Page Contents
Overview
Target Behavior: Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Reducing Screen Time
Intervention Type: Direct Education
Intervention Reach and Adoption
Setting: Community (Live), Faith-based community, Health care, Indian Tribal Organizations, Worksite (Work)
Target Audience: Older Adults
Race/Ethnicity: No special focus
Intervention Components
Intervention Materials
- Full Program Protocol
- Nutrition Lesson Guide
- Nutrition Lesson Handouts
- Recipes
- Fitness Assessment Instructions
- Instructor’s Warm-Up/Cool-Down Guide
- Instructor’s Exercise Guide
- Class Structure Outline
- Participant Exercise Guide
- Activities for Daily Living
- Post Course Newsletters
- Marketing forms
- Enrollment forms
- Fitness Assessment Results Pre and Post Comparison
- Fitness Assessment Performance
Intervention Costs
Evidence Summary
Furthermore, the results from participant pre/post surveys and pre/post assessments generate an annual impact report that outlines program outcomes, behavior changes made, and participant feedback testimonials. Multiple research studies have been conducted to support the effectiveness of the SSSH intervention, resulting in peer-reviewed publications and research posters that have been presented at various conferences on the benefits and outcomes of the program. Largely in part of these evidentiary findings, five other states have adopted SSSH and are implementing the program to SNAP-eligible audiences.
The peer-reviewed literature can be found below:
- Baker, B. S., Weitzel, K. J., Miller, K., Royse, L. A., Guess, T. M., Ball, S. D., & Duren, D. L. (n.d.). Physical Function in Older Adults Enrolled in the Stay Strong, Stay Healthy Program: A Randomized Control Trial.
- Baker, K. R., Nelson, M. E., Felson, D. T., Layne, J. E., Sarno, R., & Roubenoff, R. (2001). The Efficacy of Home Based Progressive Strength Training in Older Adults with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. The Journal of Rheumatology, 28(7).
- Ball, S., Gammon, R., Kelly, P. J., Cheng, A.-L., Chertoff, K., Kaume, L., … Brotto, M. (2013). Outcomes of Stay Strong, Stay Healthy in community settings. Journal of Aging and Health, 25(8), 1388–1397. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264313507318
- Crowe, E. M., & Ball, S. D. (2015). Effectiveness of advanced stay strong, stay healthy in community settings. Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine, 1, 2333721415596462. https://doi.org/10.1177/2333721415596462
- Weitzel, K. (n.d.). Self-Perceptions in Older Adults Who Engage in the Stay Strong, Stay Healthy Program.
The unintended benefits of the intervention include:
- Social engagement and social interaction (for many participants, attending class is the only social interaction they have each week)
- Improvements in social activity participation
- Improvements in quality of sleep (which has a profound effect on overall health and results in an increased quality of life)
The challenges include:
- Personal participant modifications for program exercises can be a challenge for instructors without an exercise background, but the MU state team provides exercise expertise to overcome these challenges.
Evidence-based Approach: Research-tested
Evaluation Indicators
Readiness and Capacity – Short Term (ST) | Changes – Medium Term (MT) | Effectiveness and Maintenance – Long Term (LT) | Population Results (R) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Individual | MT1, MT3 | LT1, LT3 | ||
Environmental Settings | ||||
Sectors of Influence |
Evaluation Materials
- Participant pre/post surveys
- PA assessments
Process evaluation materials include:
- Instructor self-evaluation tool
- Fidelity checks performed by SSSH state leadership
Process evaluation also occurs during bi-annual Zoom instructor updates where instructors are given time to share successes, challenges, and suggestions for improvement.
Additional Information
Contact Person(s):
Dr. Stephen Ball
(573) 882-2334
ballsd@missouri.edu