Partnering with the black church: recipe for promoting heart health in the stroke belt.

This article shares findings of elements to improve relations between community agencies and pastors, explores the strengths and challenges of working with churches, examines the role of the pastors in establishing successful programs, and identifies model programs. This article will identify key factors that are essential to cardiovascular health programs that purport to reach high-risk populations for cardiovascular disease with life saving environmental policies and behavior change strategies. Suggestions are provided for working with pastors, churches, and church resources to maximize the desired outcomes of future health promotion interventions. Examples of strategies include serving healthier choices during church meals; the inclusion of relevant scriptural citations in promotional materials; the implementation of instruction, training, and exercise programs; and, the provision of tangible compensation to the churches and congregants facilitating the health initiatives. PMID: 22774357 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Source: ABNF Journal : Official Journal of the Association of Black Nursing Faculty in Higher Education Inc - Category: Nursing Tags: ABNF J Source Type: research