Purpose of the study: Lay health educators (LHEs) offer great promise for facilitating the translation of evidence-based health promotion programs to underserved areas; yet, there is little guidance on how to train LHEs to implement these programs, particularly in the crucial area of empirically validated obesity interventions.
Design and methods: This article describes experiences in recruiting, training, and retaining 20 LHEs who delivered a 12-month evidence-based behavioral lifestyle intervention (based on the Diabetes Prevention Program) in senior centers across a rural state. A mixed method approach was used which incorporated collecting the folllowing: quantitative data on sociodemographic characteristics of LHEs; process data related to training, recruitment, intervention implementation, and retention of LHEs; and a quantitative program evaluation questionnaire, which was supplemented by a qualitative program evaluation questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were calculated for quantitative data, and qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis.
Results: The training program was well received, and the LHEs effectively recruited participants and implemented the lifestyle intervention in senior centers following a structured protocol.
Implications: The methods used in this study produced excellent long-term retention of LHEs and good adherence to intervention protocol, and as such may provide a model that could be effective for others seeking to implement LHE-delivered health promotion programs.