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. 2008 Jan;5(1):A25.
Epub 2007 Dec 15.

Design and national dissemination of the StrongWomen Community Strength Training Program

Rebecca A Seguin  1 , Christina D Economos, Raymond Hyatt, Ruth Palombo, Peter N T Reed, Miriam E Nelson
Affiliations

Design and national dissemination of the StrongWomen Community Strength Training Program

Rebecca A Seguin et al. Prev Chronic Dis. 2008 Jan.

Erratum in

  • Prev Chronic Dis. 2008 Apr;5(2):A71

Abstract

Background: Physical activity is essential for maintaining health and function with age, especially among women. Strength training exercises combat weakness and frailty and mitigate the development of chronic disease. Community-based programs offer accessible opportunities for strength training.

Program design: The StrongWomen Program is an evidence-informed, community-based strength training program developed and disseminated to enable women aged 40 or older to maintain their strength, function, and independence. The StrongWomen Workshop and StrongWomen Tool Kit are the training and implementation tools for the StrongWomen Program. Program leaders are trained at the StrongWomen Workshop. They receive the StrongWomen Tool Kit and subsequent support to implement the program in their communities.

Dissemination: Program dissemination began in May 2003 with a three-part approach: recruiting leaders and forming key partnerships, soliciting participant interest and supporting implementation, and promoting growth and sustainability.

Assessment: We conducted site visits during the first year to assess curriculum adherence. We conducted a telephone survey to collect data on program leaders, participants, locations, and logistics. We used a database to track workshop locations and program leaders. As of July 2006, 881 leaders in 43 states were trained; leaders from 35 states had implemented programs.

Conclusion: Evidence-informed strength training programs can be successful when dissemination occurs at the community level using trained leaders. This research demonstrates that hands-on training, a written manual, partnerships with key organizations, and leader support contributed to the successful dissemination of the StrongWomen Program. Results presented provide a model that may aid the dissemination of other community-based exercise programs.

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Figures

The figure shows a brief logic model. Research (clinical, epidemiological, community-based, and home-based) leads to both policies (American College of Sports Medicine and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, other national organizations, private entities) and communication (Internet, television and radio, and books and print media. Research, policies, and communication lead to knowledge (awareness, beliefs, attitude), which then leads to access (StrongWomen community program) and finally, behavior change (influence number of women strength training). These factors are set among a changing population demographic.
Figure 1
Contextual concept for development and dissemination of the StrongWomen Program, a community-based strength training program targeted to women aged 40 or older. ACSM indicates American College of Sports Medicine; CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Map of the United States showing location of the StrongWomen program. Thirty-five states (plus Ontario, Canada, which is not shown] have active StrongWomen Program classes, including Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Eleven states have active classes and have been the site of at least one workshop: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
Figure 2
Active StrongWomen programs and workshop sites as of July 2006. Dark green indicates states with active StrongWomen Program classes (plus Ontario, Canada, not shown); white, states with active classes and at least one workshop site; light green, states with no StrongWomen Program classes or workshop sites.
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