HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2004.038695v1 95/7/1200    most recent Submit a response View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (11) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Emmons, K. M. Articles by Bigby, J. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Emmons, K. M. Articles by Bigby, J. A. Related Collections Exercise/Physical Activity Health Care Facilities/Services Health Promotion Nutrition/Food Prevention Other Race/Ethnicity Socioeconomic Factors Cancer

Karen M. Emmons, PhD, Ann M. Stoddard, ScD, Robert Fletcher, MD, MSc, Caitlin Gutheil, MS, Elizabeth Gonzalez Suarez, MA, Rebecca Lobb, MPH, Jane Weeks, MD, MSc and Judy Anne Bigby, MD

Karen M. Emmons is with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Mass. At the time of the study, Anne M. Stoddard was with the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Robert Fletcher is with Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass. Caitlin Gutheil and Elizabeth Gonzalez Suarez are with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Rebecca Lobb is with Harvard Medical School, Division of Ambulatory Care and Prevention. Jane Weeks is with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School. Judy Ann Bigby is with the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Karen M. Emmons, PhD, Harvard School of Public Health and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Center for Community-Based Research, 44 Binney St, Boston, MA 02115 (e-mail: karen_m_emmons{at}dfci.harvard.edu).

Objectives. We analyzed outcomes from a study that examined social-contextual factors in cancer prevention interventions for working class, multiethnic populations.

Methods. Ten community health centers were randomized to intervention or to control. Patients who resided in low-income, multiethnic neighborhoods were eligible; the intervention targeted fruit and vegetable consumption, red meat consumption, multivitamin intake, and physical activity. Outcomes were measured at 8 months.

Results. The intervention led to significant increases in fruit and vegetable consumption and multivitamin intake and reductions in red meat consumption; no change was found in physical activity levels. The intervention effect was not changed when contextual variables that may function as confounders or effect modifiers (e.g., gender, education, race/ethnicity, respondent and parents’ country of birth, and poverty status) were included in the analyses.

Conclusions. The intervention led to significant improvements in health behaviors among a working class, multiethnic population, regardless of race/ ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Interventions that respond to the social context of working class individuals across racial/ethnic categories hold promise for improving cancer-related risk behaviors.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. C. Lindsay, K. M. Sussner, M. L. Greaney, and K. E. Peterson Influence of Social Context on Eating, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Behaviors of Latina Mothers and Their Preschool-Age Children Health Educ Behav, February 1, 2009; 36(1): 81 - 96. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. E. Goldman, E. Barbeau, M. K. Hunt, D. Acevedo-Garcia, K. M. Emmons, J. Gagne, and G. Sorensen Perceptions of Health Promotion and Cancer Prevention Among Adults in Working-Class Occupations and Neighborhoods Health Educ Behav, December 1, 2008; 35(6): 777 - 790. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. M. Murray, S. L. Pals, J. L. Blitstein, C. M. Alfano, and J. Lehman Design and Analysis of Group-Randomized Trials in Cancer: A Review of Current Practices J Natl Cancer Inst, April 2, 2008; 100(7): 483 - 491. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Sorensen, A. M. Stoddard, T. Dubowitz, E. M. Barbeau, J. Bigby, K. M. Emmons, L. F. Berkman, and K. E. Peterson The Influence of Social Context on Changes in Fruit and Vegetable Consumption: Results of the Healthy Directions Studies Am J Public Health, July 1, 2007; 97(7): 1216 - 1227. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]