Scientific Research
Mazen El Ghaziri, PhD and HITEC Advisor
Publishing scientific research showcases the HITEC Healthy Workplace Participatory Program and its benefits to the CT DOC workers. UConn and UConn affiliates supporting NIOSH's Total Worker Health® participatory model of improving worker's safety, health and well-being, have published over 34 articles and presented at conferences both nationally and internationally. Professional conferences include the National Institute of Corrections, CPH-NEW National Symposium on Corrections Worker health, the NIOSH Total Worker Health Symposium, and the Work, Stress and Health Conference.
A 16-Year Chronicle of Developing a Healthy Workplace Participatory Program for Total Worker Health® in the Connecticut Department of Correction: The Health Improvement through Employee Control (HITEC) Program
Cherniack M, Namazi S, Brennan M, Henning R, Dugan A, El Ghaziri M.
(2024) International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 21(2):142. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21020142
Participatory Design of a Sleep Intervention with Correctional Supervisors Using a Root Causes Approach
Namazi S, Dugan AG, Cavallari JM, Rinker RD, Preston JC, Steele VL, Cherniack MG.
(2023) American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 66(2), 167-177.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.23452
Relative importance of incivility and loneliness in occupational health outcomes.
Gilmer, D.O., Magley, V.J., Dugan, A.G., Namazi, S., Cherniack, M.
(2023). Occupational Health Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41542-023-00145-z
Organizational sensemaking systems as a determinant of successful organizational change: A Grounded Theory approach.
Participatory assessment and selection of workforce health intervention priorities for correctional supervisors.
Dugan, A. G., Namazi, S., Cavallari, J. M., El Ghaziri, M., Rinker, R. D., Preston, J. C., & Cherniack, M. G. (2022). Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 64(7), 578–592. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000002525
Development and implementation of a Total Worker Health® mentoring program in a correctional workforce.
Namazi, S., Kotejoshyer, R., Farr, D., Henning, R. A., Tubbs, D. C., Dugan, A. G., El Ghaziri, M., & Cherniack, M. (2021). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(16), 8712. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168712
Traumatic incidents at work, work-to-family conflict, and depressive symptoms among correctional supervisors: The moderating role of social support.
Namazi, S., Dugan, A. G., Fortinsky, R. H., El Ghaziri, M., Barnes-Farrell, J. L., Noel, J., Cavallari, J. M., Shaw, W. S., Cole, W. A., & Cherniack, M. G. (2021). Occupational Health Science, 5(4), 493–517. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41542-021-00098-1
Impact of a Total Worker Health® mentoring program in a correctional workforce.
Kotejoshyer, R., Gilmer, D. O., Namazi, S., Farr, D., Henning, R. A., & Cherniack, M. (2021). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(16), 8436. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168436
Participatory survey design of a workforce health needs assessment for correctional supervisors.
Dugan, A. G., Namazi, S., Cavallari, J. M., Rinker, R. D., Preston, J. C., Steele, V. L., & Cherniack, M. G. (2021). American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 64(5), 414–430. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.23225
The national corrections collaborative utilizing a total worker health® strategy.
El Ghaziri, M., Jaegers, L. A., Monteiro, C. E., Grubb, P. L., & Cherniack, M. G. (2020). Progress in corrections worker health: The national corrections collaborative utilizing a total worker health® strategy. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 62(11), 965–972. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000002016
Work and health correlates of sleep quantity and quality among correctional nurses.
Zhang, Y., El Ghaziri, M., Dugan, A. G., & Castro, M. E. (2019). Journal of Forensic Nursing, 15(1), 42–51. https://doi.org/10.1097/JFN.0000000000000229
Examining a comprehensive model of work and family demands, work–family conflict, and depressive symptoms in a sample of correctional supervisors.
Namazi, S., Dugan, A. G., Fortinsky, R. H., Barnes-Farrell, J., Coman, E., El Ghaziri, M., & Cherniack, M. G. (2019). Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 61(10), 818–828. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001664
Correction workers’ burnout and outcomes: A Bayesian network approach.
Lee, J., Henning, R., & Cherniack, M. (2019). Correction workers’ burnout and outcomes: A Bayesian network approach. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(2), 282. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16020282
Sex and Gender Role Differences in Occupational Exposures and Work Outcomes Among Registered Nurses in Correctional Settings.
El Ghaziri, M., Dugan, A. G., Zhang, Y., Gore, R., & Castro, M. E. (2019).  Annals of Work Exposures and Health,63(5), 568–582. https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxz018
Participatory Action Research Approach to Mental Health Interventions among Corrections Officers: Standardizing Priorities and Maintaining Design Autonomy.
Cherniack, M., Berger, S., Namazi, S., Henning, R., & Punnett, L. (2019). Occupational Health Science, 3(4), 387–407. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41542-019-00051-3
​The application of salutogenesis to correctional officers in corrections settings.
Henning, R., Zweber, Z. M., Bizarro, A., Bauerle, T. J., Tubbs, D. C., & Reeves, D. (2017). In The handbook of salutogenesis (pp. 247–257).
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-04600-6_24
Musculoskeletal pain as predictors of health behavior: Implications for an ergonomic intervention
Faghri, P., & Gilder, C. M. (2017). 3315 Board #220 June 2 3 30 PM - 5 00 PM. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 49(5S), 946–947. https://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000519579.44883.af
The Effects of An Ergonomic Mat on Musculoskeletal Symptoms and Health Behaviors
Gilder, C. M., Faghri, P., & Henning, R. (2017). 3321 Board #226 June 2 3 30 PM - 5 00 PM. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 49(5S), 948–949.
https://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000519585.75377.0d
Associations among work and family health climate, health behaviors, work schedule, and body weight.
Buden, J. C., Dugan, A. G., Faghri, P. D., Huedo-Medina, T. B., Namazi, S., & Cherniack, M. G. (2017). Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 59(6), 588–599. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001049
Psychological health, behavior, and bodyweight (PBBW) model: An evaluation of predictors of health behaviors and body mass index (BMI).
Mignano, C., Faghri, P. D., Huedo-Medina, T., & Cherniack, M. C. (2016). Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, 31(1), 37–56. https://doi.org/10.1080/15555240.2015.1100518
Process evaluation of two participatory approaches: Implementing total worker health® interventions in a correctional workforce: Two Participatory Programs in Corrections.
Dugan, A. G., Farr, D. A., Namazi, S., Henning, R. A., Wallace, K. N., El Ghaziri, M., Punnett, L., Dussetschleger, J. L., & Cherniack, M. G. (2016). American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 59(10), 897–918. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.22593
Participatory action research in corrections: The HITEC 2 program.
Cherniack, M., Dussetschleger, J., Dugan, A., Farr, D., Namazi, S., El Ghaziri, M., & Henning, R. (2016). Applied Ergonomics, 53, 169–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2015.09.011
​Work characteristics as predictors of correctional supervisors’ health outcomes.
Buden, J. C., Dugan, A. G., Namazi, S., Huedo-Medina, T. B., Cherniack, M. G., & Faghri, P. D. (2016). Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 58(9), e325–e334. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000000843
Considering the differential impact of three facets of organizational health climate on employees’ well-being.
Zweber, Z. M., Henning, R. A., Magley, V. J., & Faghri, P. (2015). Considering the differential impact of three facets of organizational health climate on employees’ well-being. The Scientific World Journal, 2015, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/407232
Musculoskeletal disorder symptoms in correction officers: Why do they increase rapidly with job tenure?
Warren, N., Dussetschleger, J., Punnett, L., & Cherniack, M. G. (2015). Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 57(2), 262–275. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018720814547569
Psychological health and overweight and obesity among high stressed work environments.
Pouran, D. F. (2015). Psychological health and overweight and obesity among high stressed work environments. Obesity: Open Access (ISSN 2380-5528), 1(1). https://doi.org/10.16966/2380-5528.101
Overtime, Shift Work, Poor Sleep, and the Effects on Obesity: A Public Health Problem
Faghri, P. D., & Budden, J. (2015). Journal of Nutritional Disorders & Therapy, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.4172/2161-0509.1000e126
The Productivity dilemma in workplace health promotion.
Cherniack, M. (2015). The Productivity dilemma in workplace health promotion. The Scientific World Journal, 2015, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/937063
Health behavior knowledge and self-efficacy as predictors of body weight.
Faghri, P. D., & Budden, J. (2015). Journal of Nutritional Disorders & Therapy, 05(03). https://doi.org/10.4172/2161-0509.1000169
Psychological Health and Overweight and Obesity Among High Stressed Work Environments.
Faghri, P. D., Mignano, C., Huedo-Medina, T. B., & Cherniack, M. (2015).  Obesity, Open Access, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.16966/2380-5528.101
Stress and corrections: Addressing the safety and well-being of correctional officers.
Elliot, D., Kuehl, K., El Ghaziri, M., & Cherniack, M. (July/August w2015).
Corrections Today (pp. 40–44). https://www.aca.org/ACA/ACA_
Musculoskeletal Disorder Symptoms in Correction Officers: Why Do They Increase Rapidly With Job Tenure?
Warren, N., Dussetschleger, J., Punnett, L., & Cherniack, M. G. (2015).  Human Factors, 57(2), 262-275. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018720814547569
​Workplace-based participatory approach to weight loss for correctional employees.
Ferraro, L., Faghri, P. D., Henning, R., & Cherniack, M. (2013). Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 55(2), 147–155. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0b013e3182717cd4
Talking about health: Correction employees’ assessments of obstacles to healthy living.
Morse, T., Dussetschleger, J., Warren, N., & Cherniack, M. (2011). Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 53(9), 1037–1045. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0b013e3182260e2c