Assessing Changes in Physical Activity in Alaska Native women

Southcentral Foundation (SCF) designed an innovative program called Traditions of the Heart, a randomized controlled trial of a cardiovascular disease intervention program. The Traditions of the Heart research program (started in 2000) at SCF is an ongoing randomized control trial designed to identify and reduce risk factors for heart disease among Alaska Native and American Indian women. The Traditions of the Heart intervention consisted of 12 weekly 2-hour educational sessions; each session addressed stress management through traditional wellness, nutrition, physical activity, and tobacco use. At sessions 1 and 12 participants completed detailed questionnaires on physical activity, tobacco use habits, and nutrition, and on psychosocial factors associated with modifying these behaviors. Corresponding clinical data was obtained prior to intervention and following intervention. Analysis of resultant data was conducted to determine level of physical activity at session 1 and 12, describe attitudes towards physical activity at session 1 and 12, describe perceived barriers to physical activity at session 1 and 12 and determine changes in these 3 categories between weeks 1 and 12.