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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Zenong Yin, PhD¹, David Dennison, MS², Miguel Berry, MS³, Jose Antu, PhD⁴, Nora Guerra, BSN⁴, Arthur Hernandez¹, Donovan Fogt¹, Ashley S. Love, DrPH, MPH, MS¹, Evangelina Villagomez¹, and Megan Grimstvedt¹. (1) Department of Health and Kinesiology, University of Texas at San Antonio, 6900 North Loop 1604 West, San Antonio, TX 78249, (210) 458-5650, zenong.yin@utsa.edu, (2) Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, NE, MS K-24, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717, (3) Health Sciences Center, University of Texas at San Antonio, 911 E. Gustavus St., Laredo, TX 78040, (4) Chronic Disease Prevention, Laredo Health Department, 2600 Cedar - P.O. Box 2337, Laredo, TX 78044-2337

Purpose: Test the feasibility and effectiveness of a 14-week active lifestyle promotion intervention among at-risk Mexican-American adults in a border community.

Methods: A total of 139 at-risk adults (60% women; mean age = 41; mean BMI = 32; mean fasting glucose = 98 dl/ml) participated in the study (105 (76%) received intervention). Intervention consisted of using a pedometer, weekly newsletters and counseling, based on the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), delivered by two health promotoras from local health department. Subjects were tested at baseline and post-test for fasting glucose, lipids, hemoglobin A1C, body composition, blood pressure, and fitness. Data collection (except blood draw) was also conducted by promotoras. Analysis of covariance was used to test the impact of intervention on change scores controlling for covariates (gender, age, etc.) and baseline measure.

Results: 83% of the subjects were retained for the 14-week intervention; 83% attended counseling conducted by a promotora; 90% returned the pedometers at the end of the study. There was a significant (p=0.02) intervention effect on percent body fat measured by bioimpedence; results from blood testing and fitness also showed favorable effects in intervention subjects, although not statistically significant.

Conclusions: This pilot study, using a translation research framework, demonstrated that it's feasible to implement a community-based active lifestyle promotion, using two promotoras. Biological outcomes show great promise. The program could have greater impact on subject's health if the promotoras concentrated only on program delivery without conducting data collection. In addition, this is potentially a cost-effective way of conducting health promotion.

Learning Objectives:

• 1). Describe select biological and behavioral outcomes from a community based intervention
• 2). Identify specific approaches to promote an active lifestyle intervention
• 3). Describe promising approaches to overcome barriers for gaining access into minority and low income communities

Keywords: Community Health Programs, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation