Examining the Impact of Health Education Programs in the Church Community on the Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Diseases.

Impact of Health Education Programs in the Church Community on Cardiovascular Diseases

What are the goals of health education programs in the church community in preventing and managing cardiovascular diseases?

Health education programs in the church community have specific goals in preventing and managing cardiovascular diseases. These programs aim to promote healthy lifestyles and behaviors, increase awareness and knowledge about cardiovascular diseases and associated risk factors, and encourage regular physical exercise and healthy eating habits among participants [1]. The ultimate objective is to empower individuals to take control of their health and prevent cardiovascular diseases. Church-based health promotion programs specifically target African Canadians, aiming to prevent and manage cardiovascular diseases among this population group [1]. Lay health educators recruited participants from their respective churches and administered their own 12-week HeartSmarts program. These programs aim to achieve significant reductions in pretest and posttest total participant averages for systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and BMI [2]. Lay health educators active in their churches can learn the basics of cardiovascular disease and methods for delivering the program to their congregations' members through a 12-week training program [2]. Health information must be disseminated within a context aligned with the values and beliefs of the African American population to effectively address cardiovascular disease among them. Faith-based organizations play a critical role in meeting the religious and spiritual needs of many African Americans and can be effective in health promotion [2]. Health organizations and agencies are keen to support and encourage these programs for cardiovascular disease risk populations such as African Americans and other minority groups. Cardiovascular disease is one of the six priority health areas in the REACH 2010 program. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched a community demonstration program called REACH 2010 to eliminate disparities in cardiovascular diseases, with the aim of preventing and managing cardiovascular diseases in the community [3]. However, the church community's goals in preventing and managing cardiovascular diseases are not mentioned in the given text [3].

What are the components of health education programs in the church community that are effective in preventing and managing cardiovascular diseases?

Churches are among the most established community institutions and have proved to be effective in promoting health education programs. Health promotion and intervention programs in places of worship are an example of church-based community health promotion projects [4]. Church-based health promotion programs have been extensive in the past, with the ABC's pioneering community health promotion programs being a prime example. These programs include organizing churches as high blood pressure centers among African Americans, which has proved to be effective [5]. An evaluation survey assessed the impact of the intervention, and a health promotion intervention was found to be effective in improving heart health. Outreach efforts were made to organize charlas at churches and community gatherings [6]. The effectiveness of community health education programs has been demonstrated in various settings such as small churches, community clubs, county and health fairs, worksites, and any other setting that can support healthy behavior change [7]. Psychological well-being plays a vital role in promoting cardiovascular health. In the Cardiovascular Health Promotion Series, psychological well-being is focused on, as it is known to protect health or buffer cardiotoxic effects of stressful experiences [8]. Lay health educators active in their churches participated in a 12-week program that aimed to reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors. This program was found to be effective in reducing cardiovascular disease risk factors among participants [2]. Church-based community programs have also been designed to increase physical activity in midlife women to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. These programs have been found to positively affect health behavior changes in a church-based community [9]. Socioeconomic status has an effect on health, but social construction tends to have an effect on health, independent of SES. Contributing to curriculum development for healthcare providers and community-based health education, the Bronx Health REACH has been able to work with churches and other community groups to improve health outcomes [3]. Churches have proved to be an established institution in promoting health education programs, and their involvement in health promotion has already demonstrated positive impacts on communities [1]. Church-based cholesterol education programs have been found to be effective in improving health outcomes among participants, underlining the importance of church-based public health education and community-based programs [10].

What are the outcomes of health education programs in the church community in preventing and managing cardiovascular diseases?

Churches are powerful institutions that can be harnessed to promote health education programs to prevent and manage cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). For instance, the ABC’s pioneering community health promotion programs have been extensive in organizing churches as high blood pressure (BP) control centers [5]. Small churches, community clubs, county and health fairs, worksites and any other institutions with no prior history of heart disease have little effect on cardiovascular morbidity and none on mortality [7]. In a study, lay health educators active in their churches participated in a 12-week cardiovascular disease risk reduction program. These cardiovascular disease risk factors are largely preventable with lifestyle changes [2]. The social construction of churches tends to have an effect on health, independent of SES. It is essential to involve the churches in health promotion activities since they are among the most established community institutions [3][1]. Additionally, a church-based community program designed to increase physical activity in midlife women to reduce the risk of CVDs has been shown to positively affect health behavior changes in a community [9]. Finally, evaluation surveys are needed to assess the impact of the intervention. A health promotion intervention for improving heart health through outreach efforts and organizing charlas at churches, communities, and other relevant institutions has been noted to be effective [6]. However, other approaches are needed to assess the effects of community health promotion projects [4].

1.Tomlinson, S.Evidence to support church-based health promotion programmes for African Canadians at risk for cardiovascular disease. (n.d.) Retrieved October 12, 2023, from link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10903-011-9502-5
2.Tettey, N., Duran, P., Andersen, H.Evaluation of HeartSmarts, a faith-based cardiovascular health education program. (n.d.) Retrieved October 12, 2023, from link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10943-016-0309-5
3.Liburd, L., Jack Jr, L., Williams, S., Tucker, P.Intervening on the social determinants of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. (n.d.) Retrieved October 12, 2023, from www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749379705002643
4.Mittelmark, M., Hunt, M., Heath, G.Realistic outcomes: lessons from community-based research and demonstration programs for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. (n.d.) Retrieved October 12, 2023, from link.springer.com/article/10.2307/3342877
5.Ferdinand, K., Patterson, K., Taylor, C.Community‐based approaches to prevention and management of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. (n.d.) Retrieved October 12, 2023, from onlinelibrary.wiley.com
6.Alcalay, R., Alvarado, M., Balcazar, H., Newman, E.Salud para su Corazon: a community-based Latino cardiovascular disease prevention and outreach model. (n.d.) Retrieved October 12, 2023, from link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1018734303968
7.Crouch, R., Wilson, A., Newbury, J.A systematic review of the effectiveness of primary health education or intervention programs in improving rural women's knowledge of heart disease risk factors and …. (n.d.) Retrieved October 12, 2023, from onlinelibrary.wiley.com
8.Kubzansky, L., Huffman, J., Boehm, J.Positive Psychological Well-Being and Cardiovascular Disease: JACC Health Promotion Series. (n.d.) Retrieved October 12, 2023, from www.jacc.org/doi/abs/10.1016/j.jacc.2018.07.042
9.Peterson, J., Atwood, J., Yates, B.Key elements for church‐based health promotion programs: outcome‐based literature review. (n.d.) Retrieved October 12, 2023, from onlinelibrary.wiley.com
10.Egan, B., Lackland, D.Strategies for cardiovascular disease prevention: importance of public and community health programs. (n.d.) Retrieved October 12, 2023, from www.jstor.org/stable/45409221