The prevalence of heart disease is disproportionately high among Hispanic Americans. While lifestyle modification and medication are key elements of prevention for everyone, many people do not get them due to cultural barriers to health care.
Dr. Perez with participant receiving the Wellness Motivation Intervention.
As a doctoral student, Adriana Perez sought to remedy this situation. She developed and tested a theory-based intervention to promote cardiovascular health among older Hispanic women through physical activity. She started by asking participants about their values and priorities. “They want to continue to care for their families and play with their grandchildren,” she says. “I can help them accomplish this by making healthy choices, which includes physical activity.” Dr. Perez found that when the women increased their physical activity it often influenced the entire family.
As a Post-doctoral Fellow, Dr. Perez expanded the study. Participants receiving the Wellness Motivation Intervention meet once a week for physical activity and education. They also wear pedometers and keep a weekly log of activities. “Some of the women have even added activities like dancing or taking short hikes,” says Dr. Perez.
Dr. Perez is measuring physiologic outcomes, like blood pressure and body mass index, as well as variables that relate to social support, motivation, and use of community resources. To ensure this intervention is designed with older Hispanic women in mind, the surveys she uses have been translated into Spanish. Through focus groups, Dr. Perez is examining each question to ensure the concepts are culturally equivalent.
“They want to continue to care for their families and play with their grandchildren. I can help them accomplish this by making healthy choices, which includes physical activity.”While supported by the BAGNC awards, Dr. Perez especially valued the connection with colleagues. Therefore, she, along with other alumni, spearheaded the creation of a BAGNC Alumni Association Network to “continue to support each other in our scholarship and practice and share resources, knowledge, and expertise,” she says.
Dr. Perez exercises with participants in her study aimed at promoting physical activity among older Hispanic women who have limited access to health care resources. Participants in Dr. Perez’s exercise program arrive at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Phoenix. They meet early in the morning for exercise and camaraderie. They learn about community resources from the program and each other, and they make plans to meet for extra exercise sessions.
Study participants walk in a nearby park.