title: A study of rural church health promotion environments: leaders' and members' perspectives.
abstract: This study examined the beliefs of church leaders about health and associations between these beliefs and the church health promotion environment (CHPE). Perceptions of the CHPE by leaders and members of the same churches were also compared. Interviews were conducted with pastors (n = 40) and members (n = 96) of rural churches. They were Baptist (60%), and 57.5% were predominantly White, while 42.5% were Black. Leaders' beliefs regarding talking about health topics in sermons were associated with the presence of health messages in the church. There was also a significant association between leaders' beliefs about members' receptivity to health messages and the presence of messages in the church. Leaders' and members' perceptions of the CHPE were discordant. While some leaders' beliefs may be related to the CHPE, other factors may explain why programs and policies exist in some churches and not others.
authors: Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3300 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA. rmw27@georgetown.edu
authors: Randi M
authors: RM
authors: Williams
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Glanz
authors: Michelle C
authors: MC
authors: Kegler
authors: Ernest
authors: E
authors: Davis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002835:Christianity; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population