Training Promotoras to Implement a Mindfulness-based Healthy Lifestyle Program in Rural Communities

Sandra Soca Lozano; Acadia W Buro; Karen Gonzalez-Videla; Carmen Rodriguez; Diana Rancourt; Heewon L Gray; Rocio Bailey; Laura Redwine; Marilyn Stern

doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2024.02.006

Training Promotoras to Implement a Mindfulness-based Healthy Lifestyle Program in Rural Communities

J Nutr Educ Behav. 2024 Mar 21:S1499-4046(24)00043-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2024.02.006. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Sandra Soca Lozano¹, Acadia W Buro², Karen Gonzalez-Videla³, Carmen Rodriguez⁴, Diana Rancourt⁵, Heewon L Gray⁶, Rocio Bailey⁷, Laura Redwine⁸, Marilyn Stern⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Educational and Psychological Studies, College of Education, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
² College of Population Health, University of New Mexico, NM.
³ Department of Child and Family Studies, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
⁴ College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
⁵ Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
⁶ College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
⁷ Hispanic Services Council, Tampa, FL.
⁸ Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Tampa, FL.
⁹ College of Population Health, University of New Mexico, NM; Department of Child and Family Studies, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL. Electronic address: mstern1@usf.edu.

PMID: 38520425
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2024.02.006

Abstract

Partnering with promotoras to implement a healthy lifestyle intervention has proven efficacious in reaching community members whom they serve. However, there are no clearly defined guidelines for implementing promotora training, especially when it involves developing mindfulness skills in promotoras unfamiliar with this concept. This is a report about the facilitators and barriers to training promotoras to implement a mindfulness-enhanced healthy eating and physical activity intervention, ADAPT+, using the Train-the-Trainer model. Following this model, we laid the foundations for sustained implementation of ADAPT+ even after the training process. Future studies may examine how these guidelines help map promotora training in other mindfulness-related interventions.

Keywords: Latino families; healthy lifestyle; intervention implementation; mindfulness; promotora training.

Grants and funding

R34 AT010661/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States