Med-South Lifestyle Study: Phase 1

Purpose: Although lifestyle behavior change interventions are widely recommended to improve health, they are not being implemented sufficiently or equitably on a national scale, particularly in rural communities. The research team has developed and tested multiple lifestyle interventions, which have culminated in the Med-South Lifestyle Program (MSLP), an evidence-based behavior change intervention that translates the PREDIMED (Mediterranean) dietary pattern for a Southeastern US population and includes support for increased physical activity. In this research the investigators propose to identify the most effective and efficient way to scale-up the MSLP for use in public health and clinical practices settings so that it reaches minority, rural, and medically underserved populations. In Phase 1, the investigators will develop, pilot test, and refine implementation strategies that will be used to take the MSLP to scale. Participants: Phase I participants include up to 80 participants who will receive the MSLP and for whom the study team will collect baseline and follow-up data. Procedures (methods): An evidence-based framework for scaling-up health interventions will be used to guide Phase I activities. The initial phase involves refining the "scalable unit" which includes the lifestyle program (MSLP), implementation strategies for the sites that will give the program, and strategies UNC will use to train sites on implementing the program. To refine the scalable unit the investigators will apply a descriptive, qualitative design to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the MSLP's intervention and implementation strategies (i.e., what the investigators will scale-up in Phases 2 and 3). In Phase 1, the study team will recruit 2 local health departments and 2 federally qualified health centers as participating sites. Each site will form an implementation team of 2-4 individuals who will go through training on intervention delivery and implementation. Sites will be randomized to receive training either through a distance (webinar) or in-person/collaborative format. Each site will recruit up to 20 participants (for a total of 80 across all sites) to receive the intervention.