The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #57523

Peggy A. Hannon, PhD, MPH, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, P. O. Box 19024, MP-826, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, 206-667-7935, phannon@fhcrc.org, Deborah J. Bowen, PhD, Cancer Prevention Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N. MPE702, Seattle, WA 98109, and Kitty Christensen, Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue N, MP 900, Seattle, WA 98109.

Findings from dissemination research indicate that merely distributing health promotion materials to organizations does not yield high adoption and implementation rates. Rather, some form of additional support is necessary, such as encouragement and reminders. In this study, 12 religious organizations (ROs) were recruited and randomized to either receive a comprehensive intervention notebook and an offer of assistance as needed (basic intervention, n = 5), or to receive the previous intervention as well as monthly contact from a health promotion specialist who offered assistance, answered questions, and encouraged activities (enhanced intervention, n = 7). At the end of the 9-month intervention, six of the seven ROs that had received the enhanced intervention reported doing at least one healthy eating activity, with a range of 1 to 50. Multiple activities were implemented at two or more ROs; six ROs used print motivational messages, five ROs had social activities, three ROs had healthy eating sessions, and two ROs held advisory board meetings. In contrast, only one of the basic intervention ROs reported doing any healthy eating activities (using print motivational messages). It appears that minimal staff support significantly increases the likelihood that ROs will use a dietary intervention; similar strategies may be helpful in disseminating health promotion interventions to other community organizations.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the presentation, the attendee will be able to:
• Describe three strategies to enhance the likelihood of a community organization using health promotion materials
• Describe the results of a study comparing one of these strategies to simple distribution of health promotion materials

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.