title: Building strong and ready Army families: a multirisk reduction health promotion pilot study.
abstract: A quasi-experimental prospective study was conducted to assess the stage of change progression and elimination of unhealthy behaviors among active duty Army soldiers and their spouses (N = 245) before and after attending a community-based wellness program. Significant differences in stage progression between the intervention group and a comparison group was seen in the fitness (p = 0.05) and communication risk categories (p = 0.03) immediately after the intervention; significant differences in stage progression in fitness (p = 0.05) and spirituality (p = 0.005) risk categories 6 months after baseline. There was a significant increase in seat belt use (p = 0.008), a decrease in reported tobacco use (p < 0.05), and a reduction in family stress (p = 0.06) and personal stress (p < 0.02) in the intervention group. Targeting multiple behavior changes and risk reduction in a single intervention program presents several challenges. In this pilot study, there were many positive nonsignificant trends in risk reduction that might translate into significant changes with a larger sample.
authors.affiliation: University of Hawaii, School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, 2528 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
authors.forename: Victoria P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Niederhauser
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maddock
authors.forename: Francine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: LeDoux
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arnold
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D020377:Self Efficacy; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States