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Research The
Research section includes abstracts of published articles
about Sisters Together, reports of our studies, and
highlights of interest.
New
Research finds that walking
reduces the risk of Type 2 Diabetes. Click here to
view article.
Using 3 data sources and methods to shape a
nutrition campaign
Jeanne Goldberg, PhD, RD
Rima E. Rudd, ScD, MSPH
William Dietz, MD, PhD
The first objective of this research was to
define a target population of African-American women more
clearly. The second was to provide specific information
about the needs and preferences of that population in
order to design an effective, culturally relevant,
community-based communications campaign to promote more
healthful lifestyles. Data collection and analysis
included the following: interviews with 10 community
nutritionists and the director of the State Office of
Nutrition, 6 focus groups with a total of 47 members of
the target population, and direct observation and
documentation of key community resources. This approach,
called "triangulation," permits more in-depth
understanding of issues, provides different perspectives
on the problem, and helps ensure accuracy of conclusions.
Interviews with nutritionists identified young
African-American women as the appropriate target
population for the campaign. These interviews and the
focus-group discussions confirmed the acceptability of
higher weight and better body-esteem among
African-American women than among white women. Both the
nutritionists and the focus-group members identified the
need and desire for information and skills related to
food preparation and provided specific direction for
program content. Community observation confirmed the need
for food markets with merchandise of consistently high
quality, especially in the fresh and frozen produce
sections. Observation also helped identify community
services and programs. The 3 sets of data, which
augmented a comprehensive literature review, provided a
firm foundation for the campaign's design and
development. Dietitians and nutritionists working in
community settings can use triangulation to gain a better
understanding of their populations in order to develop
more effective interventions.
Journal of the American Dietetic
Association 1999;99: 717-722.
A Five-Stage Model for Sustaining a Community Campaign
Rima E. Rudd
Department of Health and Social Behavior
Harvard School of Public Health
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Jeanne Goldberg
School of Nutrition Science and Policy
Tufts University
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
William Dietz
Division of Clinical Nutrition
The Floating Hospital
New England Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
The Sisters Together, Move More Eat Better
pilot communication program focuses on young Black women
in three inner-city communities to encourage improved
nutrition and increased physical activity. The design for
Sisters Together is based on an expansion of a
public health campaign that combines social market-ing
with community building efforts. The pilot program design
comprises five phases: design, promotion, demonstration,
transfer, and sustained activity. The pro-posed
five-stage model holds potential for increasing the life
span of a campaign and contributing to community
building. Partnerships and coalition development promise
to maintain the campaign beyond the limited budget
period. This descriptive article illustrates the
elements of a hybrid model for the design of a
communication program with examples from Sisters
Together, Move More Eat Better, a pilot program
currently in the last year of implementation.
Journal of Health
Communication,
Volume 4, pp. 37-48, 1999
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