This post offers a curated list of articles, toolkits, white papers, and other resources that explain evidence-based health promotion practices related to clinical best practices in primary care. Click on the toggle for any reference to view a brief summary of the document, its source, and an active link for access.
Look, M. A., Maskarinec, G. G., de Silva, M., Werner, K., Mabellos, T., Palakiko, D-M., Haumea, S. L., Gonsalves, J., Seabury, A. A., Vegas, J. K., Solatorio, C., & Kaholokula, J. K. (2023). Developing culturally-responsive health promotion: Insights from cultural experts
Summary: Culturally-responsive health promotion initiatives are important to the creation of health equity for Indigenous and minority populations and these initiatives are complex and time-intensive to establish. The knowledge and resources of cultural experts are often pivotal in programs, yet there is minimal research on effective collaborations. The KāHOLO Project demonstrated strong success in the management of uncontrolled hypertension in the high-risk Indigenous population through a 6-month program based on the Hawaiian cultural dance of hula. This program was developed utilizing a community-based participatory research approach and implemented by cultural experts. To better understand the effectiveness of the research endeavor and program, six experienced hula experts and educators who delivered the community-based program were interviewed. As skilled and trusted cultural experts they set a safe supportive learning environment that promoted health and cultural goals. They articulated it was important that the program maintained cultural priorities and integrity. Through the methodical establishment of mutual respect, cooperation on research protocols and requirements was achieved. The development of cultural experts as health allies offers important inroads to the inclusion of minority and Indigenous cultures in health programming.
Look, M. A., Maskarinec, G. G., de Silva, M., Werner, K., Mabellos, T., Palakiko, D-M., Haumea, S. L., Gonsalves, J., Seabury, A. A., Vegas, J. K., Solatorio, C., & Kaholokula, J. K. (2023). Developing culturally-responsive health promotion: Insights from cultural experts. Health Promotion International, 38(2), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daad022
Smith, T. M., Tucker, C. M., Arthur, T. M., Wippold, G. M., & Tran, S. (2017). Frequency of visits to a health care provider, health promoting behaviors, and perceived health status among African American women
Abstract: The primary purpose of this study was to examine whether the self-reported number of health care visits over a 1-year period was associated with engagement in health promoting behaviors (i.e., healthy eating and physical activity) and perceived health status among a cross-sectional sample of African American women who were pre-hypertensive/hypertensive and/or overweight or obese (N = 180). The study participants were recruited in predominantly African American churches and had their data collected in April and May of 2009. Age, income, and education were also examined as moderators in the aforementioned relationships. Results revealed that the self-reported number of health care visits was significantly positively associated with healthy eating and perceived health status. Income moderated the relationship between self-reported number of health care visits and engagement in healthy eating. These results provide support for health promotion programs for African American women with program components that explain the relationships among routine care from a health care provider, engagement in health promoting behaviors, and prevention of chronic health conditions.
Smith, T. M., Tucker, C. M., Arthur, T. M., Wippold, G. M., & Tran, S. (2017). Frequency of visits to a health care provider, health promoting behaviors, and perceived health status among African American women. Women & Health, 57(5), 583–598. https://doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2016.1178683
Tucker, C. M., Wippold, G. M., Williams, J. L., Arthur, T. M., Desmond, F. F., & Robinson, K. C. (2017). A CBPR study to test the impact of a church-based health empowerment program on health behaviors and health outcomes of Black adult churchgoers
Abstract: Black adults in the United States are disproportionately affected by health disparities, such as overweight and obesity. Research suggests that Black adults engage in fewer health-promoting behaviors (e.g., physical activity and healthy eating) than their non-Hispanic White counterparts. These health-promoting behaviors are known protective factors against overweight/obesity and related health concerns. This community-based participatory research study employed a waitlist control design and a university-church partnership approach to test the impact of a church-based health-empowerment program designed to increase health-promoting behaviors (called health-smart behaviors) and improve health indicators (e.g., reduce weight) among overweight/obese Black adult churchgoers. Results indicate that the intervention group (n = 37) experienced a significant increase in levels of healthy eating and physical activity and a significant decrease in weight compared to the waitlist control group (n = 33). Results from this study have implications for the design of church-based, culturally sensitive health promotion interventions to increase health-smart behaviors and ultimately prevent and reduce obesity and related diseases in Black communities.
Tucker, C. M., Wippold, G. M., Williams, J. L., Arthur, T. M., Desmond, F. F., & Robinson, K. C. (2017). A CBPR study to test the impact of a church-based health empowerment program on health behaviors and health outcomes of Black adult churchgoers. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 4(1), 70–78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-015-0203-y
Wippold, G. M., Jowers, T., Garcia, K. A., Frary, S. G., Murphy, H., Brown, S., Carr, B., Jeter, O., Johnson, K., Williams, T. L. (2023). Understanding and promoting preventive health service use among Black men: Community-driven and informed insights
Abstract: Black men experience high rates of adverse health that can be prevented or mitigated by the regular use of preventive health services. Efforts are urgently needed to promote this type of health service use among Black men. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the Institute of Medicine indicate that such efforts must align with Black men’s values, perspectives, and preferences. However, little guidance exists on how to align these efforts for Black men. The present qualitative study was developed to understand factors associated with preventive health service use among Black men and community-informed strategies to promote preventive health service use among these men. An approach rooted in community-based participatory research and ecological theory was used. A core leadership team consisting of five Black men from the area guided the project’s development, implementation, and evaluation. The core leadership team conducted 22 interviews with Black men from their communities. Four themes emerged from these interviews: (1) holistic well-being challenges faced by Black men: interaction of mental, physical, and societal forces; (2) the interplay of financial, informational, and gendered barriers/facilitators to using preventative health services among Black men; (3) the importance of shared identity in peer health education about preventive health service use; and (4) the need for community-centered initiatives to improve preventive health service use among Black men that prioritize accessibility and information. Findings of the present study can be used to tailor preventive health service use efforts for Black men. Such efforts have the potential to promote health and mitigate health disparities.
Wippold, G. M., Jowers, T., Garcia, K. A., Frary, S. G., Murphy, H., Brown, S., Carr, B., Jeter, O., Johnson, K., Williams, T. L. (2023). Understanding and promoting preventive health service use among Black men: Community-driven and informed insights. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-023-01864-3