Karen M. Chapman-Novakofski

Community nutrition education research, especially osteoporosis and diabetes education; web-based interventions. 

Dr. Chapman-Novakofski's research interests focus on identifying and changing food habits of groups of people. Using behavioral theories, her interventions have included reducing cardiovascular disease risk in women and in Hispanic low-income groups, as well as identifying modifiable beliefs women have about calcium and osteoporosis and improving diabetes care knowledge through a statewide program. Part of the research examines the choice of theory, primarily using the Health Belief Model, the Theory of Reasoned Action, or the Stages of Change. We use needs assessment, theoretical-based program development, and outcomes or impact evaluation in all nutrition education interventions. "Outcomes" may be framed as knowledge change, attitude change, dietary change, or as a "marker" for change, such as change in blood sugar or bone density. Validity and reliability of evaluation instruments is another avenue of our nutrition education research. Because taste is a component of food choice, some of our research also assesses taste changes using forced choice methods.

Dr. Chapman-Novakofski's Website: 

http://chapman-novakofski.fshn.illinois.edu/index.html

Selected Publications

Reppert A, Steiner B, Chapman-Novakofski K.  Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and associated risk factors in Illinois.  Am J Health Promotion 23(2):130-138, 2008.

Herrejon K, Hartke JL, Scherer J, Chapman-Novakofski, K.  The creation and impact evaluation of Your Guide to Diet and Diabetes, an interactive web-based diabetes tutorial.  Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics, 2009; 11(3): 1-9.

Wardwell L, Chapman-Novakofski K, Herrel S, Woods J.  Nutrient intake and immune function of elderly subjects.  J Amer Diet Assoc 108:2005-2012, 2008.

Plawecki K, Evans E, Mojtahedi M, McAuley E, Chapman-Novakofski, K.  Assessing calcium intake in post-menopausal women.  Prev Chronic Dis J 6(4):A124, 2009, Available at www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2009/oct/08_0197.htm.

Porter S, Chapman-Novakofski K, Scherer J.  Web-based diabetes education tailored to Hispanics. J Nutr Educ Behav 41(5):374-376, 2009.

Courses recently taught:

NUTR 428 - Community Nutrition

NUTR 510 - Current Topics in Nutrition Research

NUTR 561 - Advanced Clinical Nutrition

NUTR 429 - Nutrition Assessment and therapy

Ph.D. University of Illinois-1979

Dr. Chapman-Novakofski received her B.S. degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), and then moved to Alabama to complete a dietetic internship at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. After moving back to Illinois, she accepted a position as the Nutrition Support Team Dietitian at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Danville. While working there during the next ten years, she completed a M.S. from Eastern Illinois University and earned her doctorate in Nutritional Science from UIUC. She continued to work at the VAMC as a research dietitian for two additional years before accepting a position as Assistant Professor at UIUC, where she is now an Associate Professor. Dr. Chapman-Novakofski holds positions in the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, the College of Medicine, and Illinois Extension. She is married to Dr. Jan Novakofski, and has two children.

Dr. Chapman-Novakofski enjoys teaching, and has taught Community Nutrition to both undergraduate and graduate students at UIUC, and through the extramural program; clinical nutrition courses to graduate students through the Division of Nutritional Sciences, and to third- and fourth-year medical students during their general medicine core courses; and general nutrition through many of her extension and outreach programs.