Amy Ferketich, Ph.D.
The Ohio State University College of Public Health
Senior Consultant, Public Health
Project Title: Examining the Reach of Clean Indoor Air Policies in Appalachia
"New Connections has certainly impacted my professional development. I have already attended one grantee meeting where I met many young and bright researchers who have common interests. With the New Connections program, the Foundation has created an environment that is truly supportive of an individual's growth as an investigator."
Project Description
Ferketich's research will examine clean indoor air ordinances in Appalachia. She plans to determine what the similar characteristics are of the communities that have central indoor air ordinances; whether advantaged areas are more likely to have central indoor air ordinances; 3) the extent to which coalitions are used to promote central indoor air ordinances; and the composition of these coalitions.
Her project will create a database that contains information about communities in Appalachia. The data elements will include the presence of a central indoor air ordinance in the communities, the strength of the ordinance, and characteristics of the communities. She will perform an analysis to determine the factors associated with a central indoor air ordinance presence.
Ferketich will use a sample of 15 communities with a central indoor air ordinance and 15 communities without out. She will also invite local tobacco control experts to participate in a key informant interview that will discuss the factors that have either facilitated or served as a barrier to the passage of central indoor air ordinances.
Biography
Amy Ferketich, Ph.D. is an associate professor in the division of epidemiology at The Ohio State University College of Public Health. She has a master's in applied statistics and a doctorate in epidemiology from The Ohio State University. Much of her research has involved tobacco control in the Ohio Appalachian region.
Her previous research includes being the principal investigator on a study that examined the concept of tobacco harm reduction with women smokers in Appalachia. Using qualitative research methods, she asked women to discuss their ideas about various harm reduction methods, such as use of modified cigarettes.
Ferketich was also the co-principal investigator on two projects that focused on cancer-related lifestyle behaviors, including tobacco use among Appalachia residents. One project was conducted among the Amish in the region and the other among their non-Amish neighbors. She is currently a co-investigator on three funded projects that involve delivering smoking cessation programs to adults in Ohio Appalachia.
