Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #110938

Alexis M. Williams, MPH, CHES, Center for Strategic Dissemination, National Cancer Institute, 766 E Riverbend Drive, Lilburn, GA 30047, 6783442344, williaal@mail.nih.gov and Lorelei DiSogra, EdD, RD, Center for Strategic Dissemenation, National Cancer Institute, 6130 Executive Blvd, EPN 4050 MSC 7332, Bethesda, MD 20892.

Body & Soul is a faith based program that encourages African Americans to eat more fruits and vegetables to lower their risk for diet related chronic diseases. Program evaluation showed a statistically significant increase in fruit and vegetable consumption among participants compared to controls. Once the program's efficacy under research conditions and effectiveness under real world conditions were established, the next critical step was developing a national dissemination strategy that would drive adoption of the program by African American churches and enhance sustainability. Grounded in Diffusion of Innovations theory, NCI sought to bridge the gap between innovation development and diffusion by partnering with leadership in the African American faith community and key linkage systems to facilitate the adoption process. NCI's dissemination strategy includes collaborating with African American denominations and community based organizations, as well as leveraging targeted media. This approach is designed to raise awareness, increase credibility, and minimize diffusion system failure points. As a result, the benefits of the program are communicated effectively, it is implemented correctly, and churches are able sustain the program. The efficacy of these approaches is monitored through tracking and follows up surveys. Preliminary data from these surveys will be available at the time of the presentation. Body & Soul, the only evidence based intervention currently being nationally disseminated by NCI, helps to create a sustainable channel for health promotion in African American churches.

Learning Objectives: By the end of the presentation learners will be able to

• Describe the application of diffusion of innovations theory to the development of program dissemination strategy.
• Describe multiple avenues to promoting health promotion programs to African American churches.
• Identify ways to monitor the effectiveness of dissemination activities.

Keywords: African American, Faith Community

Related Web page: www.5aday.gov

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation