142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Using the teen-as-coach model in the delivery of mental, nutritional and cardiovascular health messages to an at-risk minority adult population

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 : 8:50 AM - 9:10 AM

Lanae Ampersand, LCSW, MSW, CPS , Department of Family and Community Medicine, Christiana Care Health System, Wilmington, DE
Kathy A. Cannatelli, MS , Department of Family & Community Medicine, Christiana Care Health System, Wilmington, DE
Omar Khan, MD, MHS, FAAFP , Associate Vice Chair, Department of Family & Community Medicine, Christiana Care Health System, Wilmington, DE
Christopher C. Moore, BA , Department of Family and Community Medicine, Christiana Care Health System, Wilmington, DE
Brian Rahmer, MS, CHES , Department of Family & Community Medicine, Christiana Care Health System, Wilmington, DE
Sonya Addo, MPH , Family & Community Medicine, Christiana Care Health System, Wilmington, DE
Lauren Pendergast, RD , Department of Family and Community Medicine, Christiana Care Health System, Wilmington, DE
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
Background:

Urban adolescents are at risk for cardiovascular disease, mental health issues and challenges with nutrition.   No Heart Left Behind(NHLB), a CVD prevention program, aims to increase teens' knowledge, ability to make lifestyle changes, and confidence to partner with an adult for education.

Methods:

NHLB empowers teens to take health messages in CVD, mental health and nutrition to their families. Teens participated at 7 Delaware schools, and in Camp FRESH, a summer program. The teens and adults participated in educational events focusing on CVD prevention, cognitive-behavioral therapy, nutrition, exercise, and stress-management. NHLP teens’ knowledge and behavior change was assessed by pre/post-surveys and qualitative data was collected via focus groups.

Results:

NHLB has reached over 5,000 adults and teen coaches and tracked more than 600 adults and teen  over 3 years.   Teens and adults (96%) increased their knowledge of CVD and increased physical activity as a result of the program.  Of the students who carried diagnosis of depression (15%) their scores on PHQ-9 depression scale improved significantly.  Self-reported moderate physical activity increased from 60 minutes to 120 minutes weekly (p < 0.001.)   Students decreased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages from an average of 3.25 drinks per day to 2.5. Teen coaches reported high levels of engagement in health promotion, and interest in becoming leaders in public health.   

Conclusion:

As a department of Family and Community Medicine, we demonstrate success in developing and sustaining an innovative, student-as-coach model of CVD prevention in an underserved population which benefits the health of the family and could have a greater community impact if replicated in other settings.

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Identify strategies in program delivery where the teen-as-coach model is utilized in health education of an at-risk, minority population; Discuss success and challenges in program delivery when working with adolescents and adults

Keyword(s): Heart Disease, Nutrition

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have more than 19 years experience as a social worker in a clinical setting and 10 years in a school-based setting. I have been involved with the No Heart Left Behind/COPP program since its inception and worked in a colloboration to write the curriculum which is being used.
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.

Back to: 4069.0: Mentoring Models to Engage Youth as Active Public Health Leaders