For example, previous faith-based programs have focused on supporting pastors and/or other lay health leaders (6) and addressing other leverage points of health behavior change, including behavior modification (7), proposing policy, and changing the church environment (8). Health programs that result from academic and faith-based partnerships may help engage these priority populations and contribute to health equity (5). The prevalence of many chronic diseases is higher among African Americans than among other racial/ethnic groups (1,2), and people living in rural areas have poorer health compared with people living in urban areas (3,4). Providing opportunities for healthy eating during already scheduled events may be an effective strategy for improving fruit and vegetable behavior. Member-perceived implementation was more strongly associated with member behaviors than coordinator-reported implementation. Member perceptions at 12 months of fruit and vegetable opportunities, pastor support, and messages were associated with higher fruit and vegetable consumption and self-efficacy. Member perceptions at 12 months of church physical activity opportunities, pastor support, and messages were associated with higher self-efficacy for physical activity pastor support and messages were positively associated with physical activity. Coordinator-reported 12-month implementation of fruit and vegetable opportunities was associated with member fruit and vegetable consumption. Multilevel modeling examined associations between independent variables and member-reported 12-month physical activity and fruit and vegetable behaviors and self-efficacy. Independent variables were coordinator-reported baseline practices, baseline-adjusted 12-month implementation, and member-perceived 12-month implementation.
Church members (n = 893) reported perceived implementation, physical activity and fruit and vegetable behaviors, and self-efficacy at 12-month follow-up in 2016. In this correlational study, FAN coordinators (n = 35) for each church reported baseline practices in 2015 and 12-month follow-up implementation of the 4 components for physical activity and healthy eating in 2016.
After attending in-person training, led by community health advisors, church committees received 12 months of telephone-delivered technical assistance to implement FAN according to 4 components: increasing opportunities, increasing guidelines and policies, increasing pastor support, and increasing messages for physical activity and healthy eating in their church. FAN was implemented in 35 churches in a southeastern US county. This study examined associations between implementation of FAN intervention components and church members’ physical activity, fruit and vegetable behaviors, and self-efficacy for improving these behaviors. The Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) program helps churches improve physical activity and fruit and vegetable behaviors of members.
Implementation research of health programs in faith-based organizations is lacking. Member perceptions of opportunities, pastor support, and messages may be important program targets. What are the implications for public health practice?įaith-based programs should emphasize increasing opportunities for fruits and vegetables and physical activity to improve member health. Member perceptions of opportunities, pastor support, and messages were related to their physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake behaviors and self-efficacy. Leader reports of opportunities predicted fruit and vegetable and physical activity behaviors among members. This study reports the relationships between implementation components of a faith-based program and study outcomes from perspectives of program leaders and program members. Effectiveness studies have shown that faith-based programs lead to improved health behaviors.
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