Physical Activity, Healthy Eating
Conditions
Keywords
physical activity, nutrition, fruits and vegetables, faith-based, churches
Brief summary
This dissemination and implementation study will examine the impact of the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) program on both church practices and member behaviors in both a countywide (randomized trial) and statewide (quasi-experimental) study. Guided by two theoretical frameworks, the specific aims of the applied research project are to: 1) examine the adoption and reach of FAN in churches and organizational factors associated with adoption; 2) characterize implementation fidelity and multilevel factors associated with implementation; 3) describe organizational maintenance of FAN and factors associated with maintenance; and 4) study the effectiveness of FAN.
Detailed description
The USC PRC's applied research project will study the dissemination and implementation of an evidence-based program shown previously to significantly increase physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake in churches in South Carolina (Faith, Activity, and Nutrition; FAN). Guided by two theoretical frameworks, the specific aims of the applied research project are to: 1) examine the adoption and reach of FAN in churches and organizational factors associated with adoption; 2) characterize implementation fidelity and multilevel factors associated with implementation; 3) describe organizational maintenance of FAN and factors associated with maintenance; and 4) study the effectiveness of FAN. In Phase 1, churches in a rural county with a high proportion of African American residents will be randomized to receive training in FAN from a community health advisor (n=40) or to be part of a delayed intervention control group (n=20). In Phase 2, a quasi-experimental study will be done with a large religious denomination in SC (churches are not randomized).
Interventions
BEHAVIORALImmediate Intervention
Committees from 40 churches will be trained in the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition program by Community Health Advisors. The training focuses on helping churches create healthier church environments for physical activity and healthy eating using Cohen's structural model of health behavior as a guide. Each church committee participates in a full-day training and submits a program plan and budget. Churches receive materials to support implementation of the program. After the full-day training, trained churches receive 12 monthly technical assistance calls to help them implement their program plan. The church coordinator receives 8 calls and the pastor receives 4 calls over the 12 months. In Phase 2, the intervention is open to any church in the SC Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Sponsors
University of South Carolina
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Phase 1 churches: church in Fairfield County, SC with at least 20 members who regularly attend worship service * Phase 2 churches: church in the SC Conference of the United Methodist Church * Members (phase 1): adult who regularly attends church participating in the study
Exclusion criteria
* Members (phase 1): under the age of 18 * Members (phase 1): does not regularly attend church participating in the study
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | 24 months | organization maintenance of the intervention based on leader reports |
| Adoption | 12 months | (# of eligible churches that are trained / # of eligible churches)\*100 |
| Reach | 12 months | (# of church members in trained churches / # of members of all eligible churches)\*100 |
| Implementation fidelity | 12 months | Composite score consisting of implementation of core elements of the intervention |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Self-efficacy for fruit and vegetable intake | 12 months | Self-reported self-efficacy for fruit and vegetable intake (average of scale items) (only for phase 1 of study) |
| physical activity | 12 months | Self-reported proportion of members meeting physical activity recommendations using (only for phase 1 of study) |
| fruit and vegetable intake | 12 months | Self-reported cups per day of fruits and vegetables (only for phase 1 of study) |
| Self-efficacy for physical activity | 12 months | Self-reported self-efficacy for physical activity (average of scale items) (only for phase 1 of study) |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Church environment | 12 months | Church environmental factors that impede or promote physical activity and healthy eating, assessed through staff observations (only for phase 1 of study) |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed