SisterTalk is a five-year grant funded by the National Cancer Institute to develop, deliver and evaluate a weight control program for Black women in Boston using cable television. We conducted formative research with over 500 women to design the intervention program so that it was culturally appropriate. The intervention consists of 12 weekly hour-long shows broadcast live on “pay-per-view” cable TV, four monthly booster shows mailed to the participants on video and accompanying written materials. A Black nutritionist, exercise physiologist and social worker present the TV intervention, which focuses on nutrition education, physical activity and behavior change. The study consists of a 2x2 factorial design with a fifth wait list comparison group. The study tests two major components: Interactive vs. Passive TV programming and Social Support vs. No Social Support. The Interactive group can call in live during the show to ask questions and share personal experiences, while the Passive group can not.. Half of the “interactive” group and half of the “passive” group are randomly assigned to receive Social Support -- phone calls from a peer educator to discuss problems and successes, problem-solve individual situations and encourage the women to continue moving toward their goals. Measures of dietary intake, physical activity, BMI and waist circumference are being collected at baseline, 3 months, 7 1/2 months and 1 year. Cost-effectiveness will also determined. This presentation will describe and display the SisterTalk TV program and present the baseline characteristics from approximately 400 women who have enrolled in the SisterTalk study.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: Nutrition, Ethnic Minorities
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.