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Illinois WISEWOMAN Program

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

The WISEWOMAN (Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation) program was designed to address the disproportionate risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among disadvantaged, low-income women and is funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Illinois WISEWOMAN program (IWP) aims to lower heart disease and other chronic disease risk factors through screening and lifestyle classes. The four weekly lifestyle classes teach women how to eat healthy, increase physical activity, problem solve, set goals, and also teaches them about the importance of a support system.

Members of the Illinois WISEWOMAN program receive screenings for heart disease, breast cancer, and cervical cancer in one combined office visit. After the office visit, members speak with IWP nurse case managers about their lab results and are eligible to attend four weekly group classes that help teach ways of increasing physical activity, improving dietary behaviors, and other lifestyle behaviors.

Goal / Mission

The Illinois WISEWOMAN program (IWP) aims to lower heart disease and other chronic disease risk factors through screening and lifestyle classes for women in high-risk populations in service counties throughout Illinois.

Impact

The Illinois WISEWOMAN Program addresses the disproportionate risk of cardiovascular disease among disadvantaged, low-income women. Participation in the program has been shown to improve dietary, physical activity and cardiovascular outcomes.

Results / Accomplishments

A study of the Illinois WISEWOMAN has shown its strength in addressing some of the lifestyle behaviors for CVD prevention in the at-risk target population. A total of 1,021 women aged 40 to 64 years were recruited from the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program and were randomized to either a minimum intervention (MI) or an enhanced intervention (EI) group. Both groups received CVD risk factor screening and educational materials, and the EI group received a 12-week lifestyle change intervention. Participants in the EI group showed significant improvement on some of the dietary and physical activity outcomes both at post-intervention and 1-year follow-up. Compared with the MI group, the EI group showed more improvement in dietary fat- and fiber-related behaviors and increased physical activity levels. There were improvements in all of the cardiovascular outcomes at post-intervention in both the EI and MI groups; however, these changes were not statistically significant.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Illinois Department of Public Health, Office of Women's Health
Primary Contact
Illinois Department of Public Health, Office of Women's Health and Family Services
535 W. Jefferson St.
Springfield, IL 62761-0001
217-524-6088
DPH.OWHLine@Illinois.gov
http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/womenshealth/owh...
Topics
Health / Physical Activity
Health / Heart Disease & Stroke
Health / Women's Health
Organization(s)
Illinois Department of Public Health, Office of Women's Health
Date of publication
3/21/2012
Location
Illinois
For more details
http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/womenshealth/wis...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22136298
Target Audience
Women

Related Promising Practices

  1. Strong Women - Healthy Hearts (also called StrongPeople Healthy Weight)
  2. CDC WiseWoman Demonstration Program
  3. BetterU
  4. Physical Activity and Teenage Health (PATH) Program

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Related Content for: Illinois WISEWOMAN Program

An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.
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