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

Abstract #115310

Ijeoma Nwachuku, PhD, Community Outreach, Methodist Hospital, P.O. Box 60016, Arcadia, CA 91066-6016, 626-319-8369, inwachuku@yahoo.com

To combat the growing prevalence of physical inactivity, poor nutrition and overweight, Methodist Hospital's Community Outreach staff endeavored in a multi-year study. Community needs in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County (LAC) were assessed through collaboration with 20 faith communities (~28,000 members), and 66 schools spanning six districts (~60,000 children). Funding was granted by the UniHealth Foundation to support this large-scale effort. A team of medical, fitness, research, and nutrition experts are intervening at all levels throughout the community. Culturally competent, evidence-based programs designed for individuals at varying fitness and nutrition levels, with different health concerns, and of diverse age groups are in progress. One study component entails a scholarship program for enrollment into the only hospital-sponsored, medically-based fitness facility in LAC. Another aspect entails a speaker request bureau, providing access to professionals specializing in various health and fitness fields. Presenters deliver current, audience-tailored information. A third component entails delivering health screenings (blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, and body mass index), along with intervention messages to improve or maintain health. The final stage entails distributing age-specific fitness kits containing equipment and information for individual, group, or family use following an orientation. Qualitative and quantitative data collection is ongoing. A health and fitness survey is used to collect information on knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs at different stages of intervention. Longitudinal data from scholarship and health screening recipients are correlated with survey responses. Preliminary findings indicate a positive community response to intervention. Additional data will be statistically analyzed in July 2005.

Learning Objectives: