Emory Authors: Effects of a Group-Based Online Lifestyle Medicine Intervention Among Rural Participants

“Chronic diseases impact public health by attributing to 43 million deaths globally, requiring ongoing medical treatment, limiting daily activities, and contributing to disability and rising healthcare costs. In the United States, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer are the leading causes of death, and the prevalence of these conditions is high as more than half
of adults have been diagnosed with at least one chronic disease and just under half are managing two or more.”

able 1.

Sociodemographic Characteristics.

VariableTotal Sample n = 80Control Group n = 40Intervention Group n = 40Test StatisticEffect Size
Age (M ± SD)48.44 ± 17.0345.73 ± 17.7051.15 ± 16.09t(78) = 1.43, P = .155d = 0.321
Genderχ2(1) = 0.08, P = .775φ = .032
 - Female65 (81.3%)32 (80.0%)33 (82.5%)
 - Male15 (18.8%)8 (20.0%)7 (17.5%)
Marital statusχ2(4) = 6.60, P = .158φ = .287
 - Married/Partnered35 (43.8%)12 (30.0%)23 (57.5%)
 - Not married/Have a significant other13 (16.3%)8 (20.0%)5 (12.5%)
 - Single/Other13 (16.3%)9 (22.5%)4 (10.0%)
 - Divorced/Separated17 (21.3%)10 (25.0%)7 (17.5%)
 - Widowed2 (2.5%)1 (2.5%)1 (2.5%)
Educationχ2(2) = 0.56, P = .754φ = .084
 - < HS/HS grad20 (25.0%)11 (27.5%)9 (22.5%)
 - Some college33 (41.3%)17 (42.5%)16 (40.0%)
 - College+27 (33.8%)12 (30.0%)15 (37.5%)
Raceχ2(1) = 4.01, P = .045φ = .224
 - White58 (72.5%)33 (82.5%)25 (62.5%)
 - Black/Other/Multiracial22 (27.5%)7 (17.5%)15 (37.5%)
Incomeχ2(3) = 2.87, P = .413φ = .194
 - Under $30,00036 (47.4%)21 (56.8%)15 (38.5%)
 - $30,000 – $49,99919 (25.0%)8 (21.6%)11 (28.2%)
 - $50,000 – $100,00012 (15.8%)4 (10.8%)8 (20.5%)
 - Over $100,0009 (11.8%)4 (10.8%)5 (12.8%)
Employmentχ2(3) = 1.93, P = .587φ = .155
 - Full-time job28 (35.0%)12 (30.0%)16 (40.0%)
 - Part-time job18 (22.5%)8 (20.0%)10 (25.0%)
 - Not working, or full-time homemaker18 (22.5%)11 (27.5%)7 (17.5%)
 - Retired16 (20.0%)9 (22.5%)7 (17.5%)
# Of risk factorsχ2(2) = 1.33, P = .513φ = .129
 - 1-224 (30.0%)13 (32.5%)11 (27.5%)
 - 3-425 (31.3%)14 (35.0%)11 (27.5%)
 - 5 or more31 (38.8%)13 (32.5%)18 (45.0%)
Total risk score4.10 ± 2.284.00 ± 2.444.20 ± 2.14z = 0.63, P = .527g = .086
# Of previous historyχ2(1) = 0.00, P = 1.00φ = .000
 - 1-264 (80.0%)32 (80.0%)32 (80.0%)
 - 3-616 (20.0%)8 (20.0%)8 (20.0%)
Total history score1.68 ± 0.981.63 ± 0.981.73 ± 0.99z = 0.67, P = .501g = .101
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