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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Mary Luna Hollen, PhD, RD¹, Ximena Urrutia-Rojas, DrPH, RN¹, Matt Stahl, BS¹, Isabel Vecino, MD², Enisa Arslanagic, MD², and Maria G. Hernandez, CHW¹. (1) Dept of Social & Behavioral Sciences, UNT Health Science Center School of Public Health, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd. EAD1-730, Fort Worth, TX 76107, 817-735-5172, mhollen@hsc.unt.edu, (2) Dept of Internal Medicine, UNT Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107

Further definning the role of the promotor de salud will benefit the future utilization of the promotor in the public health workforce. This study identified the role of promotores de salud in documenting and evaluating the impact of Diabetes, Research, and Metabolic Studies (DREAMS) Project1 on the well-being of Hispanic families. The study described the methodologies used in North Texas to build promotoria capacity and it defined the cultural dimensions of program process that make promotoria a successful strategy.

Twenty-five promotores de salud from the promotor network alliance participated in a four-day Salud para su Corazón and diabetes training. Eight of the 25 promotores were selected for Project1. Additionally, promotores received ongoing research protocol training. Previously identified overweight Hispanic children (n=240) at risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and their family members were enrolled beginning in the spring 2005 and randomly assigned to an intervention group (n=120) utilizing trained promotores de salud in family sessions and blingual culturally competent print material, or to a control group (n=120) receiving print material only and no promotor.

Promotores were responsible for a series of evaluation instruments for the intervention group, called cuentamelo (tell me the story) that quantitatively and qualitatively measured the family program. Preliminary results will be available in the summer of 2006. Descriptive analyses will describe the role promotores play in program documentation and evaluation as well as the community capacity building potential. Results will support the role of promotores de salud in research and the future public health workforce.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. State five aspects of the DREAMS project that utilize the promotor de salud to document and evaluate the impact of the program.
• 2. Discuss the mechanisms in place for building promotoria capacity.
• 3. Describe the cultural dimensions of program process.

Keywords: Outcome Measures,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered