title: Translation of an Action Learning Collaborative Model Into a Community-Based Intervention to Promote Physical Activity and Healthy Eating.
abstract: Action Learning Collaboratives (ALCs), whereby teams apply quality improvement (QI) tools and methods, have successfully improved patient care delivery and outcomes. We adapted and tested the ALC model as a community-based obesity prevention intervention focused on physical activity and healthy eating.
  
  
  METHODS
  The intervention used QI tools (e.g., progress monitoring) and team-based activities and was implemented in three communities through nine monthly meetings. To assess process and outcomes, we used a longitudinal repeated-measures and mixed-methods triangulation approach with a quasi-experimental design including objective measures at three time points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the 97 participants were female (85.4%), White (93.8%), and non-Hispanic/Latino (95.9%). Average age was 52 years; 28.0% had annual household income of $20,000 or less; and mean body mass index was 35. Through mixed-effects models, we found some physical activity outcomes improved. Other outcomes did not significantly change. Although participants favorably viewed the QI tools, components of the QI process such as sharing goals and data on progress in teams and during meetings were limited. Participants' requests for more education or activities around physical activity and healthy eating, rather than progress monitoring and data sharing required for QI activities, challenged ALC model implementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An ALC model for community-based obesity prevention may be more effective when applied to preexisting teams in community-based organizations.
authors: Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA karen.e.schifferdecker@dartmouth.edu.
authors: Karen E
authors: KE
authors: Schifferdecker
authors: Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Lebanon, NH, USA.
authors: Anna M
authors: AM
authors: Adachi-Mejia
authors: Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA.
authors: Rebecca L
authors: RL
authors: Butcher
authors: Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA.
authors: Sharon
authors: S
authors: O'Connor
authors: Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Lebanon, NH, USA.
authors: Zhigang
authors: Z
authors: Li
authors: Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA.
authors: Dorothy A
authors: DA
authors: Bazos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D012944:Social Support; D014675:Vegetables; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: community; intervention; learning collaborative; obesity; physical activity; quality improvement