Project EXPORT Research Core
Research Core Specific Aims and Recent Highlights
The Research Core focuses on translational research. Specifically,
behavioral interventions have the potential for preventing human
suffering and massive medical expenses associated with poor health
behaviors. Evidence suggests that community efforts to increase health
promotion have inadvertently increased health disparities because
low-income and minority individuals have been less likely to benefit
from these health interventions than have middle-class white Americans.
Specifically, because of high rates of obesity among low-income African
American and Latino women, they remain at high risk for type 2
diabetes. The EXPORT team participated in the ground-breaking
intervention study that recently demonstrated that a life style
intervention is effective in preventing type 2 diabetes. The Research
Core has modified this intervention for low-income Latinas and plans to
disseminate this intervention in community settings.
The Research Core specific aims are:
Specific Aim 1:
To translate a lifestyle intervention shown to be effective at lowering
incidence of Type 2 diabetes through weight loss for dissemination to
low-income Latinas.
Specific Aim 2: To
examine the impact of an empirically-validated lifestyle intervention
for reducing weight in low-income Latinas when administered by lay
health workers or promotoras.
Specific Aim 3:
To begin to develop appropriate measures for assessing the cost
effectiveness of providing a lifestyle intervention to low-income
Latinas.
Specific Aim 4: To conduct
an ethnographic study to evaluate the facilitators and barriers to
implementation of a lifestyle intervention in community settings for
low-income Latinas.
Specific Aim 5:
To develop expertise for culturally adapting and disseminating
behavioral interventions in community settings so that specific aims
1-4 can be achieved for low-income African Americans.
This
research is highly significant, as obesity remains a problem for many
Americans, and African American and Latina women are particularly
over-represented among those who are obese. Although interventions are
helpful in improving diet and exercise, few individuals receive these
interventions. This study will determine how to get effective lifestyle
interventions to low-income African American and Latina women.
Recent Research Core Highlights
Development
of sustainable prevention strategies is critical especially for Latina
and African American women who are overweight. The project implemented
by the Research Core moves one step closer to achieving sustainable
preventative healthy lifestyle changes to decrease chronic disease
among disadvantaged populations who have limited access to heath care.
Focus groups have been completed and the findings published. (Punzalan
C, Paxton KC, Guentzel H, Bluthenthal RN, Staunton AD, Mejia G, Morales
L, Miranda J. Seeking community input to improve implementation of a
lifestyle modification program. Ethn Dis. 2006 Winter;16(1 Suppl
1):S79-88). A pilot intervention is underway
