Reducing cardiovascular disease in a rural community

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Disparities
• Community-Based Interventions

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention requires tailored interventions for diverse populations.
• Evidence-based interventions often need adaptation for specific community contexts.
• Rural, African-American communities face unique challenges in accessing CVD prevention resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt an existing evidence-based CVD prevention intervention for a rural, predominantly African-American community.
• To engage community partners throughout the adaptation process.
• To ensure the intervention's content, materials, and delivery methods align with community needs and preferences.

Main Methods:

• A community-engaged formative research phase guided the adaptation process.
• A framework for adapting evidence-based interventions was utilized.
• Stakeholder engagement involved assessing intervention fit and iteratively adapting components.

Main Results:

• Community input informed the adaptation of intervention content, materials, and delivery.
• CHW roles, workflows, and training plans were developed based on formative findings.
• The adapted intervention was tailored to the specific needs and resources of the target community.

Conclusions:

• Community-engaged formative work is crucial for adapting evidence-based interventions.
• Successful adaptation enhances intervention relevance and potential effectiveness in specific populations.
• This approach can improve CVD prevention efforts in underserved rural communities.