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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

331012
Implementation of a church-based model for cardiovascular disease risk reduction in rural, southernmost Illinois


Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Kristine Zimmermann, MPH, Center for Research on Women and Gender, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Leslie Carnahan, MPH, Center for Research on Women and Gender, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Heather Risser, PhD, Center for Research on Women and Gender, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Background: Residents of rural, southernmost Illinois face higher rates of cardiovascular disease and related risk factors than Illinois residents overall. Additionally, health care resources in the region are limited due to the rural setting. In response, the Southern Seven Coalition for Women’s Health developed and implemented a collaborative, church-based model to reduce disease risk.

Methods: The “Heart Smart” intervention, offered in partner churches over 27 months, includes a 12-week evidence-based program (Heart Smart for Women) followed by a two-year monthly booster program (Heart Smart Maintenance). The booster program, facilitated by a church liaison, is open to all community members, regardless of participation in the 12-week program, and it is tailored to community needs and interests. The Heart Smart evaluation includes collection of demographic and behavioral data, as well as clinical data from participants of the 12-week program.

Results: Across 12 churches, 206 participants enrolled in the evaluation.  At baseline, a substantial proportion of participants had risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, high cholesterol, and type II diabetes. Most failed to meet recommended vegetable intake and physical activity guidelines. Among participants with clinical measures, one third were considered overweight and over half were considered obese or extremely obese.

Conclusion: Heart Smart is an acceptable model for health promotion that has successfully reached community members at risk for disease in a low-resource community. Heart Smart promotes health equity by tailoring activities to community needs. Building on community strengths and collaborations may contribute to a sustained health focus within rural churches.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Chronic disease management and prevention
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe a model for promoting short-term and long-term improvements in cardiovascular disease risk factors in a rural, low-resource setting Discuss a method for translating and transforming an evidence-based program from a clinical to a community setting Explain the benefits of collaborative partnerships for implementation of a community-based intervention

Keyword(s): Community-Based Partnership & Collaboration, Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been involved in the implementation and evaluation of women's health programs for over 12 years, with a particular focus on chronic disease prevention and rural women's 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.

Back to: 4282.0: Chronic Disease Prevention, Screening and Management Practices