Improving the Heart Health of Home Health Aides

Description

The goal of the proposed project is to improve the cardiovascular (CV) health of home health aides and attendants (HHAs), one of the fastest growing sectors of the healthcare industry, comprised predominantly of middle-aged women of color with a high burden of CV disease risk factors, including obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, physical inactivity, and smoking. Improving HHAs’ cardiovascular health and well-being is not only critical to their own longevity as a workforce, but it has the potential to improve the health of the patients for whom they care. The overall goal of the study is to test the preliminary effectiveness of the peer-coach (PC) delivered Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) intervention program among 40 HHAs with poor CV health, while gathering data on its implementation.

The investigators have 3 main hypotheses. Under Aim 1, the investigators hypothesize that HHAs who receive the intervention will have higher CV health at follow-up compared to baseline. Under Aim 2, the investigators hypothesize that drivers of implementation will include: intervention adaptability, local conditions, work infrastructure, recipient centeredness, and motivation. Also under Aim 2, the investigators hypothesize the intervention will be feasible (>80% HHAs complete the study) and acceptable (>90% HHAs high levels of satisfaction).

All aspects of the study, including the intervention itself, will be conducted using a hybrid (in-person and virtual) model, with some sessions being completed online and others in person. .