Church Orientation Meeting

Welcome!

Version 1. 2/12/14

Overview• Background Information• The WORD Program

– What is it?– How will it work? / Randomization– Who can participate?– Church Benefits/Commitments

• Consent• Next Steps and Questions

Version 1. 2/12/14

Background: Health in Our CommunityArkansas U.S.

Cancer deaths 209 /100,00 186/ 100,000

Diabetes 11.2% 9.5%

Heart Disease 6.7% 6.5%

Overweight & Obesity 66.3% 63.6%

No physical activity 29.8% 26.2%

Sources: United States Department of Health and Human Services (US DHHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), and BRFSS Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Updated 12/13/12

Version 1. 2/12/14

Background: God and Health

“’Everything is permissible for me’—but not everything is beneficial. ’Everything is permissible for me’—but I will not be mastered by anything.” 1 Corinthians 6:12

• God Cares About Your Health

• God’s Way to be Healthy “No temptation has overtaken you except as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able; but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

Version 1. 2/12/14

The WORD Program• Created by the Faith Task Force and the

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS)

• Change the health of the Community through the WORD of God, healthy eating, and active living

Version 1. 2/12/14

What is The WORD?• Bible-based program to help people draw closer to God to be healthier

• About nutrition and physical activity for healthy weight

• A small groups of 15 people meet on a regular basis

• A research project

Version 1. 2/12/14

WORD is a Research Project• Research is a way to gather information

so it can benefit a lot of people

• What does the WORD want to test?

-Will the WORD work in a community/real-world setting?

-Will a high-intensity program help people maintain a healthy weight better than a low-intensity program?

Version 1. 2/12/14

WORD is Evidence-based

• The WORD is evidence-based

• Adapted materials from the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP)

• In the DPP, a healthy lifestyle was more powerful than drugs to reduce the risk of developing diabetes

Version 1. 2/12/14

How will the WORD work?• Recruiting 30 churches in the Arkansas

Lower Mississippi Delta area to participate

• Participants will participate in an 18-month program

• The program will include a 1 hour lesson and Bible study, and 30 minutes of physical movement

Version 1. 2/12/14

Randomization

• Churches will offer either a lower-intensity or a higher-intensity weight-loss intervention.

• Participating churches will not know if they will be selected to participate in the lower or higher intensity intervention.

• Participating churches will be “randomized,” or divided by chance, into each intervention toward the end of the first 16 sessions.

Version 1. 2/12/14

How often will it meet?

Low-intensity program

High-intensity program

18-months

• 16 sessions• First 8 sessions will

meet weekly• Last 8 sessions will

meet every other week

• 16 sessions (same as low-intensity)

• After the 16 sessions, will meet once a month for 12 months Version 1. 2/12/14

WORD Leaders

• The Church will identify 2 WORD Leaders• All of the WORD sessions will be led by the

2 WORD Leaders• WORD Leaders will be trained to deliver

the WORD program by the study staff • These individuals can be either volunteers

or staff of the church

Version 1. 2/12/14

• Ability to travel

• Willingness to speak the truth

• Desire and excitement to teach the material

• An understanding of Christian principles

• Ability to work independently and with others

WORD Leaders: Who to choose

Version 1. 2/12/14

WORD Leader Responsibilities• Get certified to conduct research (CITI

training)

• Complete a 28 hour training in nutrition, physical activity, healthy weight, and faith

• Lead a small group of people (10-15 people) through the WORD research program

Version 1. 2/12/14

• Receive training in the most scientifically advanced knowledge about healthy eating, physical activity, and healthy weight

• Learn more about how to connect faith and health, and how to draw closer to God; share the Word of God to help people live the abundant life

• Receive $100 for every session delivered (up to 2 WORD Leaders per site)

WORD Leader Benefits

Version 1. 2/12/14

WORD Program Topics

• Healthy Eating

• Physical Activity/Physical Movement

• Healthy Weight

• Maintaining healthy behaviors

• Connecting faith and health

Version 1. 2/12/14

Who Can Participate?• Generally healthy African Americans aged

18 and older• Desire to have a healthy weight (have a

Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥25) • Not had a heart attack or stroke in the

past 6 months• Not currently on medication that might

affect weight loss or require medical monitoring (for example: insulin)

• Not pregnant, lactating, or pregnant in the last 6 months

Version 1. 2/12/14

Who Can Participate?• Not enrolled in another weight loss

program• Never had weight loss surgery and not

have lost more than 10% body weight in the last 6 months

• Be able to complete the 18 month program

• The study is designed for 1 eligible person per household. – By household, we mean those living in

the same house. Others (1 other eligible person per household) can participate in the study, but data and stipends for data collection can only be for 1

Version 1. 2/12/14

What is expected of the Church?

• To Support and Endorse the Study (Please see Church Leader Agreement)

• To let one or two of its members recruit 15 persons to be in a WORD group

• Let the group meet in your building for free, PLEASE

• Let all assessments be done in your building for free, PLEASE

Version 1. 2/12/14

What will the Church Receive?

• Improving the Health of their members• Stipends for meeting the Recruitment and

Assessment goals• The opportunity to support a connection

between Faith and Health

Version 1. 2/12/14

What is Consent?• All participants will be required to consent

• The word ‘consent’ means to agree

• The consent process protects the people in the study by making sure they • fully understand what is asked of them

• what they can expect from the study

• Since the WORD is a research study, people who choose to be a part of the study will need to give their written consent

Version 1. 2/12/14

Version 1. 2/12/14

Version 1. 2/12/14

Next Steps• Review the Church Letter of Agreement• Review the WORD Program Planning Guide

and Worksheet• Take time to pray and consider if this

program might be a good fit for your church

• Contact us if you have any questions

Version 1. 2/12/14

Questions?

Version 1. 2/12/14

Thank You!

Version 1. 2/12/14

Version 1. 2/12/14