 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Hector Balcazar, MS, PhD1, Matilde Alvarado, RN, MSN2, Margarita P Hurtado, PhD, MHS3, Zoe Santiago-Font3, and Jeffrey Hall3. (1) Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, University of North Texas, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, University of North Texas, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107-2699, 817-735-5430, hbalcaza@hsc.unt.edu, (2) NIH, Office od Prevention, Education, and Control. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute., 31 Center Drive, MSC 2480, Building 31, Room 4A-16, Bethesda, MD 20892-2480, (3) American Institutes for Research, 1000 Thomas Jefferson St. NW, Washington, DC 20007
Objectives. To examine the short-term effectiveness of the family education component of NHLBI’s “Salud para su Corazón” community outreach and education program in 2001. Specifically, to assess the outcomes of educational activities led by promotores on the self-reported practice of heart healthy behaviors by Latino families. Methods. 33 promotores were recruited and trained in 7 Latino communities in the US. They educated 223 families using a predefined curriculum of 7 sessions. We calculated pre and post scores based on responses to the family heart healthy habits survey conducted by the promotores before and after completing the curriculum. We compared mean scores using paired t-tests. Results. 190 of the 223 families completed both surveys and all educational sessions. Overall mean scores increased from 41/100 to 59/100, an average increase of 18% (16, 21). Paired t-tests were statistically significant at p<0.0001 for increase in overall mean score and subscores by topic. The greatest improvement was in behaviors related to decreased consumption of saturated fat (43/100 to 69/100)and practices associated with weight reduction and control (51/100 to 72/100). Although families reported an increase after the program (from 30/100 to 47/100), the least common practice was physical activity. An increase in practices associated with weight control and physical activity should be particularly beneficial since 50% of family members reported being overweight and 45% reported lacking sufficient physical activity. Conclusions. Results suggest that trained Latino promotores can be effective health educators as reflected by the increased frequency of heart healthy behaviors reported by families.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Lay Health Workers, Health Promotion
Related Web page: www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/heart/latino/latin_pg.htm
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.