Fostering African-American Improvement in Total Health (FAITH!): An Application of the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7™ among Midwestern African-Americans

Abstract

Objective African-Americans have a strikingly low prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health metrics of the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7 (LS7). This study was conducted to assess the impact of a community-based cardio-vascular disease prevention intervention on the knowledge and achievement of cardiovascular health metrics among a marginalized African-American community. Methods Adult congregants (n = 37, 70 % women) from three African-American churches in Rochester, MN, participated in the Fostering African-American Improvement in Total Health (FAITH!) program, a theory-based, culturally-tailored, 16-week education series incorporating the American Heart Association’s LS7 framework. Feasibility testing included assessments of participant recruitment, program attendance, and retention. We classified participants according to definitions of ideal, intermediate, and poor cardiovascular health based on cardiac risk factors and health behaviors and calculated an LS7 score (range 0 to 14) at baseline and post-intervention. Knowledge of cardiac risk factors was assessed by questionnaire. Main outcome measures were changes in cardiovascular health knowledge and cardiovascular health components related to LS7 from baseline to post-intervention. Psychosocial measures included socioeconomic status, outlook on life, self-reported health, self-efficacy, and family support. Results Thirty-six out of 37 recruited participants completed the entire program including health assessments. Participants attended 63.5 % of the education series and attendance at each session was, on average, 62 % of those enrolled. There was a statistically significant improvement in cardiovascular health knowledge (p < 0.02). A higher percentage of participants meeting either ideal or intermediate LS7 score categories and a lower percentage within the poor category were observed. Higher LS7 scores correlated with higher psychosocial measures ratings. Conclusions Although small, our study suggests that the FAITH! program is a feasible, community intervention promoting ideal cardiovascular health that has the potential to improve cardiovascular health literacy and LS7 among African-Americans.

Preventing cardiovascular disease: Participant perspectives of the FAITH! Program

“…The majority of participants (88%) rated the 16-week program length as “just right” to meet their education needs. This corroborates with the favorable participant attendance (62% of those enrolled at each session and 64% participant completion of the education series) (Brewer et al, 2016a). The education series also received high (>90% satisfied to very satisfied) ratings in terms of the variety, content, usefulness, and audiovisuals utilized.…”

“…Less than half (42%) had participated in a prior health-related research study. Full participant sociodemographics and self-reported medical history have been previously presented (Brewer et al, 2016a). …”

“…As the academic-community partnership blossomed, there was a mutual desire from the study team and community partners to co-present our research findings at both academic and community forums (Brewer and Johnson, 2016, Brewer, 2016b). There was also a joint goal to pursue widespread dissemination efforts beyond scientific publication through media outlets for general audiences as this is a “touchstone” of true CBPR (Chen et al, 2010).…”

“…As reported in detail elsewhere, we jointly created a 16-week culturally tailored, community-based intervention focused on CVD prevention among African-Americans adapted from a prior health intervention (Brewer et al, 2016a; Buta et al, 2011) which was informed by the health belief model (Janz et al, 2002), social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1986), and the community mobilization model (Minkler and Wallerstein, 2002). Eight 90-minute education group-based sessions were held bi-weekly at the churches and other community venues that included interactive seminars by health professionals, videos on cardiovascular health topics, cooking demonstrations, and exercise classes.…”

“…This study builds upon outcome evaluation findings from a community-based CVD prevention program, Fostering African-American Improvement in Total Health (FAITH! ), implemented through a CBPR process among underserved African-Americans residing in the southeastern region of MN (Brewer et al, 2016a). In this report, our main objectives are to: (1) describe our CBPR approach to establish a novel partnership with an underserved community by leveraging community expertise, input, and needs assessment; (2) share the perspectives of African-Americans within this community on participation in a cardiovascular health-focused intervention; and (3) provide insights to others aiming to conduct culturally relevant health interventions in similar demographic communities.…”