Walk Your Heart to Health for Chronic Disease Prevention

Overseen By Sara Wilcox, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of South Carolina

Disqualifiers: Exercise contraindications

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to test a program called Walk Your Heart to Health, which promotes physical activity and healthy eating to prevent chronic diseases. Researchers will conduct the study in partnership with AME churches in South Carolina, focusing on the program's implementation and its effects on participants' physical activity and sense of community. The trial seeks individuals aged 50 and older who are members of participating churches or live nearby and can join walking group sessions. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to community health improvement and personal well-being.

What prior data suggests that this program is safe for participants?

A previous study demonstrated that the Walk Your Heart to Health program effectively encouraged people to become more active through community walking groups. Research shows that regular walking can help prevent heart disease and promote a healthier lifestyle. In this program, community health leaders guide walking sessions three times a week.

Walking is generally easy for most people. Large studies have shown it to be a safe and effective way to improve heart health. Walking for exercise typically carries few, if any, side effects or risks, making it a safe option for most individuals.

Overall, evidence suggests that joining a walking program like Walk Your Heart to Health is safe and beneficial for increasing physical activity levels. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the "Walk Your Heart to Health" program because it offers a simple, yet potentially powerful, approach to preventing chronic diseases like heart disease. Unlike standard treatments that often involve medications and complex interventions, this program focuses on regular walking, making it an accessible and cost-effective option for many people. By encouraging consistent physical activity, it aims to improve cardiovascular health naturally, without the side effects that can come with pharmaceutical treatments. This program could offer an easy, engaging way for individuals to take charge of their heart health.

What evidence suggests that the Walk Your Heart to Health program is effective for chronic disease prevention?

Research shows that the "Walk Your Heart to Health" program, which participants in this trial will follow, helps people become more active and improve their health. Studies have found that joining this walking group increases physical activity and fosters new friendships. Community health leaders guide group walks three times a week, successfully encouraging regular exercise, which is important for managing long-term health conditions. By creating a supportive environment, the program keeps people active and connected. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Sara Wilcox, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of South Carolina

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for older African American adults who are members of AME churches in South Carolina. It aims to help them increase physical activity and improve their health, focusing on those with age-related chronic conditions or at risk of chronic diseases.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 50 years old or older.

Member of participating church (Charleston or Columbia Districts of the 7th Episcopal District of the AME church) or is in larger neighborhood and able to attend

I agree to join walking group sessions in person.

Exclusion Criteria

No contraindications to exercise, as determined by the PAR-Q

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Pilot Implementation

Pilot the implementation strategies and measurements in 6 churches

1 year

Implementation Study

Conduct the implementation study in 20 churches

2 years

Translation and Scale-up

Focus on translation and scale-up activities to reach more churches

1 year

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in physical activity and social cohesion

32 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Walk Your Heart to Health

Trial Overview

The 'Walk Your Heart to Health' program is being tested within the church setting. The study will evaluate how the program is implemented by churches, identify factors influencing its success, and measure its impact on participants' physical activity levels and social cohesion over five years.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Walk Your Heart to Health program

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of South Carolina

Lead Sponsor

Trials

233

Recruited

122,000+

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Collaborator

Trials

902

Recruited

25,020,000+

Citations

1.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07340099

Church Implementation of a Social Support Intervention to ...

The program, Walk Your Heart to Health, will include training in how churches can modify their practices to support physical activity and ...

2.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4446166/

Effectiveness of a walking group intervention to promote ...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Walk Your Heart to Health (WYHH) intervention, one component of the multilevel CATCH:PATH ...

3.

ebccp.cancercontrol.cancer.gov

ebccp.cancercontrol.cancer.gov/programDetails.do?programId=32312927

Walk Your Heart to Health (WYHH)

This community-based intervention involves community health promoters who lead members in walking group sessions three times per week.

4.

journals.sagepub.com

journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1090198114560015

Effectiveness of a Walking Group Intervention to Promote ...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Walk Your Heart to Health (WYHH) intervention, one component of the multilevel Community ...

5.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25819980/

findings from the walk your heart to health intervention - PubMed

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Walk Your Heart to Health (WYHH) intervention, one component of the multilevel Community ...

6.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3098122/

Walking – the first steps in cardiovascular disease prevention

This paper reviews recent evidence of the health benefits of walking and promotion of walking behavior. Recent Findings. Large observational studies ...

7.

cdc.gov

cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2019/18_0690.htm

Walking as an Opportunity for Cardiovascular Disease ...

Promoting walking may be a way to help adults avoid inactivity and encourage an active lifestyle for CVD prevention and management.

8.

researchgate.net

researchgate.net/publication/266821557_Walk_Your_Heart_to_Health

Walk Your Heart to Health! | Request PDF

This article seeks to provide understanding and examples of how to apply core principles of community-based participatory research (CBPR) in developing patient- ...

9.

ahajournals.org

ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.123.322121

Physical Activity Over the Lifecourse and Cardiovascular ...

We review and discuss the evidence detailing how physical activity may prevent incident CVD and mitigate CVD-related morbidity and death across all life stages.