title: Reducing cardiovascular disease risk in mid-life and older African Americans: a church-based longitudinal intervention project at baseline.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  African Americans (AAs) experience higher age-adjusted morbidity and mortality than Whites for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Church-based health programs can reduce risk factors for CVD, including elevated blood pressure [BP], excess body weight, sedentary lifestyle and diet. Yet few studies have incorporated older adults and longitudinal designs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study are to: a) describe a theory-driven longitudinal intervention study to reduce CVD risk in mid-life and older AAs; b) compare selected dietary (fruit and vegetable servings/day, fat consumption), physical activity (PA) and clinical variables (BMI, girth circumferences, systolic and diastolic BP, LDL, HDL, total cholesterol [CHOL] and HDL/CHOL) between treatment and comparison churches at baseline; c) identify selected background characteristics (life satisfaction, social support, age, gender, educational level, marital status, living arrangement and medication use) at baseline that may confound results; and d) share the lessons learned.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study incorporated a longitudinal pre/post with comparison group quasi-experimental design. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) was used to discover ideas for the study, identify community advisors, recruit churches (three treatment, three comparison) in two-counties in North Florida, and randomly select 221 mid-life and older AAs (45+) (n=104 in clinical subsample), stratifying for age and gender. Data were collected through self-report questionnaires and clinical assessments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dietary, PA and clinical results were similar to the literature. Treatment and comparison groups were similar in background characteristics and health behaviors but differed in selected clinical factors. For the total sample, relationships were noted for most of the background characteristics. Lessons learned focused on community relationships and participant recruitment.
authors.affiliation: Center on Better Health and Life for Underserved Populations, Florida State University, C2200 University Center, P.O. Box 3062641, Tallahassee, FL 323062641, USA. Electronic address: pralston@fsu.edu.
authors.forename: Penny A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ralston
authors.affiliation: Nutrition and Food Systems, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive, #5172, Hattiesburg, MS, USA. Electronic address: jennifer.lemacks@usm.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lemacks
authors.affiliation: Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia, 103 Family Science Center I, Athens, GA 30602, USA. Electronic address: wickrama@uga.edu.
authors.forename: Kandauda K A S
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Wickrama
authors.affiliation: Center on Better Health and Life for Underserved Populations, Florida State University, C2200 University Center, P.O. Box 3062641, Tallahassee, FL 323062641, USA. Electronic address: iyoungclark@fsu.edu.
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Young-Clark
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, AHC I-450, Miami, FL 33199, USA. Electronic address: ccoccia@fiu.edu.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coccia
authors.affiliation: Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Science, Florida State University, 418 Sandels Building, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. Electronic address: jilichernst@fsu.edu.
authors.forename: Jasminka Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Ilich
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, Florida A&M University, College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA. Electronic address: Cynthia.harris2@famu.edu.
authors.forename: Cynthia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: North Florida Regional Thyroid Center, 1705 S Adams St, Tallahassee, FL 32301, USA. Electronic address: hart@thyroidcenter.com.
authors.forename: Celeste B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.affiliation: Mother Care Network, Inc., 919 Hardin Street, Quincy, FL 323513733, USA. Electronic address: arriebattle@comcast.net.
authors.forename: Arrie M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Battle
authors.affiliation: Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia, 103 Family Science Center I, Athens, GA 30602, USA. Electronic address: cwalker1@uga.edu.
authors.forename: Catherine Walker
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: O'Neal
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012067:Religion; D012107:Research Design; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids
keywords: African Americans; Cardiovascular disease; Church-based health promotion