None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
There is a significant body of clinical evidence to support the assertion that if men adopt a healthier lifestyle, they experience improvements in health outcomes including: reduced chronic disease risks (i.e. reduced: waist circumference, weight, BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose); reduced urological symptoms (i.e. erectile dysfunction, urinary symptoms); and improved psycho-social welfare (i.e. reduced depression/anxiety, improved sleep and perceived quality of life). There is less evidence, however, about how to engage and support men in a community setting to adopt and sustain the necessary lifestyle changes – this is our central focus. The theoretical basis for the GIRTH program is the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and its construct of self-efficacy. The peer-support program has been constructed around a chronic disease self-management (CDSM) framework to promote participants’ self-efficacy in relation to physical activity, nutrition, sleep habits and stress management. Self-management skills are infused at every step of the program to ensure that positive changes are sustainable.
Interventions
GIRTH: Get Involved Reach Top Health is a healthy lifestyle peer education community based program for men.
The 12-week program focuses on reducing waist circumference (GIRTH) by encouraging healthy eating, increased physical activity, improved sleep habits and stress management. Booklets containing straightforward guidelines and recommendations were developed to affect improvements in each of these four principal lifestyle areas. A self-monitoring tool and explanatory booklet are also includ
GIRTH: Get Involved Reach Top Health is a healthy lifestyle peer education community based program for men. The 12-week program focuses on reducing waist circumference (GIRTH) by encouraging healthy eating, increased physical activity, improved sleep habits and stress management. Booklets containing straightforward guidelines and recommendations were developed to affect improvements in each of these four principal lifestyle areas. A self-monitoring tool and explanatory booklet are also included to reinforce the messages and recommendations contained in each of the GIRTH lifestyle booklets. The GIRTH program was delivered to participants by Men’s Health Co-ordinators (MHCs) trained as peer-educators. In addition to leading groups through a structured 12-week program of peer-support, the MHCs were also responsible for collecting baseline and follow-up data. The peer educators were trained to collect the data measures. The program was trialled in South Australia, Northern Territory and Victoria between August and December 2010. Participants (men aged 18 years and older) were recruited for the program (and study) at free-to-public seminars held by the MHCs. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: intervention and control. The intervention group participants received all the GIRTH education materials and took part in a 12-week structured program of peer-support. They were asked to meet once a week for approximately an hour to discuss topics on the four principal components of the program - physical activity, healthy eating, good sleep habits and stress management. Other topics specific to men’s health such as prostate cancer and testicular cancer were also included. The MHCs used strategies such as brainstorming, group problem solving and goal setting to encourage group interaction and to foster self-discovery on health issues. Pre-and-post test measures were collected at the Enrolment session and during the final program session to enable changes in the parameters measured over the course of the program to be quantified.
Sponsors
The University of Adelaide - Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men's Health
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Educational / counselling / training
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
Male
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. Men aged 18 years and older 2. Willing and able to give written informed consent 3. Willing and able to attend the 12 weekly GIRTH sessions 4. Willing and able to complete the questionnaire.
Exclusion criteria
Any medical condition that prevents/interferes with regular physical activity and/or participation in the weekly peer education sessions
Outcome results
None listed