Heart smarts presentation meeting 12 20-2012

Perelman Heart Institute Community Outreach Initiative2012 HeartSmarts Program Evaluation

December 18, 2012

Perelman Heart Institute Community Outreach Initiative

•Began January 31, 2012 (grant funded)

•12- week cardiovascular health education training program for pastors and wellness ministers from churches in the 5 boroughs of NYC. Targeting high risk and underserved communities

•18 pastors and wellness ambassadors attended trainings at the Cornell campus 3 hours each week

•Participants completed the training on 4/17/2012

•Graduation ceremony was held at the New York Academy of Medicine on May 15th

•Dr. Holly Andersen, Stacey Petrower, Dr. Carla Boutin-Foster and representatives from Ronald Perelman’s office were present.

•Media Coverage:•DNA Info•NY Times

•Pastors completed the training on 4/17/2012

•Starting the week of May 20, 2012 pastors will begin teaching the HeartSmarts curriculum to their congregations

•Each congregation has 300-700 members

•Weekly classes, health screenings, cardiovascular health messages in church bulletins, announcements, and sermons

•Pastors completed the training on 4/17/2012

•Starting the week of May 20, 2012 pastors will begin teaching the HeartSmarts curriculum to their congregations

•Each congregation has 300-700 members

•Weekly classes, health screenings, cardiovascular health messages in church bulletins, announcements, and sermons

•Ambassadors began teaching the HeartSmarts program in their churches the week of May 20th. 211 people enrolled in the program.

•During the first class, ambassadors took the weight, blood pressure and waist circumference of their participants as well as gave them a cardiovascular health knowledge assessment.

•Each class was held on a weekly basis for 2 hours. Before or after the class, participants also engaged in exercise for 30 minutes to an hour. (Primarily walking).

•Participants•211 Started, 187 Completed

•Crossover Baptist Church – Eva BarrettEast New York SDA –Claudette Singletonstill working on documentation and not included in analysis

•Analysis based on 137 participants •105 Borderline High or High Blood Pressure•92 Overweight or Obese•12 Morbidly Obese•95 Waist Circumference above 35-women and above 40-men •60 Were not eating 3-5 servings of fruits and vegetables•82 Were not exercising 3 days a week for 30 minutes •40 Were not managing their stress•55 Were not sleeping at list 6 hours each night•71 Were not drinking 6-8 glasses each day

•Did the Program Make a Difference?•Analysis based on 137 participants

• 89 Lowered Blood Pressure, 48 either stayed the same or increased•81 Lost Weight, 56 either stayed the same or gained weight •90 decreased weight circumference, 47 stayed the same/increased •101 eating 3-5 servings of fruits and vegetables•112 exercising 3 days a week for 30 minutes •137 managing their stress better•39 Increased hours of sleep•115 increased water intake or continued with 6-8 glasses•All participants increased their knowledge of cardiovascular health!

•Knowledge of cardiovascular health, nutrition, physical activity,Diabetes, and stress management techniques increased.

•All participants by nature of being in the program improved health Behaviors in some way

•Those who were already engaging in health behaviors also made Improvements particularly with sleep and exercise.

•Cooking techniques improved and understanding of alternativeMethods of preparing foods improved.

•Let’s take a look at each HeartSmarts Class. (Video Clip)

Trinity A.M.E. Church: Harlem: Class One

Trinity A.M.E. Church: HarlemAmbassadors: Rev. Dr. Rose Ellington Murray and Sheila Seabrook

First HeartSmarts Class Held from 5/29/2012 to 7/31/2012Number of Completing the Program: 15

Health Conditions: 13/15 have high blood pressure 11/15 Overweight or Obese 4/15 morbidly obese

14/15 waist circumference above 35

Blood Pressure: 8/15 decreased blood pressure Weight: 9/15 lost weightWaist Circumference: 10/15 decreased waist circumference

Trinity A.M.E. Church: Harlem: Cohort Two

Trinity A.M.E. Church: HarlemAmbassadors: Rev. Dr. Rose Ellington Murray and Sheila SeabrookSecond HeartSmarts Class Held from 10/2/2012 to 11/3/2012Number of Completing the Program: 10

Health Conditions: 8/10 had high blood pressure 10/10 Overweight or Obese 2/10 morbidly obese

8/10 waist circumference above 35 ranging from 36-45 inches


“I was not sure what to expect from this class. However, Dr. Murray and Sis. Seabrook really helped me to learn more about my health. My health has not been to good but I hope to take what I have learned and make improvements.”

Trinity A.M.E. Church: Harlem

Flatbush Seventh Day Adventist Church: Brooklyn

Flatbush Seventh Day Adventist Church: Brooklyn

Ambassador: Pastor Richard Calhoun

Taught two classes simultaneously

HeartSmarts Class Held from 5/22/2012 to 8/7/2012Number of Completing the Program: 21

Health Conditions: 18/21 high blood pressure 13/21 Overweight or Obese



“ Pastor Calhoun was a great instructor. He took his time to explain the material to us and made us feel comfortable to ask questions. I learned a lot. I am honored that he would take time to do this”

Shelter Rock SDA: Queens (Cohort 1)

Shelter Rock SDA: Queens (Cohort 2)

Shelter Rock Seventh Day Adventist: Queens

Ambassadors: Barbara Alexis with assistance from Wilbur JohnsonFirst HeartSmarts Class Held from 5/20/2012 to 7/29/2012Number of Completing the Program (Cohort 1): 16




“Sis. Alexis is dedicated and committed to this program. She paid so much attention to detail and helped us all to come together as a group as we embarked on this journey.”

Christian Fellowship SDA: Queens (Cohort 1)

Christian Fellowship SDA: Brooklyn (Cohort 2)

Christian Fellowship SDA: Brooklyn

Ambassadors: Phyllis HerbertFirst HeartSmarts Class Held from 6/7/2012 to 8/6/2012Number of Completing the Program: 17


6/17 waist circumference above 35/40


Cohort 2 Completed December 13, 2012

“Thank you Sis. Herbert for bringing us this much needed program. I have learned a great deal and look forward to sharing it with others. ‘

Christian Fellowship SDA: Brooklyn

St. James the Less Church: Queens


Ambassador: Wilbur JohnsonFirst HeartSmarts Class Held from 8/25/2012 to 11/3/2012Number of Completing the Program: 13




“Wilbur was very prepared, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic about this program. It was an excellent program that more organizations should have. I am going to miss the classes.”


Salem Missionary Baptist Church: Brooklyn

Salem Missionary Baptist Church: Brooklyn

Ambassadors: Joyce SmithFirst HeartSmarts Class Held from 5/24/2012 to 8/9/2012Number of Completing the Program: 11




“Sis. Smith really did a wonderful job and I now know about my heart, cholesterol, and blood pressure and how to keep them healthy. “

First Baptist Church Corona: Queens

First Baptist Church Corona: Queens

Ambassadors: Norma WesleyFirst HeartSmarts Class Held from 6/7/2012 to 8/6/2012Number of Completing the Program: 5




Cohort 2 in progress

“I never thought I would be able to understand HDL or LDL cholesterol or exactly what diabetes is. But I do because of Norma Wesley and the HeartSmarts program.”

First Baptist Church of Corona: Queens

Mt. Olivet Gospel Church: Queens

Mt. Olivet Gospel Church: Queens

Ambassadors: Sheri Meikle, Brenda Marshall Stewart, Margaret McHenryFirst HeartSmarts Class Held from 5/22/2012 to 8/7/2012Number of Completing the Program: 13

Health Conditions: 10/13 high blood pressure 5/13 Overweight or Obese 6/13 morbidly obese



“Because of this program I have changed the way I prepare my food. I used to fry everything now I grill and bake. I am exercising more and am starting to feel healthier.”

House of Restoration Wellness Ministry: Queens

House of Restoration Wellness Ministry: Queens

Ambassadors: Irisdene Samuels and Sisrah AllenFirst HeartSmarts Class Held from 6/2/2012 to 8/22/2012Number of Completing the Program: 6




“I appreciate the use of scripture in the program and the way our instructors were able to show the relationship between the bible and my health.”

House of Restoration Wellness Ministry:

First United Methodist Church: Queens

First United Methodist Church of Jamaica: Queens

Ambassadors: Rev. Lawrence Charles and Wilbur JohnsonFirst HeartSmarts Class Held from 6/2/2012 to 8/11/2012Number of Completing the Program: 5




This course was a real eye-opener for me. I learned so many things that I did not know and now feel HeartSmart. Thank you Rev. Charles for doing this program.

First United Methodist Church: Queens

First Central Baptist Church: Staten Island


Ambassadors: Min. Helen Holt VasquezFirst HeartSmarts Class Held from 5/24/2012 to 8/9/2012Number of Completing the Program: 5




“I have done other programs like weight watchers but the use of scripture and sense of community in this program is more effective.”


Participant Feedback

•Informative, beneficial, well presented, educational, much needed

•Overall feedback is positive. Participants felt that the program served as a catalyst for them to start giving more thought to their health particularly cardiovascular health and also improve their health behaviors.

•Enjoyed the social support that the classes offered. Felt that the scripture added another dimension that made them want to learn more.

•Appreciated having a focus on their health (underserved communities).

•Ambassadors were well prepared and taught the courses well.

•Some thought that the curriculum was too long and could be repetitive.

•A few were uncomfortable with the focus on African Americans and felt singled out.

•A few requested that the classes be shortened from the 10 week format. Research questionnaires too long.

Ambassador Feedback

•Felt properly trained to teach the classes.

•Appreciated the use of scripture in the text and focus on underserved.

•More work went into the classes than expected (class set-up, preparation, clean up, shopping for snacks, completing paperwork)

•Prefer a higher stipend.

•Can be difficult to recruit participants and obtain church approval for the class.

•$20 per session for refreshments is not enough for larger classes.

• Difficult to keep everyone participating for the entire 10 weeks.

Next Steps

•Increase the number of men participating

•Increase the number of younger individuals 40 and below

•Work on improving program participant retention

•Complete documentation

•Continue with follow up call #3. In January give assessments and take measurements for 2012 participants.

•Remaining churches will finish cohort number two

•A focus on sustainability. Creating a taskforce on cardiovascular health which will focus on grant writing to obtain funds to enable churches to continue cardiovascular health education programs.

•Overall successful year one!

Thank You!!!!

Documents

Heart smarts presentation meeting 12 20-2012