220357 Walk Your Heart to Health: Examining the role of group cohesion in a community-based walking group program

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 : 8:30 AM - 8:50 AM

Betty T. Izumi, PhD, MPH, RD , School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Bernadine Hoston , Detroit Center, Detroit, MI
Amy J. Schulz, PhD MPH , Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Barbara A. Israel, DrPH MPH , Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Graciela B. Mentz, PhD , Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Angela G. Reyes, MPH , Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, Detroit, MI
Sharon L. Sand, MPP , Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Deedee Varick, LND MPH , University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
This presentation examines the role of group cohesion in the participation of adults in Walk Your Heart to Health (WYHH), an 8-month walking group program that is facilitated by community health promoters. WYHH is part of a multi-level community-based participatory research (CBPR) intervention project carried out by the Healthy Environments Partnership to promote cardiovascular health in three geographically distinct low-to-moderate income, predominantly African American and Hispanic communities in Detroit where heart disease mortality rates are substantially higher than Michigan and national rates. Community health promoters are paid, half-time staff who live in one of the three communities in which walking groups are held. The conceptual framework that guided the development and evaluation of WYHH was informed by a CBPR process that engaged community members, and by a review of the literature in which group cohesion has been shown to be particularly important in promoting sustainability of physical activity interventions among adults. WYHH participants' reports of group cohesion were measured at weeks 4 and 8 using a closed-ended questionnaire. Attendance records were used to assess participation. We will present descriptive results and analyses examining relationships between group cohesion and participation among the first cohort of walking group participants (n=132) and between the three geographically distinct communities. We will discuss lessons learned and implications of our findings for curricula used to train community health promoters to lead walking groups and for other CBPR efforts to promote health equity in urban communities through group-based CBPR public health initiatives.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs

Learning Objectives:
1. To discuss the relationship between group cohesion and walking group participation 2. To describe the role of community health promoters in developing group cohesion among walking group members 3. To describe the contributions made by community members in the development and evaluation of Walk Your Heart to Health

Keywords: Community Health Promoters, Preventive Medicine

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I participated in the development of the conceptual model and evaluation for Walk Your Heart to Health
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.