Increasing Physical Activity Among African-American Women and Girls

BACKGROUND Community-based participatory research is an effective tool for improving health outcomes in minority communities. Few community-based participatory research studies have evaluated methods of optimizing smartphone apps for health technology-enabled interventions in African Americans. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to utilize focus groups (FGs) for gathering qualitative data to inform the development of an app that promotes physical activity (PA) among African American women in Washington, DC. METHODS We recruited a convenience sample of African American women (N=16, age range 51-74 years) from regions of Washington, DC metropolitan area with the highest burden of cardiovascular disease. Participants used an app created by the research team, which provided motivational messages through app push notifications and educational content to promote PA. Subsequently, participants engaged in semistructured FG interviews led by moderators who asked open-ended questions about participants’ experiences of using the app. FGs were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim, with subsequent behavioral theory-driven thematic analysis. Key themes based on the Health Belief Model and emerging themes were identified from the transcripts. Three independent reviewers iteratively coded the transcripts until consensus was reached. Then, the final codebook was approved by a qualitative research expert. RESULTS In this study, 10 main themes emerged. Participants emphasized the need to improve the app by optimizing automation, increasing relatability (eg, photos that reflect target demographic), increasing educational material (eg, health information), and connecting with community resources (eg, cooking classes and exercise groups). CONCLUSIONS Involving target users in the development of a culturally sensitive PA app is an essential step for creating an app that has a higher likelihood of acceptance and use in a technology-enabled intervention. This may decrease health disparities in cardiovascular diseases by more effectively increasing PA in a minority population.

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Exploring the Relationship of Religiosity, Religious Support, and Social Support Among African American Women in a Physical Activity Intervention Program

Journal of Religion and Health ◽

10.1007/s10943-015-0017-6 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 55 (2) ◽

pp. 495-509 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Idethia Shevon Harvey ◽

Chandra R. Story ◽

Douglas Knutson ◽

Melicia C. Whitt-Glover

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Social Support ◽

African American ◽

African American Women ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Physical Activity Intervention ◽

Religious Support ◽

American Women ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship

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A Diabetes Management Program for African American Women With Type 2 Diabetes

The Diabetes Educator ◽

10.1177/014572170002600508 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 26 (5) ◽

pp. 796-805 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Thomas C. Keyserllng ◽

Alice S. Ammerman ◽

Carmen D. Samuel-Hodge ◽

Allyson F. Ingram ◽

Anne H. Skelly ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

African American ◽

Randomized Trial ◽

African American Women ◽

Diabetes Management ◽

Self Care ◽

American Women ◽

Phone Calls

PURPOSE this paper describes a clinic and community-based diabetes intervention program designed to improve dietary, physical activity, and self-care behaviors of older African American women with type 2 diabetes. It also describes the study to evaluate this program and baseline characteristics of participants. METHODS The New Leaf... Choices for Healthy Living With Diabetes program consists of 4 clinic-based health counselor visits, a community intervention with 12 monthly phone calls from peer counselors, and 3 group sessions. A randomized, controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention is described. RESULTS Seventeen focus groups of African American women were used to assessed the cultural relevance/acceptability of the intervention and measurement instruments. For the randomized trial, 200 African American women with type 2 diabetes were recruited from 7 practices in central North Carolina. Mean age was 59, mean diabetes duration was 10 years, and participants were markedly overweight and physically inactive. CONCLUSIONS Participants found this program to be culturally relevant and acceptable. Its effects on diet, physical activity, and self-care behaviors will be assessed in a randomized trial.

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