cazacu-Stratu A, Varga NK, Cociu S, Dulf D, Peek-Asa C. Child safety restraint patterns in Moldova. Traffic Inj Prev. 2022;23(8):483-487.
- Meghea CI. Successful strategies to increase cessation rates among low-income maternal smokers. American Journal of Public Health. 2022;112(3):351-353.
2021
- Meghea CI, Onișor A, Blaga OM, Dascăl M, Wette D. Ghid de consiliere comportamentală bazat pe creșterea motivației și rezolvarea problemelor: Renunțarea la fumat pe timpul sarcinii. Presa Universitara Clujeană, 2021.
- Onișor A, Dascăl M. Improving Mental Health Care for Cancer Patients from Romania at Risk for Moderate to Severe Psychological Distress. Evoluții și tendințe în studiul administrației publice din România. Accent, 2021.
- Dulf D, Coman MA, Tadevosyan A, Chikhladze N, Cebanu S, Peek-Asa C. A 3-Country Assessment of Traumatic Brain Injury Practices and Capacity. World Neurosurgery. 2021;146:e517-e526.
- Burkadze E, Axobadze K, Chkhaberidze N, Chikhladze N, Coman MA, Dulf D, Peek-Asa C. Epidemiology of Traumatic Brain Injury in Georgia: A Prospective Hospital-Based Study. Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2021;14:1041-1051.
2020
- Blaga OM, Frățilă TD, Meghea CI. Using Behavioral Nudges to Engage Pregnant Women in a Smoking Cessation Trial: An Online Field Quasi-Experiment. Healthcare 2020;8(4):531.
- Rusu A, Blaga OM, Bucevschi M, Meghea CI. Co-designing an mHealth intervention to prevent smoking relapse after birth. Romanian Journal of Applied Psychology. 2020;22:21-25.
- Jaber R, Blaga OM, Dascal MD, Meghea CI. Perceived safety of smoking a few cigarettes during pregnancy and provider advice in a sample of pregnant smokers from Romania. Addiction. 2020.
- Dascal M, Rusu A, Onisor A, Blaga OM, Miller M, Meghea CI. An mHealth intervention to prevent postnatal smoking relapse: the RESPREMO study protocol. Tobacco Prevention & Cessation. 2020;6(April):24.
- Dascăl MD, Meghea CI, Blaga OM. A Cross-Section Study of Relationship Characteristics and Smoking Cessation During Pregnancy in a Sample of Romanian Pregnant Women. Maternal and Child Health Journal. 2020.
- Meghea CI. Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Use and Cigarette Smoking Frequency and Intensity Among Young Adult Smokers. JAMA Network Open. 2020;3(11):e2016121.
- Cociu S, Cebanu S, Rojnoveanu G, Dulf D, Peek-Asa C, Afifi R. Key informant insights in Moldova's prevention and response system for traumatic brain injuries. Int J Adv Res. 2020;8:1245-1254.
2019
- Dascal MD, Meghea C, Dubey P, Baban A. Factors Associated with Moderate to High Nicotine Dependence in a Sample of Pregnant Women from Romania. Romanian Journal of Applied Psychology. 2019;21(2):54-60.
- Blaga OM, Chereches RM, Baba CO. A Community-Based Intervention for Increasing Access to Health Information in Rural Settings. Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences. 2019;58E.
- Dulf D, Peek-Asa C, Jurchiș F, Bărăgan EA. Safety seat and seat belt use among child motor vehicle occupants, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Inj Prev. 2020;26(1):18-23. [Epub 2019 Jan 23]
2018
- Brinzaniuc A, Strilciuc A, Blaga OM, Chereches RM, Meghea CI. Smoking and quitting smoking during pregnancy: a qualitative exploration. Tobacco Prevention & Cessation. 2018;4(March):9.
- Meghea CI, Brinzaniuc A, Sidor A, et al. A Couples-Focused Intervention for Smoking Cessation During Pregnancy: The Quit Together Pilot RCT. Tobacco Prevention & Cessation. 2018;4(May):17.
- Shinar D, et al. Under-reporting bicycle accidents to police in the COST TU1101 international survey. Accident Analysis and Prevention. 2018;110:177-186.
- Tudisca V, Valente A, Castellani T, et al. Development of measurable indicators to enhance public health evidence-informed policy-making. Health Research Policy and Systems. 2018;16:47.
- Szabo A, Lazar H, Burian H, et al. Economia și controlul tutunului în România. In: Dezvoltarea capacității de cercetare în domeniul fumatului în România. Abram Z, Nadasan V (eds). University Press, Târgu-Mureș, Romania, 2018.
2017
- Meghea CI, Brinzaniuc A, Rus IA, et al. Characteristics of Romanian women who enrolled in a postpartum tobacco smoking relapse prevention trial. Public Health. 2017;154:98.
- Hamann C, Dulf D, Baragan-Andrada E, Price M, Peek-Asa C. Contributors to pedestrian distraction and risky behaviours during road crossings in Romania. Injury Prevention. 2017.
- Spitters HPEM, Juel Lau C, Sandu P, et al. Unravelling networks in local public health policymaking in three European countries. Health Research Policy and Systems. 2017;15:5.
- Spitters HPEM, Van Oers JAM, Sandu P, et al. Developing a policy game intervention to enhance collaboration in public health policymaking in three European countries. BMC Public Health. 2017;17:961.
- Van de Goor I, Hämäläinen RM, Syed AM, et al. Determinants of Evidence Use in Public Health Policy Making: Results from a study across six EU countries. Health Policy. 2017;121(3):273-281.
2016
- Meghea CI, Blaga OM, Chereches RM, Rus IA, Brinzaniuc A, Vasilescu L. Eficacitatea de cuplu în renunțarea la fumat. Viața Medicală. 2016;34(1388).
- Blaga OM, Brinzaniuc A, Rus IA, Chereches RM, Wallis AB. Smoking and Smoking Cessation during Pregnancy: An Analysis of a Hospital Based Cohort in Romania. Journal of Community Health. 2016;42(2):333-343.
- Hämäläinen R-M, Aro A, Juel Lau C, Rus D, et al. Cross-sector cooperation in health-enhancing physical activity policymaking: more potential than achievements? Health Research Policy and Systems. 2016;14(1):33.
- Rus D, Chereches RM, Peek-Asa C, et al. Paediatric head injuries treated in children's emergency department from Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot. 2016;23(2):206-13.
- Rus D, Bozdog E, Pas L, et al. Strengthening health system response to gender-based violence — environmental scan in 6 EU countries. Injury Prevention. 2016;22:A92.
2015
- Meghea CI, Brinzaniuc A, Mihu D, et al. A Couples Intervention to Prevent Postnatal Smoking Relapse: PRISM study design. Contemporary Clinical Trials. 2015;41:273-279.
- Meghea CI, Blaga OM. Interzicerea fumatului și industria ospitalieră. Viața Medicală. 2015;51-52(1353-1354).
- Hamann C, Peek-Asa C, Rus D. Epidemiology of pedestrian-MVCs by road type in Cluj, Romania. Injury Prevention. 2015;21(2):84-90.
- Rus D, Peek-Asa C, Bărăgan E, Chereches RM, Mocean F. Epidemiology of road traffic injuries treated in a large Romanian Emergency Department in Tîrgu-Mureș 2009–2010. Traffic Inj Prev. 2015;16(8):835-41.
- Baragan E, Rus D, Chereches R, Trif D. An environmental scan of child pedestrian injury hotspots in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Eur J Public Health. 2015;25(suppl 3).
2014
- Meghea CI, Rus IA, Chereches RM, et al. Maternal smoking during pregnancy and birth outcomes in a sample of Romanian women. Central European Journal of Public Health. 2014;22(3):153-158.
- Rus D, Bărăgan EA, Duse IA, et al. Passengers' safety: differences among front seat and back seat occupants — pilot study in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Eur J Public Health. 2014;24(suppl 2).
- Hamann C, Peek-Asa C, Rus D. Epidemiology of pedestrian-MVCs by road type in Cluj, Romania. Inj Prev. 2015;21(2):84-90. [Epub 2014 Sep 1]
2013
- Pop OM, Brînzaniuc A, Șirlincan EO, Baba CO, Cherecheș RM. Assessing health literacy in rural settings: A pilot study in rural areas of Cluj County, Romania. Global Health Promotion. 2013;20:35-43.
- Edwards N, Viehbeck S, Hämäläinen RM, Rus D, et al. Challenges of Ethical Clearance in International Health Policy and Social Sciences Research. Public Health Reviews. 2013;34(1):1-18.
- Gal M, Timofe MP, Rus D, et al. Emergency health care violence: Who is at risk? Evidence from a large Emergency Department in Mureș County, Romania. Eur J Public Health. 2013;23(suppl 1):164.
2012
- Gal M, Rus D, Peek-Asa C, et al. Epidemiology of assault and self-harm injuries treated in a large Romanian Emergency Department. Eur J Emerg Med. 2012;19(3):146-52.
- Meghea CI, Rus D, Rus IA, Holtrop JS, Roman LA. Smoking during pregnancy and associated risk factors in a sample of Romanian women. Eur J Public Health. 2012;22(2):229-33.
- Meghea CI, Rus IA, Rus D. Risk factors associated with nicotine dependence in a sample of Romanian pregnant smokers. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2012;163(1):22-6.
2011
- Rus D, Gal M, Chereches R, Baba CO, Boeriu C. IDB – The link between Emergency Department and Injury Prevention. Romanian Journal of Emergency Medicine and Rescue. 2011;I./2011/Anul III.
2010
- Meghea C, Rus D, Dîrle I. Characteristics and Health Behaviors of Pregnant Women in Romania. Gineco. 2010;6(21):166-171.
- Baba C, Cherecheș R, Brînzaniuc A, Rus D. Assessment of the Reforms of the Romanian Healthcare System. Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences. 2010;24(E):15-26.
- Oprescu F, Cherecheș RM, Rus D, Sirlincan EO, Peek-Asa C. Perspectives on pediatric injuries in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Psychology & Health Conference Proceedings. 2010;25:6.
2022
- Poster Dascăl MD, Blaga OM, Frățilă TD, Meghea CI, Foley KL, Resnicow K. The findings of the usability testing of a m-Health smoking cessation app for pregnant women and their nominated peer supporters. 10th International Festival of Public Health, Manchester, UK, July 2022.
- Oral Blaga OM, Dascăl MD, Fratila T, Foley KL, Resnicow K, Meghea CI. Usability testing of a smartphone app for pregnancy smoking cessation with peer support. Annual conference of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Baltimore, MD, USA, March 2022.
2021
- Poster Meghea CI, Dascăl MD, Blaga OM. Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Quit Together, A Couple Focused Pregnancy Smoking Cessation Intervention in Romania. SRNT, February 24–27, 2021.
- Poster Dascăl MD, Blaga OM, Frățilă TD, Aniței-Micu A, Marga P, Meghea CI. Mobile Intervention for Family Smoking Cessation in Romania – Exit Interviews. SRNT, February 24–27, 2021.
- Poster Blaga OM, Frățilă TD, Dascăl MD, Aniței-Micu A, Marga P, Meghea CI. Views of Romanian Pregnant Smokers And Ex-Smokers On The Use Of E-Cigarettes And Heat-Not-Burn Products. SRNT, February 24–27, 2021.
- Meghea CI, Blaga OM, Dascal M, Frățilă TD, Sandu P, Colosi H. The Ethics of E-Cigarettes For Smoking Cessation: A Global Challenge. EACME conference, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, September 2021.
- Meghea CI, Blaga OM, Jaber R, Onișor A, Wetter D, Dascăl MD. Efficacy of The Quit Together Couple Focused Pregnancy Smoking Cessation Intervention in Romania. SRNT, March 2021.
- Frățilă TD, Blaga OM, Dascăl M, Meghea CI. Smoke-Free Together — An mHealth pregnancy smoking cessation intervention in Romania. SRNT, March 2021.
2020
- Meghea C, Bandici R, Dascal MD. Preliminary efficacy of the Quit Together Couple focused pregnancy smoking cessation intervention in Romania. World Congress on Public Health, Rome, Italy, October 2020.
- Resnicow K, Meghea CI, Carter P, Woolford S, Moon J. The Role of Dyadic Support and Geographical Positioning Systems in eHealth Interventions. Society for Behavioural Medicine Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA, April 2020.
- Meghea CI, Blaga OM, Bandici RA, Dascăl MD. Preliminary efficacy of the Quit Together couple focused pregnancy smoking cessation intervention in Romania. SRNT, New Orleans, LA, March 2020.
- Berger MF, Dascăl MD, Meghea CI. Emotional health factors associated with smoking cessation in a sample of Romanian pregnant women. SRNT, New Orleans, LA, March 2020.
2019
- Meghea CI, Dascăl MD, Fratila TD, Blaga OM. Preliminary feasibility and acceptability of the Quit Together couple focused pregnancy smoking cessation intervention in Romania. SRNT, San Francisco, CA, February 2019.
- Fratila TD, Bratulescu I, Meghea CI, Blaga OM. Qualitative formative research for a couple-focused pregnancy smoking cessation app. SRNT, San Francisco, CA, February 2019.
- Hoștină A, Blaga OM, Meghea CI, Dascăl M. Preliminary feasibility and acceptability of StayQuitTogether — a smoking relapse prevention intervention. SRNT, San Francisco, CA, February 2019.
- Dascăl MD, Hoștină A, Blaga OM, Meghea CI. Stay quit together – follow-up feasibility and biochemical verification in a postnatal smoking relapse prevention intervention. SRNT Europe, Oslo, Norway, September 2019.
- Frățilă TD, Blaga OM, Onisor A, Bratulescu I, Meghea CI. Smoke-free together: an mHealth smoking cessation intervention during pregnancy and postpartum. SRNT Europe, Oslo, Norway, September 2019.
- Bandici RA, Dascăl MD, Blaga OM, Meghea CI. Beliefs about tobacco and e-cigarettes among women who smoked and quit tobacco during pregnancy. SRNT Europe, Oslo, Norway, September 2019.
- Dascăl M, Blaga O, Meghea CI, Baban A. Factors associated with moderate to high nicotine dependence in a sample of Romanian pregnant women. European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention, Bucharest, Romania, April 2019.
2018
- Poster Dascăl MD, Blaga OM, Meghea CI. Predictors of smoking during pregnancy in a sample of Romanian pregnant women. 18th Annual Meeting of SRNT Europe, Munich, Germany, 6–8 September 2018.
- Poster Frățilă TD, Blaga OM, Meghea CI. A mixed dissemination strategy for engagement of pregnant women in a smoking cessation RCT. 18th Annual Meeting of SRNT Europe, Munich, Germany, 6–8 September 2018.
- Poster Blaga OM, Meghea CI, Frățilă TD. Using behavioural economics to engage pregnant women in a smoking cessation trial — An online field experiment. 18th Annual Meeting of SRNT Europe, Munich, Germany, 6–8 September 2018.
- Poster Dascăl MD, Blaga OM, Meghea CI. Online Recruitment of Smoker Pregnant Women for a Couple Smoking Cessation Trial Conducted in an Eastern European Country. 24th Annual Meeting of SRNT, Baltimore, USA, 21–24 February 2018.
2017
- Oral Dascăl MD, Blaga OM, Meghea CI. Online enrollment in public health interventions: Lessons learnt from a smoking cessation trial. Transylvanian International Conference in Public Administration, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 2–4 November 2017.
- Poster Dascăl MD, Veress D, Popovici N. The Role of Media Coverage in Suicide Prevention in Romania. 2nd International Conference on Non-Communicable Diseases, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 22–24 May 2017.
- Oral Dascăl MD, Blaga OM, Meghea CI. To what extent do health professionals offer brief advice regarding smoking cessation to pregnant women? 2nd International Conference on Non-Communicable Diseases, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 22–24 May 2017.
