Health Promotion Interventions at Project DIRECT Linda Treiber

Health Promotion Interventions at Project DIRECT Linda Treiber, RN, MS, Evaluation Consultant, Project DIRECT Nicole Beckwith, BS, Health Promotion Coordinator, Project DIRECT

Health Promotion: Overall Goals Improve Exercise Habits/Increase Physical Activity n Improve Nutrition n For persons at risk for diabetes-to prevent or delay the onset of the disease n For persons with diabetes-improve gycemic control, decrease or prevent complications n

Ready Set Walk n A six week community–based walking program n Goal: To increase and promote regular physical activity, as a lifetime activity • Held in churches, public parks, community centers and clinics • Started in Year 03, April 1996 n n Must complete a Pre-activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q). Must have medical clearance

RSW n Program is divided into two main components: • Instructional/educational session • Walking session led by facilitator • Healthy snack when its over n Barriers to continued practice: n n n Perception that walking is not really “doing” anything Finding a safe place to walk Finding someone to walk with.

Lay Exercise Leader n Community members who actively serve as advocates for walking programs in their community • n Started in May 1999 Year 05 Training-3 sessions for a total of 8 hours 1. Teaching others proper exercise techniques 2. Motivation and maintaining interest 3. Adult CPR

Lay Exercise Leader n Barriers • Keeping level of enthusiasm high • Identifying committed persons to volunteer n Based on program evaluations from participants • Revised LEL manual • Revised protocol n Ongoing programs • Worthdale Community Center • Rex Senior Center at St. Augustine's College • Rock Quarry Family Medicine

Diet Education Church Nutrition Training n n Designed for food preparers to encourage organizations to provide healthier foods for special events Provide participating churches with interactive cooking demonstrations Use of lower-fat cooking techniques with traditional foods Began in Project Year 04 -March 1998 • • • Martin Street Baptist Church Macedonia United Church of Christ St Matthew Baptist Church Elevation Baptist church Bethlehem Baptist Church

Focus groups-Church Nutrition n Focus groups told us: n n n It costs more to eat/cook healthy foods Would like a greater number of sessions Would like the sessions to be held at varied times Request that we demonstrate how to fix smaller meals (instead of enough food for a church supper) Would like healthy variations on more types of food

On-going Evaluation of Health Promotion n Internal data collection: Who, what, where, and when n Program and instructor evaluations n Focus group feedback n Goal setting n