title: The effectiveness of a health promotion with group intervention by clinical trial. Study protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The promotion of health and the interventions in community health continue to be one of the pending subjects of our health system. The most prevalent health problems (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes...) are for the most part related to life habits. We propose a holistic and integral approach as the best option for tackling behavior and its determinants. The research team has elaborated the necessary educational material to realize group teaching, which we call "Health Workshops". The goal of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of these Health Workshops in the following terms: Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL), incorporate and maintain a balanced diet, do physical activity regularly, maintain risk factors such as tension, weight, cholesterol within normal limits and diminish cardiovascular risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Controlled and random clinical testing, comparing a group of persons who have participated in the Health Workshops with a control group of similar characteristics who have not participated in the Health Workshops.Field of study: the research is being done in Health Centers of the city of Barcelona, Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  The group is composed of 108 persons that are actually doing the Health Workshops, and 108 that are not and form the control group. They are assigned at random to one group or the other.
  
  
  METHODS
  With Student's t-distribution test to compare the differences between numerical variables or their non parametric equivalent if the variable does not comply with the criteria of normality. (Kolmogorov-Smirnof test). Chi-square test to compare the differences between categorical variables and the Logistic Regression Model to analyze different meaningful variables by dichotomous analysis related to the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Health Workshop proposed in the present study constitutes an innovative approach in health promotion, placing the emphasis on the person's self responsibility for his/her own health.The rhythm of a weekly session during 8 weeks with recommended activities to put into practice, as well as the support of the group is an opportunity to incorporate healthy habits and make a commitment to self-care. The sheets handed out are a Health Manual that can always be consulted after the workshop ends.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: NCT01440738.
authors.affiliation: Basic Area of Health Sanllehy, Catalan Institute of Health, Av, Mare de Déu de Montserrat, 16-18, 08024 Barcelona, Spain. macampo@gencat.cat
authors.forename: Maria-Antonia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Campo Osaba
authors.forename: José-Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Del Val
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lapena
authors.forename: Vicencia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Laguna
authors.forename: Araceli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lozano
authors.forename: Ziortza
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Rómulo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Enriqueta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Borrás
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Orfila
authors.forename: María Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Tierno
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001835:Body Weight; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004032:Diet / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011594:Psychometrics; D011786:Quality Control; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires