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Translation and dissemination of the Walk Your Heart to Health intervention: Sustaining an evidence-based walking group intervention to promote physical activity and cardiovascular health
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Background
The Walk Your Heart to Health (WYHH) walking group intervention, was developed and tested over 8 years by the Healthy Environments Partnership (HEP), a community-based participatory research partnership. WYHH has been effective in increasing physical activity (e.g., number of steps walked per day) and significantly reducing cardiovascular risk (CVR) (e.g., blood pressure, waist circumference, BMI, total cholesterol) among residents of low-moderate income, predominantly Black and Latino communities in Detroit. Based on these results, HEP is currently disseminating the WYHH groups in community- and faith-based organizations (CBOs/FBOS). HEP identified core components of the successful WYHH intervention, including walking at least 3 times per week for 50+ minutes.
Methods/Approach
Based on these results, social ecological model and diffusion of innovation theory, HEP developed and is implementing a capacity building program for Detroit CBOs/FBOs to support WYHH groups at their facilities. The competitive application process used to identify FBO/CBO funding recipients, and the training and technical assistance provided to start and maintain walking groups will be described. In addition, HEP has developed a WYHH Network and Academy to provide an infrastructure for continued training for walking group facilitators throughout the city to extend support for sustained opportunities for physical activity. We will describe challenges, facilitating factors, and lessons learned.
Results
We will present preliminary evaluation results of efforts to support CBOs/FBOs to implement and maintain this evidence-based intervention to promote physical activity and reduce CVR.
Conclusion
This is a viable translation/dissemination strategy for CBOs/FBOs to promote physical activity to reduce CVR.
Learning Areas:
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programsLearning Objectives:
Explain how to translate research results into practice to improve community health.
Describe how research findings can be used to identify important aspects of community infrastructure to support and maintain walking groups.
Keyword(s): Community-Based Research (CBPR), Community Health Planning
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a resident of Southwest Detroit and Project coordinator for the Healthy Environments Partnership. I have been involved in providing training and supervision for the Community Health Promoters and overseeing the three year Walk Your Heart to Health(WYHH) research intervention in three Detroit Neighborhoods. With over six years’ experience in running WYHH walking groups, I currently support WYHH dissemination efforts that include a capacity building program for Detroit Based Community and faith based organizations.
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.