This dissemination and implementation study will examine the impact of the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) program on both church practices and member behaviors in both a countywide (randomized trial) and statewide (quasi-experimental) study. Guided by two theoretical frameworks, the specific aims of the applied research project are to: 1) examine the adoption and reach of FAN in churches and organizational factors associated with adoption; 2) characterize implementation fidelity and multilevel factors associated with implementation; 3) describe organizational maintenance of FAN and factors associated with maintenance; and 4) study the effectiveness of FAN.
The USC PRC's applied research project will study the dissemination and implementation of an evidence-based program shown previously to significantly increase physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake in churches in South Carolina (Faith, Activity, and Nutrition; FAN). Guided by two theoretical frameworks, the specific aims of the applied research project are to: 1) examine the adoption and reach of FAN in churches and organizational factors associated with adoption; 2) characterize implementation fidelity and multilevel factors associated with implementation; 3) describe organizational maintenance of FAN and factors associated with maintenance; and 4) study the effectiveness of FAN. In Phase 1, churches in a rural county with a high proportion of African American residents will be randomized to receive training in FAN from a community health advisor (n=40) or to be part of a delayed intervention control group (n=20). In Phase 2, a quasi-experimental study will be done with a large religious denomination in SC (churches are not randomized).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
1,807
Committees from 40 churches will be trained in the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition program by Community Health Advisors. The training focuses on helping churches create healthier church environments for physical activity and healthy eating using Cohen's structural model of health behavior as a guide. Each church committee participates in a full-day training and submits a program plan and budget. Churches receive materials to support implementation of the program. After the full-day training, trained churches receive 12 monthly technical assistance calls to help them implement their program plan. The church coordinator receives 8 calls and the pastor receives 4 calls over the 12 months. In Phase 2, the intervention is open to any church in the SC Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina, United States
University of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina, United States
Fairfield Behavioral Health Services
Winnsboro, South Carolina, United States
Adoption
(# of eligible churches that are trained / # of eligible churches)\*100
Time frame: 12 months
Reach
(# of church members in trained churches / # of members of all eligible churches)\*100
Time frame: 12 months
Implementation fidelity
Composite score consisting of implementation of core elements of the intervention
Time frame: 12 months
Maintenance
organization maintenance of the intervention based on leader reports
Time frame: 24 months
physical activity
Self-reported proportion of members meeting physical activity recommendations using (only for phase 1 of study)
Time frame: 12 months
fruit and vegetable intake
Self-reported cups per day of fruits and vegetables (only for phase 1 of study)
Time frame: 12 months
Self-efficacy for physical activity
Self-reported self-efficacy for physical activity (average of scale items) (only for phase 1 of study)
Time frame: 12 months
Self-efficacy for fruit and vegetable intake
Self-reported self-efficacy for fruit and vegetable intake (average of scale items) (only for phase 1 of study)
Time frame: 12 months
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