Problem. Sedentary lifestyles and poor nutritional intake are significant contributors to the prevalence of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Prevalence rates of these chronic diseases are higher in ethnically-diverse, low-income communities. Community-based, tailored approaches are indicated to transfer research on behavior change into practice. This paper presents the results of a physical activity and nutritional intervention study across eight nursing centers of the Midwest Nursing Centers Consortium Research Network. Framework. The Health Belief Model in concert with Lundeen's Nursing Center Model framed the study. Subjects. After IRB approval, adult patients presenting for non-acute illnesses at a participating nursing center were recruited if they were at risk for chronic disease according to Healthy People 2010. Patients were included in the study if they had controlled BP and normal urinalysis, regardless of their BMI. Method. A cross-sectional research design was used for this study that was provided in English or Spanish. Video teleconferences were used to maintain continuity between sites. Interventions that were both culturally and educationally appropriate followed a 16-week course titled, “Wellness for a Lifetime,” which included health buddies, support groups, organized walking, and presentations. Weekly evaluations of health behaviors were conducted. Results. Preliminary results found that subjects were predominantly women (84%) with an age range between 40-83 years. The ethnic distribution was diverse with Caucasian (48%), African American (39%), Hispanic (11%), and Native American (1%) participants. Of the 121 patients that signed consents, 82 subjects started the program. A further 21 patients withdrew during the study for an overall attrition rate of 50%. Further data analysis is underway. Conclusion. Tailored, community-based interventions are predicted to improve health behaviors in high-risk, ethnically diverse patients of nursing centers. The successful completion of a Practice-Based Research Network study is significant for its outreach to underserved communities across geographical locations.
Funded: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Session #1122 - Midwest Nursing Centers Consortium Research Network: A Novel Approach to Physical Activity and Nutrition Interventions across Nursing Centers
The 29th Annual MNRS Research Conference (April 1-4, 2005)