title: Promoting Heart Health Among Rural African Americans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death for people living in the United States. African Americans bear a disproportionate burden of cardiovascular disease. Interventions designed to target multiple risk factors may facilitate elimination of cardiovascular disease health disparities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate a culturally relevant cardiovascular health promotion intervention that could potentially reduce cardiovascular disease risk among a group of rural African American adults by improving intentions, attitudes, norms, and self-efficacy to increase produce consumption, reduce dietary saturated fat intake, and increase exercise.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cluster randomized controlled trial design was used to evaluate the effect of the "With Every Heartbeat Is Life" cardiovascular health promotion program among rural African Americans. The African American congregants of 12 rural churches located in northern Florida were randomly assigned to either an intervention group that received a culturally relevant cardiovascular health promotion intervention or a control group. Data analysis using linear mixed model was performed to compare group differences from pretest to posttest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cardiovascular health promotion intervention had a positive influence on the intentions, attitudes, norms, and self-efficacy of rural African Americans to increase produce consumption and reduce dietary saturated fat. The intervention also enhanced participants' attitudes and self-efficacy regarding exercise.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The culturally relevant cardiovascular health promotion program presented to cluster groups of rural African American participants had positive influences on psychosocial variables associated with engaging in cardiovascular health recommendations. Nurse-led interventions in community settings can potentially reduce cardiovascular disease risk.
authors.affiliation: Laurie Abbott, PhD, RN, APHN-BC Assistant Professor, Florida State University College of Nursing, Tallahassee. Christine Williams, DNSc, RN Professor and PhD Program Director, Florida Atlantic University Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Boca Raton. Elizabeth Slate, PhD Duncan McLean and Pearl Levine Fairweather Professor, Florida State University Department of Statistics, Tallahassee. Sareen Gropper, PhD, RDN Professor, Florida Atlantic University Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Boca Raton.
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Slate
authors.forename: Sareen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gropper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012423:Rural Health; D012424:Rural Population; D020377:Self Efficacy