Engagement indicators predict health changes in a lifestyle intervention.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the utility of several participant engagement indicators for predicting health changes in a church-based lifestyle intervention shown effective for improving dietary, physical activity, and clinical outcomes.


METHODS
Descriptive indicators were constructed using 2 participant engagement measures - education session attendance (EDA) and exercise class attendance (EXA) - separately and combined. Relationships of 6 engagement indicators to health outcomes were tested using generalized linear mixed models.


RESULTS
EDA predicted 5 dietary and 1 clinical outcome, whereas EXA predicted one physical activity and one clinical outcome. The combined indicator predicted the same 7 outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of single engagement indicators specific to each intervention component is advocated for predicting relevant health outcome.
US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Stoneville, MS, USA. jessica.thomson@ars.usda.gov.
Jessica L
JL
Thomson
Department of Medicine and Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Lisa M
LM
Tussing-Humphreys
US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Stoneville, MS, USA.
Melissa H
MH
Goodman
Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Virginia Tech, VA, USA.
Jamie M
JM
Zoellner
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*