MedPath

The Change Club Study: Evaluation of Civic Engagement for Built Environment Change and Health Improvement

Not Applicable
Active, not recruiting
Conditions
Heart Diseases
Interventions
Behavioral: Group 1 (Intervention)
Behavioral: Group 2 (Control)
Registration Number
NCT05002660
Lead Sponsor
Texas A&M University
Brief Summary

This is a community randomized controlled trial to evaluate a civic engagement curriculum through which residents will identify barriers and facilitators to healthy eating and physical activity and then implement a project in their communities.

Detailed Description

The purpose of this research is to better understand how resident-led activities to change the community environment affect health. The Change Club is a small group of residents who will try to change their community environment relative to food (for example, foods in restaurants or schools) or physical activity opportunities (for example, parks or walking trails) by following a step-wise process facilitated by an extension educator. The purpose of this research is to better understand if and how these activities affect individual behaviors (for example physical activity) and health outcomes (for example BMI) of adults in rural communities.

This study will take place in designated rural communities in Texas and New York. It is planned that about 2,260 people will participate in this study. Some will participate as Change Club members; some will participate as family and friends of Change Club members; and others will participate as community residents.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
2420
Inclusion Criteria

We will be recruiting Change Club members (CCM), friend and family members (FFM) of CCM, and community residents (CR).

Common inclusion criteria include:

  • Age 18-99
  • English-speaking

CCM also must:

  • Provide consent electronically
  • Be willing to be randomized to either group
  • Score "poor" or "intermediate" on at least one of the Simple 7 composite score items (e.g. not meeting Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans)
  • Live in one of the designated towns in NY and TX

FFM also must:

  • Provide consent electronically
  • Be family members or friends identified by a CCM

CR also must:

  • Provide consent electronically
  • Live in one of the designated towns in NY and TX
Exclusion Criteria
  • Cognitive impairment (if it precludes completion of assessments and/or intervention)
  • Inability to communicate due to severe, uncorrectable hearing loss or speech disorder (if it precludes completion of assessments and/or intervention)
  • Severe visual impairment (if it precludes completion of assessments and/or intervention)
  • Inability to read (as it precludes completion of assessments and/or intervention)
  • Already included in another study sample (e.g. CR cannot also be CCM)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Group 1 (Intervention)Group 1 (Intervention)For Change Club members (CCM) only: CCM will participate in meetings of the Change Club and continue implementation of a change to the community environment for up to an additional 24 months. Change Club members will also be asked to recruit 10 or more friends and family members (FFM) to participate in the research study. In addition, 100 community residents (CR) will be recruited into the study. Family members, friends and community residents do not participate in the Change Club, but may hear about Change Club activities in their community.
Group 2 (Control)Group 2 (Control)Control group participants will participate in no intervention activities during the 3-year research study.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 (LS7) cardiovascular health scoreBaseline to 24 months

American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 (LS7) score is a composite of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (physical activity, eating habits, smoking status, cholesterol, glucose, body mass index (BMI), and blood pressure). Score ranges from 0 to 14. Higher scores indicate better health.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in consumption of whole grainsBaseline to 24 months

Whole grain consumption (servings/day) will be assessed using an LS7 item and a 24-hour recall.

Met recommendation for fish consumption (y/n)Baseline to 24 months

Whether or not a participant met the recommendation for fish consumption will be assessed using an LS7 item.

Change in red and processed meat consumptionBaseline to 24 months

Total red and processed meat consumption (g/week) will be estimated using the DSQ and a 24-hour recall.

Change in healthy eating motivationBaseline to 24 months

Healthy eating motivation will be assessed by an adapted version of the Naughton \& McCarthy Healthy Eating Motivation scale (3 items). Scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate greater motivation.

Change in body mass index (BMI)Baseline to 24 months

Height and weight will be self-measured and BMI will be calculated.

Change in waist circumferenceBaseline to 24 months

Waist circumference (cm(in)) will be self-measured.

Percent with diabetes/prediabetesBaseline to 24 months

Percent with diabetes/ prediabetes will be classified from self-reported measurements, diagnosis, and medication use.

Change in fruit and vegetable intakeBaseline to 24 months

Total fruit and vegetable intake (cups/day) will be measured using a LS7 item and a 24-hour recall.

Change in frequency of consuming ultra-processed foodsBaseline to 24 months

Frequency of ultra-processed foods consumption (times/month) will be assessed using a 9-item questionnaire adapted from the DSQ and the Beverage and Snack Questionnaire (BSQ2) and a 24-hour recall.

Change in total physical activityBaseline to 24 months

Total physical activity (MET-min/wk) will be assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire long form (IPAQ-long).

Change in World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) recommendation adherence scoreBaseline to 24 months

WCRF/AICR recommendation adherence score is a composite of seven items listed above: BMI, physical activity, fiber intake, fruit and vegetable consumption, processed food consumption, red meat consumption, and alcohol consumption. Scores range from 0 to 7. Higher scores indicate greater adherence to the recommendations.

Change in confidence for healthy eatingBaseline to 24 months

Confidence for healthy eating will also be assessed by using a newly created scale (7 items) adapted from the Sallis Eating Habits Confidence Survey and the Seguin-Fowler Expanded Eating Habits Confidence Survey (7 items). Scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate greater confidence.

Percent with high/elevated blood pressureBaseline to 24 months

Percent with high/elevated blood pressure will be classified from self-reported measurements, diagnosis, and medication use.

Current smoker (y/n)Baseline to 24 months

Whether or not a participant currently smokes will be assessed using an LS7 item.

Change in total HEI scoreBaseline to 24 months

Total Healthy Eating Index (HEI) score will be calculated from a single 24-hour recall collected via the Automated Self-Administered 24-hour Dietary Assessment Tool (ASA24). Score ranges from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate better diet.

Change in social support for physical activityBaseline to 24 months

Social support (family and friends) for physical activity will be assessed by the Ball Social Support for Physical Activity scale. Scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate greater social support.

Change in alcohol consumptionBaseline to 24 months

Alcohol consumption (drinks/day) will be assessed using a 2-item questionnaire adapted from the Alcohol Use Disorders Screening Test (AUDIT) and a 24-hour recall.

Change in total steps per dayBaseline to 24 months

Total steps per day will be calculated using the average of self-reported pedometer or wearable fitness tracker readings.

Change in exercise confidenceBaseline to 24 months

Exercise confidence will be assessed by an adapted version of the Sallis Exercise Confidence Survey (3 items). Scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate greater confidence.

Change in (community) social cohesionBaseline to 24 months

Community social cohesion will be assessed by the social cohesion sub-scale of the Mujahid et al. Neighborhood Environment Scale (NES). Scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate greater social cohesion.

Change in general civic engagement behaviorsBaseline to 24 months

Civic engagement behaviors will be assessed by the behaviors sub-scale of the Doolittle \& Faul Civic Engagement Scale. Scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate more frequent civic engagement behaviors.

Percent with high/borderline high cholesterol.Baseline to 24 months

Percent with high/borderline high cholesterol will be classified from self-reported measurements, diagnosis, and medication use.

Change in general health statusBaseline to 24 months

General health status will be assessed using the general health question from the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). Scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate better health.

Change in fiber intakeBaseline to 24 months

Fiber intake (g/day) will be assessed using the NHANES Dietary Screener Questionnaire (DSQ) and a 24-hour recall.

Change in investment in community healthBaseline to 24 months

Investment in community health (number of priorities) will be assessed using the investment in community health sub-scale of the RWJF National Survey of Health Attitudes. Scores range from 0 to 5. Higher scores indicate higher priority placed on community health.

Change in fresh fruit and vegetable availabilityBaseline to 24 months

Fresh fruit and vegetable availability will be assessed by an adapted fresh fruit and vegetable availability sub-scale (3 items) of the Green \& Glanz Perceived Nutrition Environment Measures Survey (NEMS-P). Scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate greater availability.

Change in social support for healthy eatingBaseline to 24 months

Social support (family and friends) for healthy eating will be assessed by the Ball Social Support for Healthy Eating scale. Scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate greater social support.

Change in exercise attitudesBaseline to 24 months

Exercise attitudes will be assessed using selected items adapted from section 2, question 5 of the AARP Exercise Attitudes and Behaviors Survey (4 items). Scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate more positive attitudes.

Change in social engagementBaseline to 24 months

Social engagement (family and friends) will be assessed by the Lubben Social Network Scale. Scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate greater social engagement.

Change in individual mobilizationBaseline to 24 months

Individual mobilization will be assessed using the human capital sub-scale of the Jakes \& Shannon Mobilization Scale - Individual. Scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate greater mobilization.

Change in general civic engagement attitudesBaseline to 24 months

Civic engagement attitudes will be assessed by the attitudes sub-scale of the Doolittle \& Faul Civic Engagement Scale. Scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate more positive civic engagement attitudes.

Change in neighborhood safetyBaseline to 24 months

Neighborhood safety will be assessed by an adapted neighborhood safety sub-scale of the NES (3 items). Scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate greater neighborhood safety.

Change in store selection motivationBaseline to 24 months

Store selection motivation will be assessed by an adapted store selection motivation sub-scale from NEMS-P (3 items). Scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate greater motivation.

Change in walking environmentBaseline to 24 months

Walking environment will be assessed by an adapted walking sub-scale of the NES (7 items). Scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate more favorable walking environments.

Change in neighborhood aestheticBaseline to 24 months

Neighborhood aesthetic quality will be assessed by an adapted neighborhood aesthetic sub-scale of the NES (2 items). Scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate a more favorable neighborhood.

Change in restaurant healthy food availabilityBaseline to 24 months

Restaurant healthy food availability will be assessed by an adapted restaurant healthy food availability sub-scale from NEMS-P (2 items). Scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate greater availability of healthy food in restaurants.

Trial Locations

Locations (13)

Center and Shelbyville

🇺🇸

Center, Texas, United States

Canastota

🇺🇸

Canastota, New York, United States

Camden and surrounding towns

🇺🇸

Camden, New York, United States

Carthage and surrounding towns

🇺🇸

Carthage, New York, United States

Hamilton and surrounding towns

🇺🇸

Hamilton, New York, United States

Rome

🇺🇸

Rome, New York, United States

Hounsfield and surrounding towns

🇺🇸

Sackets Harbor, New York, United States

Marshall

🇺🇸

Marshall, Texas, United States

Plainview

🇺🇸

Plainview, Texas, United States

Watertown

🇺🇸

Watertown, New York, United States

Groveton and Woodlake

🇺🇸

Groveton, Texas, United States

Trinity

🇺🇸

Trinity, Texas, United States

Littlefield and surrounding towns

🇺🇸

Littlefield, Texas, United States

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath