title: Improving heart health among Black/African American women using civic engagement: a pilot study.
abstract: Despite increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and related conditions, evaluations of health interventions indicate that Black/African American women are less likely to benefit than their white counterparts and are not as likely to engage in behaviors that reduce CVD risk. The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility and effectiveness of civic engagement as an intervention strategy to address heart health in Black/African American women.
  
  
  
  Using a quasi-experimental pre-post study design, civic engagement was tested by convening a convenience sample of self-identified Black/African American women, ages 30-70 years, English-speaking, and BMI ≥25.0 (n = 28) into "Change Clubs" in four churches. Feasibility was examined through adherence, satisfaction, retention, and ability of Change Clubs to meet at least 50% of self-identified action steps for community change. Effectiveness data included: dietary intake, measures of physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, blood pressure, and anthropometrics. Psychosocial factors hypothesized to serve as the mechanisms by which civic engagement enacts behavior change were also assessed.
  
  
  
  At baseline, the study sample (n = 28) had a mean age of 50.5 y; 53.6% had an associate degree or higher; 60.7% had an income of $35,000 or higher; and 57.4% were employed full time. At the conclusion of the study, all participants were satisfied with the progress of their Change Club and with the overall experience and Change Clubs met their self-identified action steps for community change. The intervention had a significant effect on finish time on the cardiorespiratory fitness test (p < 0.001) and systolic blood pressure (p < 0.001).
  
  
  
  Study results suggest feasibility and evidence of preliminary effectiveness of using a civic engagement approach to address behavior change in a way that is appealing and acceptable to Black/African American women.
  
  
  
  NCT02173366.
authors.affiliation: Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Boston, MA, USA. alison.brown@tufts.edu.
authors.forename: Alison G M
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Linda B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chui
authors.affiliation: Moakley Center for Public Management, Suffolk University, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Nesly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Metayer
authors.affiliation: Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Namibia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lebron-Torres
authors.affiliation: Cornell University College of Human Ecology, Ithaca, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Seguin
authors.affiliation: Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Sara C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Folta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D001900:Boston; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D003256:Community Participation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D065228:Non-Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects
keywords: Blacks/African Americans; Cardiovascular disease; Health disparities; Lifestyle behaviors Socioecological model