Mid-life and older African Americans (AAs), a population that is increasing in number, have higher rates of cardiovascular-related morbidity and mortality than Whites, particularly in relation to dietary and physical activity behaviors. Few tested health promotion interventions tailored for mid-life and older AAs are available yet churches have been shown to be an effective environment for AA health programs. Thus, the overall goal of this project is to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in mid-life and older AAs through implementing and evaluating a church-based health intervention. Using the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change (TTM), this project seeks to: 1) determine the effectiveness of a church-based intervention in relation to dietary behaviors (food choice, dietary quality) and habitual physical activity (PA) toward subsequent improvement in CVD risk factors of mid-life and older AAs. Specifically, the intervention will focus on increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables and calcium-rich foods;decreasing consumption of fat, sugar and sodium;increasing habitual PA, all geared to improving selected clinical outcomes (blood lipids, blood pressure, body weight, among others);2) identify the differentia) influence of program components of the intervention;3) examine variables that might mediate the process of goal achievement;and 4) determine variables that are related to stage of change progression in goal achievement Midlife and older AAs (n=300) from four churches, two treatment and two comparison, in North Florida will be .selected for the study. The intervention, to be developed using a community-based participatory approach, will include literature-based conceptual elements of awareness building, clinical learning and efficacy development. Instruments will include a food and lifestyle habits questionnaire (food frequency, NCI fruit and vegetable screener, NCI fat screener, physical activity items, TTM items, background characteristics). Cinical data and 3-day dietary records, will be collected from subsample (n=100). Data will be collected at four points: before, 2-times during and after the intervention. The project will be guided by an Advisory Committee (research and community advisors). Diseases such as hypertension and stroke affect mid-life and older African Americans at higher rates than Whites, negatively affecting health status of this group. This project will determine effectiveness of a faith-based intervention to improve health in mid-life and older African Americans.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
Type
Resource-Related Research Projects (R24)
Project #
5R24MD002807-04
Application #
8020155
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZMD1-RN (01))
Program Officer
Goodwin, Paula
Project Start
2008-06-03
Project End
2013-01-31
Budget Start
2011-02-01
Budget End
2012-01-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$315,596
Indirect Cost
Name
Florida State University
Department
Type
Organized Research Units
DUNS #
790877419
City
Tallahassee
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
32306
RancaƱo, Katherine M; Ralston, Penny A; Lemacks, Jennifer L et al. (2018) Antioxidant intake in relation to serum C-reactive protein in mid-life and older African Americans. Ethn Health :1-13
Mendez, Yesenia P; Ralston, Penny A; Wickrama, Kandauda K A S et al. (2018) Lower life satisfaction, active coping and cardiovascular disease risk factors in older African Americans: outcomes of a longitudinal church-based intervention. J Behav Med 41:344-356
Ralston, Penny A; Young-Clark, Iris; Coccia, Catherine (2017) The Development of Health for Hearts United: A Longitudinal Church-based Intervention to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk in Mid-life and Older African Americans. Ethn Dis 27:21-30
Carter, Ashley N; Ralston, Penny A; Young-Clark, Iris et al. (2016) Diabetic indicators are the strongest predictors for cardiovascular disease risk in African American adults. Am J Cardiovasc Dis 6:129-37
Lemacks, J L; Ilich, J Z; Liu, P-Y et al. (2016) Dietary Influence on Calcitropic Hormones and Adiposity in Caucasian and African American Postmenopausal Women Assessed by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). J Nutr Health Aging 20:602-10
Ralston, Penny A; Lemacks, Jennifer L; Wickrama, Kandauda K A S et al. (2014) Reducing cardiovascular disease risk in mid-life and older African Americans: a church-based longitudinal intervention project at baseline. Contemp Clin Trials 38:69-81
O'Neal, C W; Wickrama, K A S; Ralston, P A et al. (2014) Examining change in social support and fruit and vegetable consumption in African American adults. J Nutr Health Aging 18:10-4
O'Neal, Catherine Walker; Wickrama, Kandauda K A S; Ralston, Penny A et al. (2014) Eating behaviors of older African Americans: an application of the theory of planned behavior. Gerontologist 54:211-20
O'Neal, Catherine Walker; Wickrama, K A S; Ralston, Penny A et al. (2013) Health Insurance, Psychological Processes, and Older African Americans' Use of Preventive Care. J Health Psychol :
McDole, Melissa; Ralston, Penny A; Coccia, Catherine et al. (2013) The development of a tracking tool to improve health behaviors in African American adults. J Health Care Poor Underserved 24:171-84

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