Training MI Interventionists across Disciplines: A Descriptive Project

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a counseling approach that is versatile and can be applied in many professional settings. Therefore, teaching MI skills to multidisciplinary groups simultaneously has the potential to be quite beneficial for strengthening the MI skills of different groups. This paper describes a project in which professionals and students from psychology and nutrition/ dietetics were trained in MI in an attempt to bolster both groups’ ability to implement MI as part of a larger health intervention project. Specifically, we outline the common themes that emerged among the trainees’ experiences. Implementing a multidisciplinary training program in which trainees use their expertise and contribute to the training process appeared to have created a rich learning environment.

Obesity and Overweight Prevalence among a Mississippi Low-Income Preschool Population: A Five-Year Comparison

Purpose. This study determined 2010 rates of overweight/obesity in a representative sample of low-income preschoolers in Mississippi, USA and compared rates between 2005 (N = 1250) and 2010 (N = 1765). Significance. Obesity is a significant global health issue because of its well-established negative health consequences. Child obesity is a concern due to risk of early-onset obesity-related illnesses and the longevity of lifetime exposure to those illnesses. Methods. Identical measures were used in 2005 and 2010 with complex-stratified sampling designs. Results. Chi-square tests revealed that overall obesity/overweight rates between 2005 (20.6%/17.9%) and 2010 (20.8%/17.0%) had not changed significantly for the samples as a whole, nor by gender or race. Age group comparisons indicated a significant decline in obesity rates of 3 year olds (20.3% in 2005, reduced to 13.1% in 2010, P = 0.035). These findings mimic the trend toward stabilization of obesity rates noted in national low-income preschool populations

Development of a Nutrition Education Program for the Mississippi Communities for Healthy Living Nutrition Intervention Using the Diffusion of Innovations Theory

This research identified themes when exploring the Dietary Guidelines for Americans’ (DGA) attributes of relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability to provide information for the design and structure of a nutrition education program for the Mississippi Communities of Healthy Living Nutrition Intervention. Diffusion of Innovations theory was used to develop education sessions to promote the adoption and consumption of a DGAbased healthy diet innovation in the Lower Mississippi Delta. Two focus groups were conducted with a purposive sample of 13 women in the community as well as one expert panel of six registered dietitians. Major themes identified for the DGA were Balanced Nutrition, All-inclusive, and Protective as the relative advantage; Adaptability when exploring compatibility; low complexity as Simple to Follow and Convenient and Portable; Gradual Change and Taste Tests when discussing trialability; and Modeling for observability. A Generational theme reflected participants’ desire to impart healthy behaviors to future generations. Results were used to operationalize attributes and develop 12 lesson plans

HUB City Steps: Methods and Early Findings From a Community-Based Participatory Research Trial to Reduce Blood Pressure Among African Americans

Background: Community-based participatory research (CBPR) has been recognized as an important approach to develop and execute health interventions among marginalized populations, and a key strategy to translate research into practice to help reduce health disparities. Despite growing interest in the CBPR approach, CBPR initiatives rarely use experimental or other rigorous research designs to evaluate health outcomes. This behavioral study describes the conceptual frameworks, methods, and early findings related to the reach, adoption, implementation, and effectiveness on primary blood pressure outcomes. Methods: The CBPR, social support, and motivational interviewing frameworks are applied to test treatment effects of a two-phased CBPR walking intervention, including a 6-month active intervention quasi experimental phase and 12-month maintenance randomized controlled trial phase to test dose effects of motivational interviewing. A community advisory board helped develop and execute the culturally-appropriate intervention components which included social support walking groups led by peer coaches, pedometer diary selfmonitoring, monthly diet and physical activity education sessions, and individualized motivational interviewing sessions. Although the study is on-going, three month data is available and reported. Analyses include descriptive statistics and paired t tests. Results: Of 269 enrolled participants, most were African American (94%) females (85%) with a mean age of 43.8 (SD = 12.1) years. Across the 3 months, 90% of all possible pedometer diaries were submitted. Attendance at the monthly education sessions was approximately 33%. At the 3-month follow-up 227 (84%) participants were retained. From baseline to 3-months, systolic BP [126.0 (SD = 19.1) to 120.3 (SD = 17.9) mmHg; p \u3c 0.001] and diastolic BP [83. 2 (SD = 12.3) to 80.2 (SD = 11.6) mmHg; p \u3c 0.001] were significantly reduced. Conclusions: This CBPR study highlights implementation factors and signifies the community’s active participation in the development and execution of this study. Reach and representativeness of enrolled participants are discussed. Adherence to pedometer diary self-monitoring was better than education session participation. Significant decreases in the primary blood pressure outcomes demonstrate early effectiveness. Importantly, future analyses will evaluate long-term effectiveness of this CBPR behavioral intervention on health outcomes, and help inform the translational capabilities of CBPR efforts

Stages of Change and Fluid Intake in Dialysis Patients

Nutrition professionals constantly strive to improve adherence to dietary recommendations in hemodialysis patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 12-week intervention based on stages of change to decrease fluid gain in dialysis patients. Readiness to change, knowledge of appropriate weight gain, and mean weight gains were obtained from patients in five intervention (n = 216) and five control (n = 100) dialysis units. Intervention had more participants in the maintenance and precontemplation stages at the end of the intervention (P = 0.001) compared to the control group. Knowledge scores significantly increased in the intervention group (P \u3c 0.001) during the course of the intervention. However, fluid gains did not decrease in either group. Although this intervention did not produce behavior change, the results can aid other educators in planning intervention programs for renal failure and other chronic diseases. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Development of a Nutrition Education Program for the Mississippi Communities for Healthy Living Nutrition Intervention Using the Diffusion of Innovations Theory

This research identified themes when exploring the Dietary Guidelines for Americans’ (DGA) attributes of relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability to provide information for the design and structure of a nutrition education program for the Mississippi Communities of Healthy Living Nutrition Intervention. Diffusion of Innovations theory was used to develop education sessions to promote the adoption and consumption of a DGAbased healthy diet innovation in the Lower Mississippi Delta. Two focus groups were conducted with a purposive sample of 13 women in the community as well as one expert panel of six registered dietitians. Major themes identified for the DGA were Balanced Nutrition, All-inclusive, and Protective as the relative advantage; Adaptability when exploring compatibility; low complexity as Simple to Follow and Convenient and Portable; Gradual Change and Taste Tests when discussing trialability; and Modeling for observability. A Generational theme reflected participants’ desire to impart healthy behaviors to future generations. Results were used to operationalize attributes and develop 12 lesson plans