Successful programming to prevent chronic disease in rural communities: Results of an enhanced evaluation

The goal of the Barnes County ON THE MOVE (OTM) Chronic Disease Prevention Project is to improve levels of physical activity and nutrition among people living in their rural county, in order to decrease obesity and chronic disease (heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and colorectal cancer). The program is particularly important because of rising obesity rates in rural communities and the difficulties with engaging rural residents in prevention programming. A collaboration between local, state, and national entities, OTM is based on the public health approach, with diverse strategies aimed at different levels of the social ecology. It includes community education; policy change; environmental adaptations; workplace programs; and individual behavior change through physical activity and nutrition classes, guided by an active community coalition. Physical activity and nutrition programs have been implemented in the public and private schools, the university, community venues such as the public recreation program and private gymnasiums, and community organizations and factories. The OTM program joined with their state and national partners to conduct an enhanced evaluation. Annual member surveys, focus groups with adults and children, and an OTM Partnership social network analysis survey provided both quantitative and qualitative information regarding level of participation in and satisfaction with physical and nutritional activities factors that influenced participation, coalition contributions and involvement, and recommendations for change. This presentation describes the results of the evaluation, identifying factors contributing to OTM's success, its barriers and challenges, and a model for other rural communities committed to prevention of chronic disease among rural residents.