REACH US focus group results for four neighborhoods in the city of Cleveland

As part of a CDC REACH US community-based participatory research initiative, four focus groups with a total of 42 participants were conducted in four neighborhoods in inner city Cleveland, Ohio. Participants were recruited by downtown Cleveland YMCA staff and notifed that incentives would be provided (grocery store gift cards) to take part in focus groups on how to improve the health of the community. Focus groups were held at neighborhood libraries. Participants were audio-taped and signed informed consent forms consistent with the research protocol approved by a local university institutional review board. An 11-item moderator's guide was created for the focus groups and a quantitative survey was administered to collect demographic data. Participants were asked what it meant to be healthy, what priority they placed on health, what diseases they were concerned about for friends and family, and how they rated their own risk. Benefits and barriers to physical activity and healthy eating were also addressed. Participants were queried about resources and programs in the area and what they did for their own health. Finally, participants were asked if they would take part in a health screening program and walking program if it were available at neighborhood recreation centers. Response themes were identified based on tallied responses and inter-rater reliability. Results of the focus groups will be presented and highlighted with actual quotes from participants.