Carol Mangone, PhD, CHES¹, Irene Tessaro, DrPH, MSN¹, Sheila Rye, MS, CHES¹, David Goodrich, MS¹, Lindsey Parker, MS¹, Sam Zizzi, EdD², and Irfan Parkar, MPH³. (1) West Virginia University Community Health Initiatives, PO Box 6275, 3040 University Avenue, Morgantown, WV 26506, 304-293-1713, srye@hsc.wvu.edu, (2) School of Physical Education, West Virginia University, 275A Coliseum, PO Box 6116, Morgantown, WV 26506, (3) School of Nursing, West Virginia University, PO Box 6275, Morgantown, WV 26506

Focus On Health is a CDC funded project that aims to improve health behaviors associated with colorectal cancer through churches. Sixteen churches were recruited to participate and randomly assigned to intervention (12) or control (4). Focus groups were conducted in the twelve intervention churches to gain a better understanding of parishioner’s knowledge and behavior practices, culturally based health beliefs, barriers to change in the areas of dietary fat, fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, and colorectal cancer screening. Social Support and Social Network Theory, Social Cognitive Theory, the Health Belief Model, and the Transtheoretical Model informed the development of the focus group script. Results of the focus groups were shared with all churches at a formal gathering. Sharing the results inspired parishioners to brainstorm ways their churches could provide social and environmental support for behavior change in the areas of healthy eating and physical activity. This presentation will describe findings from the focus groups regarding barriers to healthy eating and physical activity and the menu of interventions proposed by parishioners and researchers including healthy eating cooking classes; offering healthy choices at all church sponsored events; viewing an interactive nutrition video; creating a healthy eating cookbook or calendar; establishing walking routes, with mileage markers, around the community; holding walking events around church calendar themes; establishing walking groups; and pedometer usage to encourage increasing physical activity.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session participants will be able to

• List concepts of various theories used to inform the focus group script,
• Describe ways in which formative research, particularly focus groups, can inspire and inform research participants to develop intervention program activities

Keywords: Faith Community,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.