Volume 11 — February 13, 2014
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Knowledge and Behavioral Effects in Cardiovascular Health: Community Health Worker Health Disparities Initiative, 2007–2010
Figure 1 describes the logic model for the community health worker-led heart health program. The diagram reads left to right with each preceding column feeding into the next column. The first column labelled “Inputs” lists all of the inputs into the model: Trained CHWs, manual and teaching tools, pre and post heart health knowledge and behaviors assessment. The inputs feed into the second column labelled “Activities.” The activities for the model include: recruit community members, Identify participants, and assess participants’ heart health knowledge and behaviors. The activities feed into the third column labelled “Outputs.” The only output is for participants (to) complete education. The outputs feed into the fourth column labelled “Short-Term Outcomes,” which include: increased heart health knowledge, increased confidence in skills, and increased readiness to adopt heart-healthy behaviors. The short-term outcomes feed into the fifth column labelled “Medium-Term Outcomes,” which are increased heart- healthy behaviors. The medium-term outcomes feed into the final column labelled “Long Term Outcomes.” The long-term outcome is decreased risk for heart disease. At the bottom of the diagram is a long rectangular box that depicts the factors that influence the context of the entire model. These factors are culture, community resources, neighborhood factors, prior knowledge and experience, educational level, and prevalence of heart disease.
Figure 1. Logic model for the community health worker-led heart health program describing the inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Community Health Worker Health Disparities Initiative.
| Measure | Pretest Mean | Posttest Mean |
|---|---|---|
| Overall food-related behaviors | 2.5 | 2.9 |
| Salt and sodium | 2.6 | 2.9 |
| Cholesterol and fat | 2.3 | 2.8 |
| Weight management | 2.6 | 2.9 |
Figure 2. Frequency scores of self-reported food-related behaviors associated with cardiovascular health, overall and in each of the 3 specific areas before (pretest) and after (posttest) attending educational sessions, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Community Health Worker Health Disparities Initiative. Bars indicate behavioral frequencies on a 1 to 4 scale (1 = never, 2 = sometimes, 3 = most of the time, 4 = always). Pretest–posttest changes are significant at P < .001.
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