WATCH

About the WATCH Project

WATCH (Wellness for African Americans Through Churches) is a church-based research program in North Carolina designed to prevent and detect colorectal cancer early. The program is aimed at improving nutrition, physical activity, and regular colorectal cancer screening among African American church members.

Why is Colorectal Cancer a Concern?
Intervention Activities
Funding
Project Population
Why Work with Black Churches?
Links

Why is Colorectal Cancer a Concern?
· Colorectal cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in the United States (lung cancer is the first).
· Colorectal cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths in African American men and women.
· The rate of colorectal cancer has significantly decreased for White Americans but for African Americans there has been no reduction in the rates.
· Men and women have an equal chance of getting colorectal cancer.
· Risk of colorectal cancer increases with age.
· If found early, the chance of surviving colorectal cancer is 80-90%.

Intervention Activities
The program tested the feasibility and the effectiveness of two interventions to improve the health behaviors name above.

1. Tailored Education Intervention: this component involved the use of 4 individually computer-tailored health newsletters and four targeted videotapes. Newsletters and the corresponding videos focus on increasing fruit and vegetable intake, increasing physical activity, increasing screening, and decreasing fat intake.

Newsletters were created for each individual participant. Using the responses from the participant's survey, a computer program generated appropriate messages relating to behavior change unique to that person's characteristics. Newsletters were culturally appropriate and included a message from the participant's pastor.

2. Lay Health Advisors (LHA): This component was implemented with volunteers in the churches. It is believed that every community has people to whom others naturally turn to for advice, help, and support. These individuals are called "natural helpers" or "lay advisors". They are respected by others as people who can be trusted and as people who truly care.

Church members identified candidates within their churches to participate as LHAs. Those who accepted the call agreed to provide support to church members by encouraging them to adopt or continue healthy lifestyle behaviors. LHAs received seven health-information training sessions from the WATCH staff.

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Funding
Major support for the WATCH Project was made possible through a grant from the American Cancer Society. Additional funds were received from the US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services and the North Carolina Nutrition Network.

Project Population
African American church members in North Carolina (Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance, and Warren counties) age 18 years and older.

Why Work with Black Churches?
Black churches are historically significant as religious, political, social, educational, and cultural institutions. They are a source of stability and are vehicles for social and community change. Black churches are concerned with providing assistance to individuals, families, and communities.



	About the WATCH Project WATCH (Wellness for African Americans Through Churches) is a church-based research program in North Carolina designed to prevent and detect colorectal cancer early. The program is aimed at improving nutrition, physical activity, and regular colorectal cancer screening among African American church members. Why is Colorectal Cancer a Concern? Intervention Activities Funding Project Population Why Work with Black Churches? Links Why is Colorectal Cancer a Concern? · Colorectal cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in the United States (lung cancer is the first). · Colorectal cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths in African American men and women. · The rate of colorectal cancer has significantly decreased for White Americans but for African Americans there has been no reduction in the rates. · Men and women have an equal chance of getting colorectal cancer. · Risk of colorectal cancer increases with age. · If found early, the chance of surviving colorectal cancer is 80-90%. Intervention Activities The program tested the feasibility and the effectiveness of two interventions to improve the health behaviors name above. 1. Tailored Education Intervention: this component involved the use of 4 individually computer-tailored health newsletters and four targeted videotapes. Newsletters and the corresponding videos focus on increasing fruit and vegetable intake, increasing physical activity, increasing screening, and decreasing fat intake. Newsletters were created for each individual participant. Using the responses from the participant's survey, a computer program generated appropriate messages relating to behavior change unique to that person's characteristics. Newsletters were culturally appropriate and included a message from the participant's pastor. 2. Lay Health Advisors (LHA): This component was implemented with volunteers in the churches. It is believed that every community has people to whom others naturally turn to for advice, help, and support. These individuals are called "natural helpers" or "lay advisors". They are respected by others as people who can be trusted and as people who truly care. Church members identified candidates within their churches to participate as LHAs. Those who accepted the call agreed to provide support to church members by encouraging them to adopt or continue healthy lifestyle behaviors. LHAs received seven health-information training sessions from the WATCH staff. Back to the top Funding Major support for the WATCH Project was made possible through a grant from the American Cancer Society. Additional funds were received from the US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services and the North Carolina Nutrition Network. Project Population African American church members in North Carolina (Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance, and Warren counties) age 18 years and older. Why Work with Black Churches? Black churches are historically significant as religious, political, social, educational, and cultural institutions. They are a source of stability and are vehicles for social and community change. Black churches are concerned with providing assistance to individuals, families, and communities. Links PeopleDesigns North Carolina Nutrition Network American Cancer Society Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center UNC-CH School of Public Health back to the top