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Pasos Adelante

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

Pasos Adelante is a chronic disease prevention program for Mexican-Americans residing in U.S.-Mexico border communities. This initiative uses community health workers, called promotores, to recruit participants and run culturally tailored 12-week interventions consisting of weekly scripted classroom sessions and walking groups. The program uniquely motivates Mexican-Americans to adopt healthy behaviors by educating them on nutrition and providing a supportive environment to walk. This initiative has been implemented on two separate occasions, first from 2000 to 2003 in Yuma and Santa Cruz counties of Arizona, second from 2005 to 2008 in Douglas, Arizona, by University of Arizona and community health organizations. Pasos Adelante was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Prevention Research Center.

Goal / Mission

Pasos Adelante is a lifestyle intervention that aims to prevent and control chronic disease such as heart disease and diabetes in Mexican Americans by providing a supporting environment for improving nutrition and increasing walking activity in U.S.-Mexico border communities.

Results / Accomplishments

In Yuma and Santa Cruz Counties, 216 out of 248 participants completed the program. Dietary improvements in per week servings of soda, sweetened hot drinks, salads, fruits, and vegetables were statistically significant (p<0.05). Mean weekly minutes of both moderate and fast walking increased significantly (p<0.001).

In Douglas County, three promotoras recruited participants from the community and implemented the the 12-week intervention. Data was gathered prior to intervention, six weeks after intervention, and three months after intervention by survey, anthropometric measures, and a fasting-blood draw. A total of 217 participants completed all three assessments. Statistically significant improvements (p<0.05) were seen in body mass index, total cholesterol, and blood pressure at the end of the program compared to baseline assessment. Participants were largely female (more than 90%).

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
University of Arizona: Arizona Prevention Research Center
Primary Contact
Scott C. Carvajal, PhD, MPH
Arizona Prevention Research Center
1295 N. Martin Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85724
(520) 626-9026
scott.carvajal@arizona.edu
http://azprc.arizona.edu/
Topics
Health / Physical Activity
Health / Wellness & Lifestyle
Organization(s)
University of Arizona: Arizona Prevention Research Center
Source
CDC Prevention Research Center
Date of publication
12/15/2011
Date of implementation
2005
Location
Arizona
For more details
http://www.cdc.gov/prc/prevention-strategies/chron...
http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2012/10_0301.htm
Target Audience
Racial/Ethnic Minorities

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Related Content for: Pasos Adelante

An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.
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