Jump Start To Health: A beauty salon -based health behavior education program

Issues: Nationally, African American (AA) women, compared to Caucasian women, are disproportionately affected by heart disease, cancer, and stroke, the leading causes of death among women in the United States. These alarming statistics suggest a need for interventions to help change health behaviors in the AA female community. A Woman's Worth (AWW) ‘Jump Start to Health' Program (JS), based on the Health Belief Model, is a transformation program designed for AA women 18 and over to support participants in developing necessary permanent behavioral changes through health and fitness instruction to reduce health disparities. Description: The 12 week beauty salon- based JS program was implemented over three separate cycles in the Denver-metro area where participants were recruited by a network of local salons, stylists, and partnering agencies. The weekly interactive classes included physical activity, informative health discussions covering cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, etc, and personal development; all of which were facilitated by specialist and health advocates. Pre/ post test surveys were administered during each session, as well as evaluative behavioral and biologic metric screenings throughout the program. Lessons Learned: The desired goal is to produce changes in health behavior that would lead to decreased blood pressure, lowered cholesterol and blood glucose levels, weight loss/management, and healthier eating habits long term. An expected 80% overall retention in health knowledge was met over the majority of test weeks. We propose participants will initiate and maintain healthier lifestyles when encouraged and supported by their cosmetologist that will be retained 3 months post program.