Physical Activity Interventions in Faith-Based Organizations: A Systematic Review

Parra, Maíra Tristão; Porfírio, Gustavo José Martiniano; Arredondo, Elva M.; Atallah, Álvaro Nagib

doi:10.1177/0890117116688107

Cited by 44 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 27 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…One strategy could be to identify and recruit naturally occurring groups, organized by location (eg, county, city), affiliation (eg, workplace, school, faith-based), or social group (eg, friends, clubs). Beyond groups such as walking or biking clubs, settings that show promise for purposive Walk Georgia recruitment (as a stand-alone intervention or a component of an existing PA intervention) are faith-based organizations ( 20 ), schools ( 21 – 23 ), and worksites ( 24 , 25 ). For example, in schools, Walk Georgia may be particularly attractive because of its interactive map of Georgia, online lesson plans ( www.walkgeorgia.org/lesson-plans.php ), point calculations, and information on county resources ( www.walkgeorgia.org/resources/county-resources.php ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual and Group-Based Engagement in an Online Physical Activity Monitoring Program in Georgia

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

IntroductionGiven the rising prevalence of obesity in the United States, innovative methods are needed to increase physical activity (PA) in community settings. Evidence suggests that individuals are more likely to engage in PA if they are given a choice of activities and have support from others (for encouragement, motivation, and accountability). The objective of this study was to describe the use of the online Walk Georgia PA tracking platform according to whether the user was an individual user or group user.MethodsWalk Georgia is a free, interactive online tracking platform that enables users to log PA by duration, activity, and perceived difficulty, and then converts these data into points based on metabolic equivalents. Users join individually or in groups and are encouraged to set weekly PA goals. Data were examined for 6,639 users (65.8% were group users) over 28 months. We used independent sample t tests and Mann–Whitney U tests to compare means between individual and group users. Two linear regression models were fitted to identify factors associated with activity logging.ResultsUsers logged 218,766 activities (15,119,249 minutes of PA spanning 592,714 miles [41,858,446 points]). On average, group users had created accounts more recently than individual users (P < .001); however, group users logged more activities (P < .001). On average, group users logged more minutes of PA (P < .001) and earned more points (P < .001). Being in a group was associated with a larger proportion of weeks in which 150 minutes or more of weekly PA was logged (B = 20.47, P < .001).ConclusionUse of Walk Georgia was significantly higher among group users than among individual users. To expand use and dissemination of online tracking of PA, programs should target naturally occurring groups (eg, workplaces, schools, faith-based groups).

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual and Group-Based Engagement in an Online Physical Activity Monitoring Program in Georgia

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Faith-based organizations (FBOs) provide a unique setting to implement evidence-based interventions (EBIs) and are increasingly recognized as important partners in Latino-focused health promotion efforts, including PA [ 8 – 12 ]. The strong connection between health messages and the spiritual mission of the FBO, in addition to its reach into underserved communities, further justify the church as an effective health promotion setting [ 13 , 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While churches are promising venues for health promotion programs [ 39 – 42 ], including PA interventions [ 8 , 11 , 43 – 45 ], the lack of understanding of organizational context and determinants for implementation and sustainment limit dissemination capability for these programs. Few faith-based health promotion studies have been taken to scale and [ 46 , 47 ] most have targeted African-American populations [ 46 , 48 , 49 ], and only a few have targeted PA as a main outcome, with limited effectiveness [ 8 , 11 ]. Webb and colleagues explored faith leaders’ perceptions of health and wellness; however, their sample was entirely Caucasian and majority Methodist, and did not focus on the implementation of a particular program [ 50 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying barriers, facilitators, and implementation strategies for a faith-based physical activity program

Haughton

Takemoto

Schneider

et al. 2020

Implement Sci Commun

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Community engagement is critical to the acceleration of evidence-based interventions into community settings. Harnessing the knowledge and opinions of community leaders increases the likelihood of successful implementation, scale-up, and sustainment of evidence-based interventions. Faith in Action (Fe en Acción) is an evidence-based promotora-led physical activity program designed to increase moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among churchgoing Latina women. Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews using a semi-structured interview guide based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) at various Catholic and Protestant churches with large Latino membership in San Diego County, California to explore barriers and facilitators to implementation of Faith in Action and identify promising implementation strategies for program scale-up and dissemination. We interviewed 22 pastors and church staff and analyzed transcripts using an iterative-deductive team approach. Results: Pastors and church staff described barriers and facilitators to implementation within three domains of CFIR: characteristics of individuals (lack of self-efficacy for and knowledge of physical activity; influence on churchgoers' behaviors), inner setting (church culture and norms, alignment with mission and values, competing priorities, lack of resources), and outer setting (need for buy-in from senior leadership). From the interviews, we identified four promising implementation strategies for the scale-up of faith-based health promotion programs: (1) health behavior change training for pastors and staff, (2) tailored messaging, (3) developing community collaborations, and (4) gaining denominational support. Conclusions: While churches can serve as valuable partners in health promotion, specific barriers and facilitators to implementation must be recognized and understood. Addressing these barriers through targeted implementation strategies at the adopter and organizational level can facilitate improved program implementation and lead the way for scale-up and dissemination.

show abstract

“…This study's focus on organizational change and sustainability contributes to the faith-based (and other organizational) interventions literature, as well as to dissemination and implementation research and process evaluation literatures. Our focus on organizational change, consistent with the structural model of health behavior, (15) rather than on individual behavior change, makes FAN distinct in the faith-based literature (18)(19)(20). The intervention, developed using a community-based participatory research approach, (14) was designed to increase church capacity, with the goal of fostering sustainable changes in the church setting.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) Dissemination and Implementation Study: 24-Month Organizational Maintenance in a Countywide Initiative

Wilcox

Saunders

Jake‐Schoffman

et al. 2020

Front. Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction: Despite the important role that faith-based organizations can play in eliminating health disparities, few studies have focused on organizational change and maintenance of interventions in this setting, making their long-term impact unknown. This study reports 24-month maintenance of the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) program in a southeastern county. Previously reported findings of reach, adoption, implementation, and effectiveness are also summarized. Methods: Church coordinators from 35 intervention churches (97% predominantly African American) located in a rural, medically underserved county in South Carolina were interviewed at baseline (2015), and 12-and 24-months post-training regarding implementation of physical activity (PA) and healthy eating (HE) components of the FAN program. Guided by the RE-AIM framework, organizational maintenance was defined as church coordinator-reported 24-month implementation of the four FAN components (providing opportunities, setting guidelines/policies, sharing messages, engaging pastor). Repeated measures analyses (mixed models) examined change in implementation over time. Churches were also classified as maintainers, non-sustained implementers, and low implementers for each FAN component. Statistical analyses were conducted in 2019. Results: Church coordinators reported significantly greater implementation of both PA and HE FAN components at 12 and 24 months compared to baseline (medium to large effects). The percentage of churches classified as maintainers ranged from 21 to 42 and 27 to 94% across PA and HE components, respectively. Most churches (58% for PA, 97% for HE) were maintaining at least one FAN component at 24 months. Conclusions: These promising findings position FAN well for the national implementation study now underway. Trial Registration: This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT02868866.

show abstract

Physical Activity Interventions in Faith-Based Organizations: A Systematic Review

Abstract: Faith-based organizations are promising settings to promote physical activity, consequently addressing health disparities. However, high-quality randomized clinical trials are needed to adequately assess the effectiveness of interventions delivered in faith-based organizations.

Cited by 44 publications

References 27 publications

Individual and Group-Based Engagement in an Online Physical Activity Monitoring Program in Georgia

Individual and Group-Based Engagement in an Online Physical Activity Monitoring Program in Georgia

Identifying barriers, facilitators, and implementation strategies for a faith-based physical activity program

The Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) Dissemination and Implementation Study: 24-Month Organizational Maintenance in a Countywide Initiative

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About