265628 Significantly Improving Overall Health through Increased Health Literacy: The Canyon Ranch Institute Life Enhancement Program (CRI LEP)

Tuesday, October 30, 2012 : 8:30 AM - 8:50 AM

Chuck Palm, MPH , Canyon Ranch Institute Life Enhancement Program Manager, Canyon Ranch Institute, Tucson, AZ
Andrew Pleasant, PhD , Health Literacy and Research, Canyon Ranch Institute, Tucson, AZ
Jennifer Cabe, MA , Executive Director, Canyon Ranch Institute, Tucson, AZ
Rainy Dawn Warf, MPH, CHES , Canyon Ranch Institute, Evaluation consultant, Tuscon, AZ
Paloma Hernandez, MA MPH , Urban Health Plan, Inc., Bronx, NY
Debbie Lester , Institute for the Advancement of Community Health, Urban Health Plan, Inc., Bronx, NY
Samuel DeLeon, MD , Urban Health Plan, Inc., Bronx, NY
Amy Michael , Sullivan County Memorial Hospital, Milan, MO
Martha Gragg, RN MSN , Sullivan County Memorial Hospital, Milan, MO
Colleen Cross, MA , Department of Public Health and Research, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
Nancy Johnson, RN PhD , El Rio Community Health Center, Tucson, AZ
Richard Carmona, MD MPH FACS , President, Canyon Ranch Institute, Tucson, AZ
Results from the Canyon Ranch Institute Life Enhancement Program (CRI LEP), a program aimed at low-income adults in New York, Ohio, Missouri, and Arizona, demonstrate that a health literacy, integrative health approach to preventing chronic disease can have significant and positive impacts on overall health and wellness. The CRI LEP includes 36 hours of participatory, hands-on, and didactic group sessions, fitness instruction, cooking demonstrations, social support, a nutritionist-guided grocery store trip, and extensive evaluation. Every participant receives at least four one-hour one-on-one planning consultations with health professionals in integrative health, nutrition, fitness, and behavioral health. Data collection occurs at pre, post, three months post, one year post, and process evaluation stages, including nutrition, physical fitness, stress, and a serum analysis that included cholesterol, hemoglobin AIC, and C-reactive protein. Evaluation results of four cohorts (N=57) show changes in health metrics that contribute to chronic disease, including: reduction of 56% in depression scores, 44% in stress, 33% in cholesterol; increase of 23% in self-efficacy scores for exercise and nutrition, 67% in the number of mentally and physically healthy days in the previous month, 58% in pushups, and 32% in balance. Potential savings of $5,200 per participant is created, compared to the current annual average cost of treating chronic disease in the United States. Evaluation and programming is ongoing, the most up-to-date data available from all locations will be included. This presentation will demonstrate how health literacy and an integrative health approach help people gain better overall health and wellness.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Chronic disease management and prevention
Diversity and culture
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1. Discuss a model of effective health literacy and integrative health 2. Identify best practices of effective health literacy within community health care center settings 3. Explain how health literacy and an integrative approach to prevention can transform the health care system in the United States

Keywords: Health Literacy, Underserved Populations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the manager of the Canyon Ranch Institute Life Enhancement Program (CRI LEP), have 20 years' experience in public health and health education, and have a graduate degree in public 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.