Many effective interventions or programs are never put into practice. This quasi-experimental study will partner with AME churches in two areas of South Carolina to study how an evidence-based program is put into place by the church. The program, Walk Your Heart to Health, will include training in how churches can modify their practices to support physical activity and healthy eating. Over the five-year study, the investgiators will examine factors that predict the success of putting the program into place, things that help and get in the way of putting the program into place, and how the program can be scaled up to reach even more churches. The investigators will also examine the effect of the program (pre- to post-changes) on walking group member outcomes (physical activity and social cohesion). The investigators expect to work with approximately 26 AME churches for this study.
Member of participating church (Charleston or Columbia Districts of the 7th Episcopal District of the AME church) or is in larger neighborhood and able to attend
Aged 50 years and older
Agrees to participate in in-person walking group sessions
Not planning to move in the next year from a location that would make study visits difficult
No contraindications to exercise, as determined by the PAR-Q
Single group
Walk Your Heart to Health
Behavioral32-week walking intervention delivered by church committees
Pedometer steps
Average steps per day from pedometer
Modified version of Physical Activity Group Environment Questionnaire (Group Cohesion), as used in Walk Your Heart to Health effectiveness trial
A 21-item self-reported survey that assesses the subscales of task cohesion (6 items, scores can range from 6 to 30), social cohesion (6 items, scores can range from 6 to 30), perception of group integration around task factors (5 items, scores can range from 5 to 25), and perception of group integration around social factors (4 items, scores can range from 4 to 20). For all subscales, higher scores indicate a greater sense of group cohesion or group integration.
Modified Version of the Physical Activity Group Environment Questionnaire (Leader Behaviors), as used in Walk Your Heart to Health effectiveness trial
A 13-item self-report measure of how participants view the behaviors of their walking leaders. Possible scores can range from 13 to 65, with higher scores indicating more positive leader behaviors.
Supportive Accountability Inventory
An 8-item self-report measure that assesses the degree to which the participant feels a sense of accountability to their walking group. Scores can range from 8 to 56, with higher scores indicating a greater sense of accountability to the walking group.
Health-Related Quality of Life (EuroQol 5 Dimensions 5 Levels; EQ-5D-5L)
A 5-item self-reported measure that assesses the participants' ratings of quality of life in 5 dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression. For each item, the participant chooses a statement (from a list of 5) that best describes them. Scores for each area range from 1 to 5 (1=no impairment; 5 = extreme impairment). Scores will be presented as the percentage of participants in each level for each dimension. A total score will also be computed. Possible scores on the scale range from 11111 (best possible score - no impairment on any of the 5 dimension) to 55555 (worse possible score - extreme impairments on all 5 dimensions). The score will be converted into a single index value based on country-specific norms.
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University of South Carolina
Lead sponsor
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Collaborator
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