CHP Funded Study: Blood Pressure Control in African Americans

Church-based Health Promotion to Improve Blood Pressure Control

Penny A. Ralston, Ph.D.
Professor, Dean Emeritus & Director
Better Health & Life Center for Underserved Populations
Florida State University

Funding Source: Capital Health Plan

Timeline for Project: July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009

Goals and Objectives

The overall goal of this proposed project is to improve blood pressure control through promoting healthy lifestyles with members of selected churches in a four-county region of North Florida. The following are the specific objectives and expected outcomes of the proposed project:

Objective 1. Improve healthy lifestyle behaviors related to blood pressure control.

Outcomes:
1a. Increase in the number of fruits and vegetables consumed daily.
1b. Increase daily minutes of physical activity.

Objective 2. Improve physical health.

Outcomes:
2a. Decrease and/or maintained weight.
2b. Decrease and/or maintained body fat (BMI).
2c. Decrease and/or maintained blood pressure levels.

Activities

The project will involve:

identifying health ministry leaders in each church,
identifying selected families in each church,
providing training for health ministry leaders,
developing an intervention program for the selected families,
assisting health ministry leaders in developing health program models for their churches, and
recognizing churches and the selected families for their achievements.

Churches and participants will receive a small stipend for completion of participation in activities.

Procedures and Assessment

A quasi-experimental design with five treatment and two comparison churches in the Leon County area will be used for the project. Baseline data will be collected to provide information for program planning in the churches. In addition, pre- and post-test data on fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity and physical health (weight, BMI and blood pressure) will be collected from the selected families to evaluate the project.

For more information, contact Penny Ralston at (850) 645-8110 or pralston@fsu.edu. For more information about the Center on Better Health & Life, please go to www.bhlcenter.fsu.edu

		Mailing Address: C2200 University Center P.O. Box 3062641 Tallahassee, FL 32306-2641 Center Location: 2010 Levy Avenue Building B, Suite 288 Tallahassee, FL 32310-5712 Map Contact send email 850-645-8110


Home About Us Projects -CWP -NEI -MEMS Collaborators & Partners Staff Consulting Services	Church-based Health Promotion to Improve Blood Pressure Control Penny A. Ralston, Ph.D. Professor, Dean Emeritus & Director Better Health & Life Center for Underserved Populations Florida State University Funding Source: Capital Health Plan Timeline for Project: July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009 Goals and Objectives The overall goal of this proposed project is to improve blood pressure control through promoting healthy lifestyles with members of selected churches in a four-county region of North Florida. The following are the specific objectives and expected outcomes of the proposed project: Objective 1. Improve healthy lifestyle behaviors related to blood pressure control. Outcomes: 1a. Increase in the number of fruits and vegetables consumed daily. 1b. Increase daily minutes of physical activity. Objective 2. Improve physical health. Outcomes: 2a. Decrease and/or maintained weight. 2b. Decrease and/or maintained body fat (BMI). 2c. Decrease and/or maintained blood pressure levels. Activities The project will involve: identifying health ministry leaders in each church, identifying selected families in each church, providing training for health ministry leaders, developing an intervention program for the selected families, assisting health ministry leaders in developing health program models for their churches, and recognizing churches and the selected families for their achievements. Churches and participants will receive a small stipend for completion of participation in activities. Procedures and Assessment A quasi-experimental design with five treatment and two comparison churches in the Leon County area will be used for the project. Baseline data will be collected to provide information for program planning in the churches. In addition, pre- and post-test data on fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity and physical health (weight, BMI and blood pressure) will be collected from the selected families to evaluate the project. For more information, contact Penny Ralston at (850) 645-8110 or pralston@fsu.edu. For more information about the Center on Better Health & Life, please go to www.bhlcenter.fsu.edu