Promoting Physical Activity in Churchgoing Latinas

Not Applicable

Completed

Brief Summary: The low prevalence of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among adult Latinas likely contributes to the high rates of cancer and other chronic diseases in this population. The goals of the current study, based largely upon the core principles of the Social Ecological Model, are to design, implement, and evaluate an innovative multi-level intervention promoting physical activity among churchgoing Latinas.

The evidenced-based intervention targets three "tiers" of environmental influences (i.e., church, immediate neighborhood surrounding the church, and community) on activity, as well as MVPA-related personal factors (i.e.., interpersonal, cultural, and perceived environmental variables). The physical activity intervention will be compared with an attention-control condition providing health education on cancer screening and prevention.

Sixteen churches will be randomly assigned to either the physical activity intervention or the attention-control condition. The primary aim of the study is to determine whether a multi-level intervention will increase MVPA among Latina churchgoers in the intervention condition relative to the attention-control condition.

Detailed Description: This two-group randomized controlled trial combines innovative and traditional methods for promoting moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and cancer screening (breast, cervical, colorectal, and skin) among Latinas, and is tested simultaneously in a two-group design. Both interventions lasted two years. The study's primary outcome was min/week of accelerometer-assessed MVPA at baseline (M1) and 12 months (M2) and 24 months (M3) following the start of the intervention.We selected cancer screening as a comparison condition given the relevance of this topic to our target community (i.e., low cervical and colorectal cancer screening rates and follow-up). It was hypothesized that over time, participants in the physical activity condition would engage in significantly higher levels of MVPA, compared to participants in the cancer screening condition. We also expected greater changes in individual-, interpersonal-, and environmental-level correlates of physical activity among participants in the physical activity condition compared to those in the cancer screening condition. Conversely, we expected that participants in the cancer screening condition would engage in higher screening rates compared to those in the physical activity intervention.We anticipated greater changes in individual, interpersonal, and environmental correlates of cancer screening in this condition compared to the physical activity condition.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Between the ages of 18-65 years of age
Latino
Must be a member of a participating church for at least six months
Live within 10-15 minutes driving distance from the church
Able to travel to the church during the week
Able to attend activities at the church during the week
Attend church activities (worship or otherwise) at least 4 times a month
Plan on living in same residence for the next 24 months
Engage in less than 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week

Exclusion Criteria

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Physical activity	Physical activity	Latinas exposed to multi-level Faith in Action intervention promoting physical activity.
Cancer screening	Cancer screening	Latinas exposed to Faith in Action intervention on cancer screening and prevention.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Accelerometer-based Moderate-to-vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA)	assessed at Baseline, 12 and 24 months following implementation of intervention activities, month 12 reported	Change from baseline in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity as assessed by accelerometer
Self-report Leisure-time MVPA	assessed at Baseline, 12 and 24 months following implementation of intervention activities, month 12 reported	Change from baseline in self-reported leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous physical activity

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Body Mass Index (BMI)	assessed at Baseline, 12 and 24 months following implementation of intervention activities, month 12 reported	Change from baseline in body mass index (BMI)
Waist Circumference	assessed at Baseline, 12 and 24 months following implementation of intervention activities, month 12 reported	Change from baseline in waist circumference