Physical ActivityNCT03858868
Linking Churches With Parks to Increase Physical Activity Among Latinos
A study testing Church and park-based intervention and Standard health education on physical activity in people with Physical Activity, run by RAND at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study is a cluster randomized controlled trial of a multi-level intervention that links Latino Catholic churches (n=14) with their local parks to increase physical activity among Latino parishioners (n=1204) in Los Angeles. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Physical Activity
- What is being tested?
- Church and park-based intervention and Standard health education on physical activity
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 925 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 3 Mar 2019to 30 Apr 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Does not currently meet physical activity guidelines (150 minutes per week)
- Regularly attends study church
- Does not have health condition that would preclude physical activity
Who cannot join
- Regularly engages in 150 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity
- Does not regularly attend study church
- Has health condition that would preclude physical activity
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
This study is a cluster randomized controlled trial of a multi-level intervention that links Latino Catholic churches (n=14) with their local parks to increase physical activity among Latino parishioners (n=1204) in Los Angeles. The study will examine the impact of the intervention on Latino parishioners' PA and health-related outcomes; explore differences in the intervention's effectiveness by gender; and evaluate factors associated with implementation for future dissemination. If successful, the intervention has the potential for sustainability and scale-up across the largest diocese in the U.S. and potentially across the nation.
Read the detailed description
Engaging in regular physical activity (PA) contributes to positive health outcomes, including longevity, better quality of life, and reduced incidence of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, depression, certain cancers, and obesity; however, only a minority of U.S. adults meet the minimum guidelines for moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), and Latinos are less likely than whites to report meeting the guidelines. Public parks comprise local infrastructure that can be leveraged for community PA, but tend to be underutilized, particularly in low-income communities. Parks in low-income and minority communities tend to have less PA programming, especially targeting adults, and higher crime and other factors that affect park use. There is a need for interventions that address community concerns, target the built environment, and "activate" park use. Churches are credible, stable entities that have significant reach within Latino communities and a history of social service provision and advocacy related to health and well-being. The investigators' prior research has found that church-based interventions can be effective across a wide range of health issues and types of churches. This study combines approaches from the research team's extensive prior work with churches and parks to conduct a cluster randomized controlled trial of a multi-level intervention that links Latino Catholic churches (n=14) with their local parks to increase PA among Latino parishioners (n=1204) in Los Angeles. The specific aims are to: (1) Examine the impact of a multi-level church-based intervention that links Catholic parishes to their local parks on Latino parishioners' PA and health-related outcomes (effects on parishioners' MVPA and self-reported PA, heart rate/fitness, waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, body fat, mental health, and perceived social support for PA); (2) Explore differences in the effectiveness of the intervention by gender; and (3) Evaluate factors associated with intervention implementation (facilitators, barriers, fidelity, and replication costs) for future dissemination. The approach targets multiple levels to promote health-enhancing PA through park-based fitness classes led by kinesiology students, peer leader-led walking groups, park-based church events, and church-based PA support activities. It integrates churches' vast social networks, moral authority, and influence with parks' structural and organizational capacity and kinesiology student interns' professional expertise. The intervention makes use of innovative partnerships within and across sectors - faith-based, local parks/city government, and local universities. The inter-sectoral, collaborative approach makes the intervention scalable and sustainable in real-world settings and incorporates action at multiple levels (individuals, churches, and neighborhoods). To the investigators' knowledge, this will be the first study to examine the effectiveness of an integrated church and park-based intervention on Latinos' PA, and it will provide a sustainable model of PA programming in low-income communities. If the intervention proves effective, the increased community capacity through this partnership will lay the groundwork for scale-up across the largest diocese in the U.S. and, potentially, the nation.
- Conditions
- Physical Activity
- Being tested
- Church and park-based intervention, Standard health education on physical activity
- Keywords
- physical activity, community-based health promotion, built environment, faith-based organizations
- Medical subject headings
- Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Church and park-based interventionBehavioural
Multiple components involving motivational messages and concrete opportunities for physical activity at the church and the local park.
Standard health education on physical activityBehavioural
Participants will receive publicly available brochures, tip sheets, etc. about physical activity
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Church and park-based intervention | Experimental | Participants at intervention churches will be offered: texting intervention (messages about physical activity); peer leader training; walking groups; park-based fitness classes; sermons; participation in park advisory board; community advocacy. Receives: Behavioral: Church and park-based intervention |
| Publicly available physical activity materials | Other | Participants at control churches will be offered standard health educational materials (brochures, tip sheets, posters) about physical activity. Receives: Behavioral: Standard health education on physical activity |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in objectively measured physical activity
Accelerometer-assessed moderate to vigorous physical activity at 12 months as compared to baseline
Measured: Change in physical activity between baseline and 12 months
Secondary outcomes (2)
Change in fitness level
Heart rate / fitness as measured by the 3 minute submaximal step test
Measured: Change in fitness level between baseline and 12 months
Change in waist circumference
Objectively measured waist circumference
Measured: Change in waist circumference between baseline and 12 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Mar 2019
- Study start3 Mar 2019
- Primary completion30 Apr 2025
- Study completion30 Apr 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Physical ActivityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 925 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- RAND
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- California State University, Los Angeles, San Diego State University
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Kathryn Derose, RAND
- Investigators
- Kathryn P Derose, PhD, MPH, Principal investigator, RAND
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03858868
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- R01CA218188
- Status last verified
- Jun 2025
- First submitted
- 27 Feb 2019
- Last updated
- 8 Jun 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: The final dataset will include self-reported and biometric variables at baseline, 6m and 12m. These will be made available in the form of an electronic database for researchers who successfully complete a registration process. Data will be de-identified and will not contain any direct or indirect identifiers. We will provide a codebook and users must agree to the conditions of use, including restrictions against attempting to identify study participants, destruction of the data after analyses are completed, reporting responsibilities, restrictions on redistribution of the data to third parties, and proper acknowledgement of the data resource. Users must submit brief proposals regarding intended use of the data; the study team will determine the scientific soundness of the proposal, as well as whether adequate data protections in place, as part of the decision for the researcher to be able to access the public use dataset.
Publications
Derose KP, Seelam R, Perez LG, Arredondo E, Han B, Castro G, Cohen DA. Associations of park visits, physical activity and health outcomes among churchgoing Latino adults in low-income urban communities. J Behav Med. 2026 Aug;49(4):619-630. doi: 10.1007/s10865-026-00672-4. Epub 2026 May 6.
PubMed 42090117Derose KP, Cohen DA, Han B, Arredondo EM, Perez LG, Larson A, Loy S, Mata MA, Castro G, De Guttry R, Rodriguez C, Seelam R, Whitley MD, Perez S. Linking churches and parks to promote physical activity among Latinos: Rationale and design of the Parishes & Parks cluster randomized trial. Contemp Clin Trials. 2022 Dec;123:106954. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2022.106954. Epub 2022 Oct 4.
PubMed 36206951
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Jun 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Linking Churches With Parks to Increase Physical Activity Among Latinos
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03858868
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- R01CA218188
- Conditions
- Physical Activity
- Keywords
- physical activity, community-based health promotion, built environment, faith-based organizations
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 925 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- RANDUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- California State University, Los Angeles, San Diego State University
- Study start
- 3 Mar 2019 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Apr 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 1 Mar 2019 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study is a cluster randomized controlled trial of a multi-level intervention that links Latino Catholic churches (n=14) with their local parks to increase physical activity among Latino parishioners (n=1204) in Los Angeles. The study will examine the impact of the intervention on Latino parishioners' PA and health-related outcomes; explore differences in the intervention's effectiveness by gender; and evaluate factors associated with implementation for future dissemination. If successful, the intervention has the potential for sustainability and scale-up across the largest diocese in the U.S. and potentially across the nation.
Detailed description
Engaging in regular physical activity (PA) contributes to positive health outcomes, including longevity, better quality of life, and reduced incidence of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, depression, certain cancers, and obesity; however, only a minority of U.S. adults meet the minimum guidelines for moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), and Latinos are less likely than whites to report meeting the guidelines. Public parks comprise local infrastructure that can be leveraged for community PA, but tend to be underutilized, particularly in low-income communities. Parks in low-income and minority communities tend to have less PA programming, especially targeting adults, and higher crime and other factors that affect park use. There is a need for interventions that address community concerns, target the built environment, and "activate" park use. Churches are credible, stable entities that have significant reach within Latino communities and a history of social service provision and advocacy related to health and well-being. The investigators' prior research has found that church-based interventions can be effective across a wide range of health issues and types of churches. This study combines approaches from the research team's extensive prior work with churches and parks to conduct a cluster randomized controlled trial of a multi-level intervention that links Latino Catholic churches (n=14) with their local parks to increase PA among Latino parishioners (n=1204) in Los Angeles. The specific aims are to: (1) Examine the impact of a multi-level church-based intervention that links Catholic parishes to their local parks on Latino parishioners' PA and health-related outcomes (effects on parishioners' MVPA and self-reported PA, heart rate/fitness, waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, body fat, mental health, and perceived social support for PA); (2) Explore differences in the effectiveness of the intervention by gender; and (3) Evaluate factors associated with intervention implementation (facilitators, barriers, fidelity, and replication costs) for future dissemination. The approach targets multiple levels to promote health-enhancing PA through park-based fitness classes led by kinesiology students, peer leader-led walking groups, park-based church events, and church-based PA support activities. It integrates churches' vast social networks, moral authority, and influence with parks' structural and organizational capacity and kinesiology student interns' professional expertise. The intervention makes use of innovative partnerships within and across sectors - faith-based, local parks/city government, and local universities. The inter-sectoral, collaborative approach makes the intervention scalable and sustainable in real-world settings and incorporates action at multiple levels (individuals, churches, and neighborhoods). To the investigators' knowledge, this will be the first study to examine the effectiveness of an integrated church and park-based intervention on Latinos' PA, and it will provide a sustainable model of PA programming in low-income communities. If the intervention proves effective, the increased community capacity through this partnership will lay the groundwork for scale-up across the largest diocese in the U.S. and, potentially, the nation.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Church and park-based intervention | Experimental | Behavioral: Church and park-based interventionParticipants at intervention churches will be offered: texting intervention (messages about physical activity); peer leader training; walking groups; park-based fitness classes; sermons; participation in park advisory board; community advocacy. |
| Publicly available physical activity materials | Other | Behavioral: Standard health education on physical activityParticipants at control churches will be offered standard health educational materials (brochures, tip sheets, posters) about physical activity. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Does not currently meet physical activity guidelines (150 minutes per week)
- Regularly attends study church
- Does not have health condition that would preclude physical activity
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Regularly engages in 150 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity
- Does not regularly attend study church
- Has health condition that would preclude physical activity
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Church and park-based interventionMultiple components involving motivational messages and concrete opportunities for physical activity at the church and the local park. | Behavioural | Church and park-based intervention |
| Standard health education on physical activityParticipants will receive publicly available brochures, tip sheets, etc. about physical activity | Behavioural | Publicly available physical activity materials |
Primary outcome
Change in objectively measured physical activity
Time frame: Change in physical activity between baseline and 12 months
Accelerometer-assessed moderate to vigorous physical activity at 12 months as compared to baseline
2 secondary outcomes
Change in fitness level
Time frame: Change in fitness level between baseline and 12 months
Change in waist circumference
Time frame: Change in waist circumference between baseline and 12 months
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 Jun 2025.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42090117Derose KP, Seelam R, Perez LG, Arredondo E, Han B, Castro G, Cohen DA. Associations of park visits, physical activity and health outcomes among churchgoing Latino adults in low-income urban communities. J Behav Med. 2026 Aug;49(4):619-630. doi: 10.1007/s10865-026-00672-4. Epub 2026 May 6.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 36206951Derose KP, Cohen DA, Han B, Arredondo EM, Perez LG, Larson A, Loy S, Mata MA, Castro G, De Guttry R, Rodriguez C, Seelam R, Whitley MD, Perez S. Linking churches and parks to promote physical activity among Latinos: Rationale and design of the Parishes & Parks cluster randomized trial. Contemp Clin Trials. 2022 Dec;123:106954. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2022.106954. Epub 2022 Oct 4.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. The final dataset will include self-reported and biometric variables at baseline, 6m and 12m. These will be made available in the form of an electronic database for researchers who successfully complete a registration process. Data will be de-identified and will not contain any direct or indirect identifiers. We will provide a codebook and users must agree to the conditions of use, including restrictions against attempting to identify study participants, destruction of the data after analyses are completed, reporting responsibilities, restrictions on redistribution of the data to third parties, and proper acknowledgement of the data resource. Users must submit brief proposals regarding intended use of the data; the study team will determine the scientific soundness of the proposal, as well as whether adequate data protections in place, as part of the decision for the researcher to be able to access the public use dataset.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Kathryn P Derose, PhD, MPH principal investigator
RAND
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Church and park-based intervention and Standard health education on physical activity in people with Physical Activity, run by RAND at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Jun 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in objectively measured physical activity (time frame: Change in physical activity between baseline and 12 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03858868, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Jun 2025.