Deaf Weight-Wise

Core Research Project (2009-2014)

The overall goal of the Deaf Weight-Wise (DWW) research study is to establish the effectiveness of an intervention to reduce weight gain and obesity in Deaf people who use American Sign Language (ASL) as their primary language.

NCDHR will test whether an evidence-based program will be effective in changing obesity-related health behaviors in Deaf adults aged 40-70. Deaf Weight-Wise is adapted from the Weight-Wise Program, developed by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, another CDC Prevention Research Center.

All phases of this study will be carried out through active partnership with the Rochester Deaf Community. To our knowledge, this is the first clinical trial to be conducted in a Deaf population. More...

Publications:

Pollard RQ, Dean RK, O’Hearn A, Haynes SL. Adapting health education materials for deaf audiences. Rehabilitation Psychology 2009; 54(2): 232-238. Pub Med Citation

Presentations:

Mowl C, O'Hearn A, Panko T, Sutter E, Barnett S (2011). Collecting research data from deaf ASL users: How do we know we're asking the right questions? APHA 139th Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (November 2)

Panko T, Starr M (2011). Using video blogs as a community engagement tool to overcome research knowledge gaps in deaf communities. APHA 139th Annual Meeting, Washing, DC (October 31)

Thew D, Starr M, DeAndrea-Lazarus I, Gahagan K, Evanstad C, Kushalnagar P, Chin N (2011). Tailoring a healthy living intervention to deaf adults: Sociocultural data from the target group. APHA 139th Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (October 31)

Mowl C, Panko T, Kelstone K, Barnett S, Pearson T, and the Research Committee of the National Center for Deaf Health Research (2011). Design of Deaf Weight Wise: A healthy lifestyle intervention for Deaf adults. CDC Prevention Research Centers Program Annual Conference, Atlanta (April 12 & 13)

Reid JT, Starr MJ, Barnett S (2011). Adapting public health interventions for use with a new community: Experiences working with deaf adult sign language users. CDC Prevention Research Centers Program Annual Conference, Atlanta (April 13)

NCDHR Outreach Presentations:

Obesity and Your Health: The Deaf Weight-Wise Research Study Slides

Links:

UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention: http://www.hpdp.unc.edu/

 

More information about DWW:

Study Design

Participants in the DWW research study will be randomly assigned to an intervention group that participates in the program first, or to a delayed intervention group that participates six months later. Participants will also be randomly assigned to a group intervention or an individual videophone intervention. They will attend sessions led by trained Deaf counselors, and will receive DWW materials that have been adapted into sign language. Counselors will emphasize daily self-monitoring of food intake, number of fruit and vegetable servings, calorie intake, and minutes of physical activity. Participants in the individual intervention will receive 16 weekly sessions via videophone, and participants in the group intervention will receive 16 weekly 2-hour sessions in groups of 8-10 people.

Methods

Research methods and materials are being developed to collect accurate and culturally appropriate health information from research participants. The Weight-Wise Program developed by the North Carolina PRC Program will be translated and adapted for use with Deaf people in the DWW research study. Deaf participants will be recruited and will provide informed consent for participation in this clinical trial.

Data Collection

Health information including diet, physical activity, and health behaviors will be collected using sign language-video surveys, like the Deaf Health Survey. This information will be collected at baseline/enrollment, 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months. Study data will be analyzed to test hypotheses. Community members will be involved in the data interpretation process.

Historically, Deaf populations have had very limited access to health research opportunities like Deaf Weight Wise. At the end of the study, many culturally appropriate intervention tools will be developed for dissemination, and substantially more information on health behaviors will be available to improve the health of Deaf people and their families.

 

Last updated: 12/13/2011