AUTHOR=Dulchavsky Scott A. , Ruffin Wilma J. , Johnson Dayna A. , Cogan Chad , Joseph Christine L. M. 

TITLE=Use of an Interactive, Faith-Based Kiosk by Congregants of Four Predominantly, African–American Churches in a Metropolitan Area

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=2

YEAR=2014

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2014.00106

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2014.00106

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<p>Chronic diseases are prevalent in ethnic communities. Churches represent a potent resource for targeted health promotion. A faith-based kiosk was developed as an informational tool and placed in four predominantly (&gt;80%) African-American churches. Congregants were surveyed to describe kiosk-use, kiosk-user characteristics, health status, and self-reported behavior changes attributed to the kiosk. We analyzed 1,573 questionnaires. Mean age of respondents was 46.4 years and &gt;70% were women. “Older” congregations (mean age ≥46.1 years) had more reports of diabetes (<italic>p</italic> = 0.002) and heart diseases (<italic>p</italic> = 0.01) than younger churches (mean age ≤44.1), whereas asthma was more prevalent in the latter (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). Prevalence of obesity (40%) was similar across churches (<italic>p</italic> = 0.570). Kiosk-use was reported by 420 (26.7%) respondents. Compared to non-users, kiosk-users were &gt;40 years (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001), and reported &gt;two health conditions, adjusted Odds Ratio (95% Confidence Interval) = 1.43 (1.0–2.0), <italic>p</italic> = 0.05. Male kiosk-users preferred to select disease-specific content, aOR = 1.87 (1.10–3.17), <italic>p</italic> = 0.02, while females tended to select information about supportive community resources, aOR = 0.49 (0.23–1.04), <italic>p</italic> = 0.062. Knowledge of kiosk-user characteristics and the “health status” of a congregation, provide an opportunity for targeted, church-based health promotion.</p>