Abstract P646: American Indian Community Stakeholders Evaluate the Cardiovascular Health Curriculum Honoring the Gift of Heart Health: The Strong Heart Study

Abstract

Honoring the Gift of Heart Health (HGHH) is a cardiovascular health education curriculum culturally tailored for American Indians (AI). It emphasizes adoption of cardiovascular health recommendations through lifestyle changes. The NHLBI has not revised HGHH components since 2006. Effectiveness of the HGHH may change overtime and updates may be required to influence community health behaviors. Therefore, we aimed to determine the cultural values and practices necessary for inspiring heart healthy behaviors and to make recommendations on including these values and practices in the curriculum. We used a qualitative research design and a narrative inquiry approach. Using snowball sampling, we recruited 11 AI community stakeholders in Oklahoma who participate in the Strong Heart Study. We conducted 3 focus groups with a semi-structured interview guide. We transcribed recordings and conducted a thematic content analysis (Figure 1). Participants viewed written materials as informative but the media as outdated, especially for younger generations, and suggested content ought to be dispersed through various social media. They theorized in-person activities would further educate and motivate community members to be heart healthy, thus adoption of HGHH recommendations more effective. Participants shared concerns about implementing HGHH dietary suggestions while attempting to control food costs, having time constraints, and perceiving food discussed in the program as not representative of what their communities eat. In conclusion, AI community stakeholders advise HGHH updates need to be applicable with current technology, focused on younger generations, coupled with in-person activities, and socio-economically and culturally sensitive to have the most effect. Collecting and evaluating community feedback can guide the development of appropriate updates to the HGHH curriculum. Figure 1 . Theme words identified in focus groups in colored boxes and their related code words in grey boxes.