The Development of Health for Hearts United: A Longitudinal Church-based Intervention to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk in Mid-life and Older African Americans

Abstract

<p class="Pa7">This article describes Health for Hearts United, a longitudinal church-based inter­vention to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in mid-life and older African Americans. Using community-based par­ticipatory research (CBPR) approaches and undergirded by both the Socio-ecological Theory and the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change, the 18-month interven­tion was developed in six north Florida churches, randomly assigned as treatment or comparison. The intervention was framed around three conceptual components: awareness building (individual knowledge development); clinical learning (individual and small group educational sessions); and efficacy development (recognition and sustainability). We identified three lessons learned: providing consistency in program­ming even during participant absences; providing structured activities to assist health ministries in sustainability; and addressing changes at the church level. Recommenda­tions include church-based approaches that reflect multi-level CBPR and the collabora­tive faith model.</p><p class="Pa7"><em>Ethn Dis. </em>2017;27(1):21- 30; doi:10.18865/ed.27.1.21.</p>

Estimating physical activity trends among blacks in the United States through examination of four national surveys

“…Data from the current analysis continue to show declines in physical activity as age increases among adults. Given the studies supporting the positive impact of regular physical activity in older adults, which can significantly reduce health problems associated with heart disease, arthritis and diabetes [14] , [15] , studies are needed to understand how to begin physical activity at young ages and continue it across the lifespan.…”

How and how well have older people been engaged in healthcare intervention design, development or delivery using co‐methodologies: A scoping review with narrative summary

“…The majority of studies report external funding, but the value of this to C-MW per se is not specified. Reimbursement for participation is recorded by Giroux et al (2019) and adjustments to timescales by Ralston et al (2017) and Revenäs et al (2018). Only three studies explicitly report resource in terms of extra time being used to adapt to enable full engagement of a 'weak group' (Grönvall & Kyng, 2013), people with dementia (Revenäs et al, 2018) and the whole team (Ellins & Glasby, 2016).…”

“…Around two thirds of included studies were researcher led and five did not explicitly state leadership (Boerema et al, 2016;Clarke et al, 2009;Holliday et al, 2015;Morrison & Dearden, 2013;Wang-Letzkus et al, 2012). Exceptions included studies that claimed to be 'stakeholder-led' (Bond et al, 2015) or guided and advised by a committee or project team (Bone et al, 2013;James, et al, 2015;Nguyen et al, 2019;Ralston et al, 2017). Three teams adopted a model of shared control (Hwang et al, 2015;Sukwatjanee et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2014).…”

Antioxidant intake in relation to serum C-reactive protein in mid-life and older African Americans

“…Clinical baseline data from a larger, longitudinal church-based intervention study to reduce CVD risk in mid-life and older African Americans were used for this analysis. The larger study, described in Ralston et al (2014, 2017) included a total sample of n=221 participants. and a clinical subsample of n=104.…”