Two-Phase Evaluation of a Community-Based Lifestyle Intervention for Palestinian Women in East Jerusalem: A Quasi-Experimental Study Followed by Dissemination

Nisreen Agbaria, Maha Nubani-Husseini, Raghda A. Barakat, Elisheva Leiter, Keren L. Greenberg, Mayada Karjawally, Osnat Keidar, Milka Donchin and Donna R. Zwas
Additional contact information
Nisreen Agbaria: Linda Joy Pollin Cardiovascular Wellness Center for Women, Division of Cardiology, Hadassah University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
Maha Nubani-Husseini: Linda Joy Pollin Cardiovascular Wellness Center for Women, Division of Cardiology, Hadassah University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
Raghda A. Barakat: The Nutrition Division, The Israeli Ministry of Health, Jerusalem 91011002, Israel
Elisheva Leiter: Linda Joy Pollin Cardiovascular Wellness Center for Women, Division of Cardiology, Hadassah University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
Keren L. Greenberg: Linda Joy Pollin Cardiovascular Wellness Center for Women, Division of Cardiology, Hadassah University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
Mayada Karjawally: Linda Joy Pollin Cardiovascular Wellness Center for Women, Division of Cardiology, Hadassah University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
Osnat Keidar: Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem-Hadassah, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
Milka Donchin: Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem-Hadassah, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
Donna R. Zwas: Linda Joy Pollin Cardiovascular Wellness Center for Women, Division of Cardiology, Hadassah University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, Israel

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 24, 1-12

Abstract: Palestinian-Arab women are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease due to high prevalence of diabetes and other risk factors. The current study investigates the effectiveness of an intensive group-based intervention on lifestyle habits that can prevent diabetes and cardiovascular disease. To that end, we conducted a group-based intervention based on the diabetes prevention program in two consecutive phases. The first phase consisted of a quasi-experimental study and the second phase included community-wide dissemination, with a 6-month follow-up. Findings from the quasi-experiment indicate increased consumption of fruit, vegetables and whole grains, weight reduction (−2.21 kg, p < 0.01), and a significant increase in the average daily steps in the intervention group (from 4456 to 6404). Findings from the dissemination indicate that average daily vegetables consumption increased from 1.76 to 2.32/day as did physical activity and average daily steps (from 4804 to 5827). There was a significant reduction in blood pressure, total cholesterol and LDL. These gains were sustained over 6 months following the intervention. This community-based, culturally adapted, health-promotion intervention led to improved nutrition and physical activity which were maintained after 6 months. Collaboration with community centers and local community partners created an effective channel for dissemination of the program to pre-clinical individuals.

Keywords: diabetes prevention program (DPP); healthy lifestyle; community-based intervention; Arab women; East Jerusalem (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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