For heart's sake: Cardiovascular disease prevention for African-American women

Public health literature has historically reported that ethnic and racial minorities have disproportionate rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD), with significantly higher rates evident among the African-American community. Recognizing the impact of this issue on the community, WellSpan Health implemented For Heart's Sake, a cardiovascular disease prevention initiative designed to reach uninsured and underinsured African-American women in an urban population. Although similar efforts to educate this community were previously conducted, For Heart's Sake was unique in that it engaged and empowered fifteen African-American women – leaders in their community – to “shepherd” their neighbors, friends, and family through a cardiovascular disease education and screening process. Led by a Community Health Worker, these women provided valuable feedback as to the cultural appropriateness of educating African-American women about healthcare issues, the screening services that should be offered, and how to effectively engage the population. They also served as volunteer lay leaders – assisting with the design, implementation, and evaluation of the program; inviting women to attend community events, and; conducting follow-up among program participants. Between July 2007 and June 2008, two community events were held with a total of 151 African-American women in attendance. Sixty-four attendees (42.4%) were identified as having high cholesterol, 47 (31.1%) with hypertension, and more than 50% were classified as obese. In addition, 28 women without a medical home were connected with local healthcare providers and 31 identified as un/underinsured were referred to appropriate services. Ongoing efforts to expand the program will also be discussed.