Using Concept Mapping to Identify Community Partners' and Researchers' Perceptions of Social Justice: A Path Toward Eliminating Chronic Disease Disparities.

Background: A social justice framework can be used to inform healthy equity-focused research, and operationalizing social justice can inform strategic planning for research and practice models. This study aimed to develop a working definition of social justice based on input from a diverse group of collaborators to better inform the work conducted within the Center for Research, Health, and Social Justice.

Methods: A concept mapping study was conducted from March to May 2022.

Changes in Capacity Building and Sustained Implementation Among a Statewide Coalition to Address Racial/Ethnic COVID-19 Disparities.

This article describes Arkansas Community Engagement Alliance Against COVID-19 Disparities (CEAL) Coalition initiatives and changes in measures of organizational capacity and sustainability via two waves of surveys. The Arkansas CEAL Coalition used several initiatives to address racial/ethnic COVID-19 disparities by building the capacity of community-based organizations and businesses to increase COVID-19 protective behaviors among their clients. Our study can inform future strategies that use a community-engaged coalition structure to reduce disparities among communities that suffer disproportionately from COVID-19.

Outcomes Research on Telemedicine-Delivered Gender-Affirming Health Care for Transgender Youth Is Needed Now: A Call to Action.

This article is a call to action for outcomes research on telemedicine-delivered gender-affirming health care (GAH) for transgender youth. Transgender youth, especially rural youth, are severely underserved and face many obstacles to GAH. Telemedicine reduces access barriers for underserved populations, but telemedicine for this population can be complex.

Somatic Versus Cognitive Depressive Symptoms as Predictors of Coronary Artery Disease among Women with Suspected Ischemia: The Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation.

Background: Depression is an established predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD) progression and mortality. "Somatic" symptoms of depression such as fatigue and sleep impairment overlap with symptoms of CAD and independently predict CAD events. Differentiating between "somatic" and "cognitive" depressive symptoms in at-risk patients may improve our understanding of the relationship between depression and CAD.

The WORD: Outcomes of a Behavioral Weight Loss Maintenance Effectiveness Trial in Rural Black Adults of Faith.

Objective: Rural black communities bear a disproportionate burden of obesity. To increase reach among underserved groups, community-based weight loss and maintenance interventions are crucial.

Methods: The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) was adapted for rural black adults of faith to create The Wholeness, Oneness, Righteousness, Deliverance (WORD) trial, a group-based, community health worker-delivered weight loss intervention.

Reach and Adoption of a Randomized Weight Loss Maintenance Trial in Rural African Americans of Faith: The WORD (Wholeness, Oneness, Righteousness, Deliverance).

Purpose: There is minimal information regarding the Reach and Adoption of evidence-based weight loss maintenance interventions for African Americans of faith.

Design: The WORD (Wholeness, Oneness, Righteousness, Deliverance) was an 18-month, cluster randomized trial designed to reduce and maintain weight loss in African American adults of faith. Participants received the Diabetes Prevention Program adapted core weight loss program for 6 months, and churches were subsequently randomized to 12-month maintenance treatment or control.

Strategies to Facilitate Equitable Resource Sharing in Community-Engaged Research.

Background: Community subcontracts are an essential component of community-engaged research, particularly community-based participatory research (CBPR). However, several barriers have limited community-based organizations' (CBOs) ability to serve as subcontractors on research grants. This article describes the barriers and strategies to implementing community subcontracts through a case study of the implementation of one federal grant.

Reducing Risky Sex among Rural African American Cocaine Users: A Controlled Trial.

Rural African American cocaine users experience high rates of STIs/HIV. This NIDA-funded trial tested an adapted evidence-based risk reduction program versus an active control condition. Participants were 251 African American cocaine users in rural Arkansas recruited from 2009-2011.

Psychosocial predictors of long-term mortality among women with suspected myocardial ischemia: the NHLBI-sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation.

This paper evaluated long-term associations between psychosocial factors and premature mortality among women with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). We tracked total mortality events over a median 9.3 years in a cohort of 517 women [baseline mean age = 58.

Barriers and facilitators to senior centers participating in translational research.

Senior centers are ideal locations to deliver evidence-based health promotion programs to the rapidly growing population of older Americans to help them remain healthy and independent in the community. However, little reported research is conducted in partnership with senior centers; thus, not much is known about barriers and facilitators for senior centers serving as research sites. To fill this gap and potentially accelerate research within senior centers to enhance translation of evidence-based interventions into practice, the present study examined barriers and facilitators of senior centers invited to participate in a cluster-randomized controlled trial.

The WORD (Wholeness, Oneness, Righteousness, Deliverance): design of a randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of an evidence-based weight loss and maintenance intervention translated for a faith-based, rural, African American population using a community-based participatory approach.

Background: The positive effects of weight loss on obesity-related risk factors diminish unless weight loss is maintained. Yet little work has focused on the translation of evidence-based weight loss interventions with the aim of sustaining weight loss in underserved populations. Using a community-based participatory approach (CBPR) that engages the strong faith-based social infrastructure characteristic of rural African American communities is a promising way to sustain weight loss in African Americans, who bear a disproportionate burden of the obesity epidemic.

Depression, dietary habits, and cardiovascular events among women with suspected myocardial ischemia.

Background: Dietary habits and depression are associated with cardiovascular disease risk. Patients with depression often report poor eating habits, and dietary factors may help explain commonly observed associations between depression and cardiovascular disease.

Methods: From 1996 to 2000, 936 women were enrolled in the Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation at 4 US academic medical centers at the time of clinically indicated coronary angiography and then assessed (median follow-up, 5.

Religiosity and sexual risk behaviors among African American cocaine users in the rural South.

Purpose: Racial and geographic disparities in human immunodeficency virus (HIV) are dramatic and drug use is a significant contributor to HIV risk. Within the rural South, African Americans who use drugs are at extremely high risk. Due to the importance of religion within African American and rural Southern communities, it can be a key element of culturally-targeted health promotion with these populations.

Strength training in community settings: impact of lay leaders on program access and sustainability for rural older adults.

Background: The effect of volunteer lay leaders on availability and sustainability of strength-training programs for older adults has not been well explored. We describe implementation of the StrongWomen strength training program by the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, and report on the relationship between delivery approach (agent-led, lay-led, or combination of agent- and lay-led) and program access and sustainability.

Methods: All state Extension agents (n = 66) were surveyed on program implementation, continuance, and use of lay leaders.

Anginal symptoms, coronary artery disease, and adverse outcomes in Black and White women: the NHLBI-sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) study.

Background: Black women are less likely to be evaluated and treated for anginal symptoms, despite a higher premature cardiac mortality rate compared to white women. Our objective was to compare angina symptoms in black versus white women regarding (1) angina symptoms characterization; (2) relationship with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD); and (3) relationship with subsequent mortality.

Methods: A cohort of 466 women (69 black and 397 white) undergoing coronary angiography for suspected ischemia and without prior history of CAD completed symptom checklists.

Anxiety associations with cardiac symptoms, angiographic disease severity, and healthcare utilization: the NHLBI-sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation.

Background: Anxiety is common among patients presenting with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). In a sample of women with signs and symptoms of ischemia, we examined three anxiety markers as predictors of CAD endpoints including: 1) cardiac symptom indicators; 2) angiographic CAD severity; and 3) healthcare utilization (cardiac hospitalizations and 5-year cardiovascular [CVD] healthcare costs).

Methods: Participants completed a baseline protocol including coronary angiogram, cardiac symptoms, psychosocial measures and a median 5.

A randomized trial of a community-based cognitive intervention for obese senior adults.

Objective: To determine whether a cognitive intervention delivered by lay health educators (LHEs) in senior centers was effective in improving cognition in obese older adults.

Methods: This cluster randomized trial was conducted in 16 senior centers from which 228 senior adults were recruited. The centers were randomized to either the cognitive intervention or a control, weight-loss intervention.

Training of lay health educators to implement an evidence-based behavioral weight loss intervention in rural senior centers.

Purpose Of The Study: Lay health educators (LHEs) offer great promise for facilitating the translation of evidence-based health promotion programs to underserved areas; yet, there is little guidance on how to train LHEs to implement these programs, particularly in the crucial area of empirically validated obesity interventions.

Design And Methods: This article describes experiences in recruiting, training, and retaining 20 LHEs who delivered a 12-month evidence-based behavioral lifestyle intervention (based on the Diabetes Prevention Program) in senior centers across a rural state. A mixed method approach was used which incorporated collecting the folllowing: quantitative data on sociodemographic characteristics of LHEs; process data related to training, recruitment, intervention implementation, and retention of LHEs; and a quantitative program evaluation questionnaire, which was supplemented by a qualitative program evaluation questionnaire.

Combining psychosocial data to improve prediction of cardiovascular disease risk factors and events: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute--sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation study.

Background: There is overlap among psychosocial predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The usefulness of combining psychosocial variables as risk markers for CVD needs investigation.

Methods: Participants were 493 women in the NHLBI WISE study.

Feasibility of an evidence-based weight loss intervention for a faith-based, rural, African American population.

Background: African Americans and rural residents are disproportionately affected by obesity. Innovative approaches to address obesity that are sensitive to the issues of rural African Americans are needed. Faith-based and community-based participatory approaches show promise for engaging racial/ethnic minorities to change health outcomes, but few faith-based weight loss interventions have used a community-based participatory approach.

Lay health educators translate a weight-loss intervention in senior centers: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Older adults have high obesity rates and respond well to evidence-based weight-loss programs, such as the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) Lifestyle intervention. The goal of this study was to determine whether a translation of the DPP Lifestyle program delivered by lay health educators and conducted in senior centers is effective in promoting weight loss among older adults.

Design: An RCT with older adults nested within senior centers.

Self-rated versus objective health indicators as predictors of major cardiovascular events: the NHLBI-sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation.

Objective: To determine the association between self-rated health and major cardiovascular events in a sample of women with suspected myocardial ischemia. Previous studies showed that self-rated health is a predictor of objective health outcomes, such as mortality.

Method: At baseline, 900 women rated their health on a 5-point scale ranging from poor to excellent as part of a protocol that included quantitative coronary angiography, cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor assessment, cardiac symptoms, psychotropic medication use, and functional impairment.

Promoting dietary change among state health employees in Arkansas through a worksite wellness program: the Healthy Employee Lifestyle Program (HELP).

Introduction: Maintaining a healthy and productive workforce is essential for employers in public and private sectors. Poor nutrition and obesity contribute to chronic diseases and influence health care costs and productivity. Research indicates that eating a healthy diet is associated with lower body mass index and reduced risk for developing chronic disease.

Depressive symptom dimensions and cardiovascular prognosis among women with suspected myocardial ischemia: A report from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation.

Context: Symptoms of depression and cardiovascular disease (CVD) overlap substantially. Differentiating between dimensions of depressive symptoms may improve our understanding of the relationship between depression and physical health.

Objective: To compare symptom dimensions of depression as predictors of cardiovascular-related death and events among women with suspected myocardial ischemia.