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Health is Power: An Ecological Theory-based Health Intervention for Women of Color

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Physical Activity
Interventions
Behavioral: Group Cohesion
Registration Number
NCT02394171
Lead Sponsor
Arizona State University
Brief Summary

Health Is Power (HIP) was a community based health intervention designed to increase physical activity among women of color. It was funded by a grant from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health. The purposes of the study were (1) to determine whether a 6 month, group cohesion intervention is more effective for increasing physical activity compared to a 6 month, group cohesion comparison targeting improving dietary habits (2) to determine whether residence in a neighborhood supportive for physical activity helped women maintain their physical activity from 6 to , and (3) to determine whether this effect was transculturally replicable.

Detailed Description

Objective Physical inactivity and poor dietary habits plague Americans as health challenges, with women of color most vulnerable to their detrimental effects. Individually focused interventions have not demonstrated lasting success, possibly due to the lack of focus on sustainable social and physical environment factors. Health Is Power (HIP) was a transcultural, community based, randomized controlled trial that investigated the effectiveness of a group cohesion intervention to increase physical activity in African American and Hispanic or Latina women in Houston and Austin, Texas and then tested whether women living in more supportive areas maintained their physical activity over time. Intervention development was guided by group dynamics principles anchored within an ecologic model. Women participated in three health assessments and a six month face to face intervention that included evidence-based behavioral methods - integrated into strategies to promote group cohesion - framed to account for environmental factors contributing to health disparities. Women participated in team building activities, environmental mapping exercises, and supervised walks or taste tests. Neighborhood contextual and environmental measures were measured to test ecologic factors that may contribute to behavioral maintenance.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
410
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Fruit and VegetableGroup CohesionWomen completed a fruit and vegetable group cohesion intervention which involved six content intensive intervention sessions over a 24 week period that focused on specific group dynamics team building strategies to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. A small team structure was used for peer problem solving and support throughout. Teams were given weekly fruit and vegetable consumption goals at each session, with slowly increasing weekly servings milestones to gradually meet recommended amounts of fruit and vegetable consumption. Sessions included brief instructions, team-based activities, and discussion with the entire group lead by a trained health educator. The intervention sessions ended with the health educator leading the teams in a fruit and vegetable taste test.
Physical ActivityGroup CohesionWomen completed a physical activity group cohesion intervention which included six content intensive intervention sessions over a 24 week period that focused on specific group dynamics team building strategies to increase physical activity. A small team structure was used for peer problem solving and support throughout the intervention. Teams were given weekly physical activity goals, with slowly increasing weekly minutes milestones to gradually meet recommended amounts of physical activity. Sessions included brief instructions, team-based activities, and discussion with the entire group lead by a trained health educator. The intervention sessions ended with the health educator leading the teams in a brisk 15-minute walk.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Physical Activity as measured by accelerometry and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)6 months

women were measured at baseline and 6 month

Maintenance in Physical Activity as measured by accelerometry and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)6 months

women were measured at 6 months and 12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
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