A Systematic Review of Physical Activity Interventions in Hispanic Adults

Table 1

Summary of Physical Activity Interventions in Hispanic Adults.

Study	Age/% of Hispanic participants	Theory	Design & sample	Measures	Intervention	Duration	Salient findings
Albright et al. [34]; Collins et al. [54]	18–66 years; 70% Mexican American/Latino women	Transtheoretical Model	Two-group-repeated measures RCT; 𝑁=72	Knowledge; perceived barriers to exercise; self-efficacy for PA; social support for exercise; motivational readiness for PA; processes of change; decisional balance; 7-day PA recall; acculturation; BMI; CVD risk factors	Eight 1-hour weekly behavioral skill building sessions; focused on overcoming barriers, setting short-term goals, and developing a PA program; cultural tailored curriculum including ethnically matched health educators; home-based randomized trial began after the series of classes and included either mail support or ongoing PA counseling via telephone and mail (14 calls over 10 months)	8 weeks then 10 months	After preintervention 8-week preparatory course, there was a significant increase in knowledge, perceived social support, walking minutes per week, and total cognitive and behavioral processes (𝑃<.01). After 10 months of a home-based intervention, women in the phone + mail counseling condition had a significantly greater increase in estimated total energy expenditure compared to women in the support condition (𝑃<.05)
Avila & Hovell [45]	40–44 years	Not mentioned	Two-group-repeated measures RCT; 𝑁=44	Attitudes; beliefs; knowledge of exercise; MVPA; BMI; BP; glucose; cholesterol; waist/hip circumference; 1-mile walk and estimated VO2 max	Eight 1-hour sessions consisting of self-change behavioral modification; assistance from an assigned buddy (social support); stretching and walking component (led for 20 mins. of walking during each session) conducted by bicultural Spanish speaking physician	8 weeks	Statistically significant (𝑃<.05) decrease compared to control group for BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, and cholesterol; significant increases (𝑃<.05) for VO2 max, exercise rate frequency, self-efficacy, fitness level, and knowledge
Bopp et al. [36]	Mean age = 42.5 years (SD = 12.1); 81.1% of Mexican descent	Not mentioned	Three-group RCT (2 intervention, 1 comparison); 𝑁=50	Process evaluation outcomes; PA knowledge; height; weight; program barriers; activity awareness	Faithful Footsteps Program; Faith-based physical activity intervention; culturally and spiritually relevant educational materials and activities developed promoting the health benefits of PA; team-based walking contest to promote social support for PA; health “fiesta” provided hands-on educational opportunities for PA	8 week	66% of participants identified health reasons for participating in PA (compared to 36%); 47% accurately described PA recommendations (versus 16%)
Castenada et al. [27]	Mean age = 66 years; all Hispanic, Caribbean descent (84–90%)	Not mentioned	Two-group-repeated measures RCT; over 55 years; type 2 diabetes; 𝑁=62	Glycemic and metabolic control; BMI; WHR; % body fat; 7-day PA recall; muscle strength with 1RM	Structured 45 mins. exercise session 3 times/week; progressively increased intensity	16 weeks	Leisure and household physical activity levels significantly improved in intervention group 𝑃<.001); improved glycemic control, decreased diabetes medications
Castro et al. [44]	24–55 years; 45.3% Hispanic	Self-management model	Two-group-repeated measures RCT; 𝑁=53	PA minutes per week; barriers, enjoyment; self-efficacy; social support	Walking program with one session per week; participants given written materials and health and weekly phone counseling sessions; focusing on informational control, education, social support, motivation, problem-solving, and improving self-efficacy	6 weeks	At 5-month followup, PA, barriers, enjoyment, and self-efficacy were not significant; increase in social support was significant (𝑃<.01); both conditions increased walking minutes per week (𝑃<.001)
Chen et al. [42]	23–54 years; 44.5% Hispanic women	Social cognitive theory	Two group by three repeated measures quasiexperimental design (randomized to comparison or treatment); 𝑁=128	Self-reported walking; subsample-used accelerometers	Home-based behavioral intervention to promote walking; intervention group received six phone calls (20–30 mins.) with counseling versus educational phone calls intended to increase self-efficacy, assess barriers, problem solve to promote social support	8 weeks	Both conditions increased self-reported walking at the 2 months after test(𝑃<.88), with mean change of 86 and 81 mins./week for behavioral and educational group, respectively
Grass et al. [38]	18–55 years; 72% Hispanic women	Not mentioned	Nonexperimental-repeated measures design; 𝑁=130	PA minutes per week; PA barriers	Participatory action research; four sessions over 3 months of “walking clubs”; family focused to influence social support; written materials in English and Spanish	3 months	No significance in PA; PA barriers significance (𝑃<.05)
Hayashi et al. [33]	40–64 years; 100% Hispanic Women	Transtheoretical model	RCT at 4 sites; lower income under or uninsured; at risk for CVD; 𝑁=869	Stage of readiness questionnaire; cholesterol, BP, BMI, coronary heart disease risk; PA level/ intensity/barrier	Wisewoman; delivered by community health workers who were bilingual and bicultural; focused on health behavior counseling	3 lifestyle sessions (30–45 mins.)	Improvement in PA readiness for change in 68% of intervention group; achieving a high degree of improvement in PA was twice as likely; improvement in estimated 10-year CHD risk
Hovell et al. [18]	18–55 years; 100% Hispanic Women	Operant learning theory	Two-group-repeated measures RCT; low income; sedentary immigrants; 𝑁=151	Physical activity; aerobic fitness VO2 max; height; weight; BP; glucose; insulin; lipid measurements	Three 90-minute sessions per week of supervised aerobic dance in a community setting; 5 : 1 participant to staff ratio; bilingual Aerobic instructor; 30-mins. of exercise/diet education after each session including culturally appropriate materials; problem-solve barriers; assigned exercise buddy	6 months	More vigorous exercise and walking at posttest for intervention group (𝑃<.001); meeting ACSM guidelines increased from 19.1% to 63.2% in intervention group compared to control group (13.6% to 16.7%); sig increase in VO2 max (𝑃<.01)
Ingram et al. [29]	33–95 years; 100% Hispanic	Grounded theory	Qualitative (focus groups); w/diabetes; 𝑁=20	Focus group explored themes related to self-efficacy and social support (conducted in Spanish)	Animadora study; community-based intervention to promote walking; series of walking groups led by individuals who had demonstrated success and expressed desire to help others; met 3 times/week	12 weeks	Social support expressed as commitment and companionship; walkers demonstrated a high level of self-efficacy for walking; development of group identity/social cohesion was a motivator to walk
Keele-Smith [41]	18–59 years; staff and students at New Mexico University; 42% Hispanic	Reversal theory	Two-group-repeated measures RCT; 𝑁=149	PA frequency and duration; weight, body fat; exercise motivation; social support	Participants given brochure highlighting general information about exercise; individualized-written exercise prescription developed based on baseline data; one-on-one weekly educational seminars 30–45 mins.; monitoring only group that received weekly phone calls	5 weeks	More participants in intervention group were meeting PA recommendations; no significant differences in weight, body fat; consistent exercisers had significantly higher motivation scores than did inconsistent exercisers
Keller and Cantue [28]	45–70 years; 100% Hispanic women	Not Mentioned	Two-group-repeated measures RCT; women who were postmenopausal, obese, and sedentary; 𝑁=18	bioelectric impedance and BMI; anthropometric measures; total serum cholesterol; PAR; PA log; community/friend/family assessment for exercise survey; acculturation scale	Camina por Salud; clinical feasibility study designed to evaluate the effects of two frequencies of walking (3 versus 5 days/week); 30 minutes at the pace of a 20-minute mile (3.2-MET intensity	36 weeks	Significiant differences in BMI reduction, (𝑃=.001); No significiant difference in anthropometric and blood lipid results; No significiant relationship between the mins. walked/week and acculturation or neighborhood characteristics. For Group I, there was a strong correlation between mins. walked and social support scores (r =.99, 𝑃=.04)
Leeman-Castillo et al. [31]	31–50 years; 100% Hispanic	Social science theory	Nonexperimental two-group-repeated measures design; Spanish & English speaking recruited ≥21 years; 𝑁=299	Self-report PA	LUCHAR; Community-based health kiosk program, English or Spanish; users receive personalized feedback from computerized role models that guide them in establishing goals; printout at the completion of the program includes personal program summary and referrals for local resources	1-session; 2-month followup for risk assessment	Significant increase in participants meeting PA recommendations in community setting (33% to 49%) and clinic setting (45% to 65%) at 2-month followup
Martyn-Nemeth et al. [3]	30–65 years; 100% Hispanic	Social ecological model	Nonexperimental one-group-repeated measures design; w/type 2 diabetes; low income; 𝑁=16	Hemoglobin A1C, lipids, psychological well-being; BMI; daily exercise log	Community-based, culturally designed exercise program through dance (60 mins.) received weekly exercise appointment cards	12 weeks	80% of the reported becoming physically active at least 6 days per week or more; no significiant change in BMI; trend toward improved psychological well-being & diabetes measures
Mier et al. [37]	Mean age = 32.4 years; 93.8% Mexico country of origin	Transtheoretical model	Nonexperimental one-group-repeated measures design; 𝑁=16	Physical walking level; depressive symptoms; stress; BMI	Spanish handbook (Let’s Walk) developed to include information which was culturally appropriate used individualized problem-solving and self-management strategies; use of social support	12 weeks	Significant differences for walking MET (𝑃<.02); level of depressive symptoms and stress were significantly reduced (𝑃<.05)
Olvera et al. [30]	28–48 years; 100% Hispanic mother-daughter pairs	Social cognitive theory	Two-arm experimental design; lower income mother/daughter pairs; 𝑁=46 pairs	Acculturation scale; BMI; shuttle run test or rockport walk test; accelerometers; SPAN survey; nonexercise PA rating	Bounce; family-based program delivered in community and school settings; 3-week structured group aerobic, sport sessions, or free play recreational activities; 1-week behavioral counseling session	12 weeks	No significiant differences in mother’s physical fitness or PA levels; no significiant differences in BMI; although daughters did exhibit significant changes in physical fitness and PA levels (𝑃<.05)
Pekmezi et al. [32]	18–65; 100% Hispanic women	Transtheoretical model; social cognitive theory	Two-group-repeated measures RCT; low-income, acculturated, majority overweight/Obese; inactive; 𝑁=93	Self-report PA, 7-day PA recall; height, weight; social support; environmental access scale; CES-D scale; stage of change	Seamos activas; emphasized behavioral strategies such as goal-setting, monitoring, problem-solving, barriers, increasing social support, and rewarding oneself for meeting PA goals; monthly educational materials mailed based on individual-level-tailored feedback	6 months	MVPA increased from 16.56 mins./week to 147.27 min.; significiant increase in cognitive and behavioral processes of change (𝑃<.01)
Poston et al. [39]	Mean age = 39.2 years; 70% USA. born Hispanic women	Social cognitive theory	RCT prospective block design (preestablished social groups); overweight or obese; 𝑁=269	7-day PAR; BMI; WHR; blood lipids; BP; social support; health locus of control	One session per week for 12 months focused on influence of education, use of social support networks, dealing with negative influences, and restructuring personal environment; instructors were bilingual; bilingual materials; participated in 30 mins. of walking during the weekly meeting and walking clubs set up during the week	12 months	Intervention participants were not more active than controls at 6 or 12 months; no significant changes in BMI, PA recommendations, and blood lipids; significantly fewer participants who met the activity goal in the treatment group compared to wait-list control group at baseline (22% versus 25%)
Staten et al. [35]	Mean age = 57.2 years; 74% Hispanic women	Social cognitive theory	Three-group (interventions) randomized experimental design; uninsured over 50 years; 𝑁=217	BMI; WHR; cholesterol; glucose; activity frequency questionnaire	One group received provider counseling (PC) (active control); 2nd group received health education classes and a monthly newsletter as well as PC (PC + HE); 3rd group received all of the above and social support provided by community health workers (PC + HE + CHW); CHW were bilingual Hispanic women; CHW led bimonthly walks and encouraged participants to find walking partners, build social support	12 months	All groups showed significant increase in MVPA with no significant differences between groups; BP decreased significiant among PC + HE + CHW (𝑃<.05) and PC + HE; no significiant change in BMI
Yan et al. [40]	Mean age = 72.9 years; 50.5% Hispanic	Transtheoretical model	Quasiexperimental design (intervention and small wait-list comparison); over 50 years; sedentary; 𝑁=208	Participation rates; physical performance	Active start: 1 hour per week in a group setting to set goals, identify barriers, and establish social support system; after week 4, participants met 3 times/week for 45 mins.; exercises were performed to culturally preferred music; given safe exercises at home handout	6 months	Significant improvements in fitness testing measures among intervention group, including Hispanics within this group (𝑃<.001)