Church-based community health worker program to lower heart disease risk in African Americans
Community Health Worker-Led Church-Based Intervention for Eliminating Cardiovascular Health Disparities in African Americans
A community health worker-led program in Black churches will help African American adults at high risk for heart disease improve lifestyle, medication use, and key heart-health measures over 18 months.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11195039 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project works with 42 Black churches in New Orleans and Bogalusa to deliver a community health worker (CHW)-led program for African American adults at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Churches are randomized to receive a multifaceted implementation package that includes CHW health coaching on lifestyle and medication adherence, church-based exercise and weight-loss programs, and tools for self-monitoring physical activity, blood pressure, and glucose. The program also trains and engages local healthcare providers to align care with the 2019 ACC/AHA primary prevention guideline, and participants are followed for 18 months. The team will track both participant health outcomes (changes in cardiovascular health metrics) and implementation outcomes (acceptability, fidelity, reach, cost, and sustainability) using the RE-AIM framework.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: African American adults (21 years and older) at high risk for ASCVD who attend participating Black churches in New Orleans or Bogalusa, Louisiana are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People who are under 21, not African American, not local to the study areas, not affiliated with participating churches, or who need specialized cardiovascular care for advanced disease are unlikely to benefit directly from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve multiple heart-health metrics and help reduce cardiovascular health disparities for African American church communities.
How similar studies have performed: Previous church-based and community health worker programs have shown improvements in blood pressure and health behaviors, but this specific multifaceted implementation of the 2019 ACC/AHA guideline across many churches is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
New Orleans, United States
- Tulane University of Louisiana — New Orleans, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mills, Katherine Teresa — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Mills, Katherine Teresa
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.