Health is Power: An Ecological Theory-based Health Intervention for Women of Color

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Health Is Power (HIP) was a community based health intervention designed to increase physical activity among women of color. It was funded by a grant from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health. The purposes of the study were (1) to determine whether a 6 month, group cohesion intervention is more effective for increasing physical activity compared to a 6 month, group cohesion comparison targeting improving dietary habits (2) to determine whether residence in a neighborhood supportive for physical activity helped women maintain their physical activity from 6 to , and (3) to determine whether this effect was transculturally replicable.

Detailed Description
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Objective Physical inactivity and poor dietary habits plague Americans as health challenges, with women of color most vulnerable to their detrimental effects. Individually focused interventions have not demonstrated lasting success, possibly due to the lack of focus on sustainable social and physical environment factors. Health Is Power (HIP) was a transcultural, community based, randomized controlled trial that investigated the effectiveness of a group cohesion intervention to increase physical activity in African American and Hispanic or Latina women in Houston and Austin, Texas and then tested whether women living in more supportive areas maintained their physical activity over time. Intervention development was guided by group dynamics principles anchored within an ecologic model. Women participated in three health assessments and a six month face to face intervention that included evidence-based behavioral methods - integrated into strategies to promote group cohesion - framed to account for environmental factors contributing to health disparities. Women participated in team building activities, environmental mapping exercises, and supervised walks or taste tests. Neighborhood contextual and environmental measures were measured to test ecologic factors that may contribute to behavioral maintenance.

Official Title
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Health is Power: An Ecological Theory-based Health Intervention for Women of Color

Conditions
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Physical Activity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Group Cohesion


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion criteria: African American or Hispanic/ Latina Between the ages of 25 and 60 years old Able to read, speak, and write in English or Spanish Not pregnant or planning to become pregnant within the next 12 months Resident of Harris or Travis County, Texas Not planning on moving in the next 12 months Physically inactive or did not do more than 30 min of physical activity per day on 3 or more days per week No history of medical illness or currently taking medication (could have medical waiver from physician if did not meet this) Willing to be randomized to either a physical activity group or a vegetable and fruit group Available between 5:30 and 8:00 PM on meeting dates.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 26 Years
Maximum Age: 60 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Physical Activity<br>Women completed a physical activity group cohesion intervention which included six content intensive intervention sessions over a 24 week period that focused on specific group dynamics team building strategies to increase physical activity. A small team structure was used for peer problem solving and support throughout the intervention. Teams were given weekly physical activity goals, with slowly increasing weekly minutes milestones to gradually meet recommended amounts of physical activity. Sessions included brief instructions, team-based activities, and discussion with the entire group lead by a trained health educator. The intervention sessions ended with the health educator leading the teams in a brisk 15-minute walk. | Behavioral: Group Cohesion<br>* See description in arm/group above<br>|
| Active Comparator: Fruit and Vegetable<br>Women completed a fruit and vegetable group cohesion intervention which involved six content intensive intervention sessions over a 24 week period that focused on specific group dynamics team building strategies to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. A small team structure was used for peer problem solving and support throughout. Teams were given weekly fruit and vegetable consumption goals at each session, with slowly increasing weekly servings milestones to gradually meet recommended amounts of fruit and vegetable consumption. Sessions included brief instructions, team-based activities, and discussion with the entire group lead by a trained health educator. The intervention sessions ended with the health educator leading the teams in a fruit and vegetable taste test. | Behavioral: Group Cohesion<br>* See description in arm/group above<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Physical Activity as measured by accelerometry and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) | women were measured at baseline and 6 month | 6 months | 
| Maintenance in Physical Activity as measured by accelerometry and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) | women were measured at 6 months and 12 months | 6 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Physical Activity, Social Cohesion, Intervention Development, Ethnic Minorities, Nutrition