title: Training of lay health educators to implement an evidence-based behavioral weight loss intervention in rural senior centers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lay health educators (LHEs) offer great promise for facilitating the translation of evidence-based health promotion programs to underserved areas; yet, there is little guidance on how to train LHEs to implement these programs, particularly in the crucial area of empirically validated obesity interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article describes experiences in recruiting, training, and retaining 20 LHEs who delivered a 12-month evidence-based behavioral lifestyle intervention (based on the Diabetes Prevention Program) in senior centers across a rural state. A mixed method approach was used which incorporated collecting the folllowing: quantitative data on sociodemographic characteristics of LHEs; process data related to training, recruitment, intervention implementation, and retention of LHEs; and a quantitative program evaluation questionnaire, which was supplemented by a qualitative program evaluation questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were calculated for quantitative data, and qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The training program was well received, and the LHEs effectively recruited participants and implemented the lifestyle intervention in senior centers following a structured protocol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The methods used in this study produced excellent long-term retention of LHEs and good adherence to intervention protocol, and as such may provide a model that could be effective for others seeking to implement LHE-delivered health promotion programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. RAKrukowski@uams.edu
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Krukowski
authors.forename: Shelly
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lensing
authors.forename: Sharhonda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Love
authors.forename: T Elaine
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Prewitt
authors.forename: Becky
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Carol E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Cornell
authors.forename: Holly C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Felix
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: West
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D040441:Health Educators / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D019035:Rural Health Services; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods*