Thomas R. Prohaska, PhD
Professor of Community Health Sciences
Dr. Prohaska has more than 20 years’ experience in gerontological research. He has been the principal investigator of several federally funded research studies and co-investigator on many others. He is the principal investigator of a National Institute on Aging Gerontological Public Health Training Program for pre- and post-doctoral fellows.
During the past nine years, Dr. Prohaska's research has focused on community-based health promotion interventions with minority older adult populations. He has been principal investigator of the UIC Center for Health Interventions in Minority Elderly (CHIME) and co-principal investigator of the Midwest Roybal Center for Health Maintenance, both funded by the National Institute on Aging. He is currently a member of the National Advisory Committee to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on Health and Physical Activity in Adults 50 years and older.
He has published several papers examining barriers and facilitators to physical activity adherence and is interested in the dissemination of evidence-based interventions for older populations.
Research Interests
Psychology of aging, health and illness behavior in the elderly, health promotion, coping with chronic illness, self-care in older adults, doctor/older patient interaction, community interventions with older adults, translation and community dissemination of evidence-based programs for older adults
Recent and Noteworthy Publications
Désy PM, Prohaska TR. The Geriatric Emergency Nursing Education (GENE) course: an evaluation. J Emerg Nurs. 2008 Oct;34(5):396-402.
Etkin CD, Prohaska TR, Connell CM, Edelman P, Hughes SL. Antecedents of Physical Activity Among Family Caregivers. J Appl Gerontol. 2008;27:350–367.
Frederick JT, Steinman LE, Prohaska T, Satariano WA, Bruce M, Bryant L, Ciechanowski P, Devellis B, Leith K, Leyden KM, Sharkey J, Simon GE, Wilson N, Unutzer J, Snowden M; Late Life Depression Special Interest Project Panelists. Community-based treatment of late life depression an expert panel-informed literature review. Am J Prev Med. 2007 Sep;33(3):222-49.
Gordon EJ, Prohaska TR, Gallant MP, Siminoff LA. Adherence to immunosuppression: a prospective diary study. Transplant Proc. 2007 Dec;39(10):3081-5.
Gordon EJ, Prohaska TR, Gallant M, Siminoff LA. Self-care strategies and barriers among kidney transplant recipients: a qualitative study. Chronic Illn. 2009 Jun;5(2):75-91. [See abstract.]
Gordon EJ, Prohaska TR, Sehgal AR. The financial impact of immunosuppressant expenses on new kidney transplant recipients. Clin Transplant. 2008 Nov-Dec;22(6):738-48.
Hong SY, Hughes S, Prohaska T. Factors affecting exercise attendance and completion in sedentary older adults: a meta-analytic approach. J Phys Act Health. 2008 May;5(3):385-97.
Kruger J, Buchner DM, Prohaska TR. The prescribed amount of physical activity in randomized clinical trials in older adults. Gerontologist. 2009 Jun;49(S1):S100-S107. [See abstract.]
Kruger J, Ham SA, Prohaska TR. Behavioral risk factors associated with overweight and obesity among older adults: the 2005 National Health Interview Survey. Prev Chronic Dis. 2009 Jan;6(1):A14. [See abstract.]
Kruger J, Prohaska TR, Furner SE. Preferences for health inquiry among adults aged 50 and over. Res Aging. 2007;29(4):283-296.
Prohaska T, Belansky E, Belza B, Buchner D, Marshall V, McTigue K, Satariano W, Wilcox S. Physical activity, public health, and aging: critical issues and research priorities. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2006 Sep;61(5):S267-73.
Prohaska TR, Eisenstein AR, Satariano WA, Hunter R, Bayles CM, Kurtovich E, Kealey M, Ivey SL. Walking and the preservation of cognitive function in older populations. Gerontologist. 2009 Jun;49(S1):S86-S93. [See abstract.]
Prohaska T, Peters K. Physical activity and cognitive functioning: translating research to practice with a public health approach. Alzheimers Demen. 2007;3(2):S58-S64.
Sarkisian CA, Prohaska TR, Davis C, Weiner B. Pilot test of an attribution retraining intervention to raise walking levels in sedentary older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2007 Nov;55(11):1842-6.
Steinman LE, Frederick JT, Prohaska T, Satariano WA, Dornberg-Lee S, Fisher R, Graub PB, Leith K, Presby K, Sharkey J, Snyder S, Turner D, Wilson N, Yagoda L, Unutzer J, Snowden M; Late Life Depression Special Interest Project (SIP) Panelists. Recommendations for treating depression in community-based older adults. Am J Prev Med. 2007 Sep;33(3):175-81.
Warren-Findlow J, Prohaska TR. Families, social support, and self-care among older African-American women with chronic illness. Am J Health Promot. 2008 May-Jun;22(5):342-9.
Honors and Awards
Distinguished Professor Gerontology/Geriatrics Award, University of California Los Angeles Academic Geriatric Resource Center
Fellow, Gerontological Society of America
Contact Info
Institute for Health Research and Policy
University of Illinois at Chicago (MC 275)
386 Westside Research Office Bldg.
1747 West Roosevelt Road
Chicago, IL 60608
Other Title(s)
Co-director, Center for Research on Health and Aging
IHRP Affiliation(s)
Current IHRP Research Studies (Co-I)
Recently Completed Research
Assessing the Cultural Characteristics of Elders and Their Support Systems (ACCESS): Pilot Study
Dissemination of Evidence-Based Recommendations for Exercise in Older Adults
Empowering Older People to Take More Control of Their Health Through Evidence-Based Prevention Programs
Environmental Correlates of Physical Activity among Older Adults
Evaluation of Strong for Life Program in the Faith in Action Initiative
Evidence-Based Outcomes of Exercise in Older Adults
Evidence-Based Recommendations for Exercise in Older Adults
Older American Chronic Disease Management Evaluation Project
Project: EXPORT
Trial to Increase Walking Among Sedentary Older Latinos