Engaging community-based veterans' organizations in health promotion programs

Community organizations, such as churches, clubs, and senior centers, can be important locations for health programs. However, little is known about the organizational factors that influence participation and engagement in health programs. To learn more, we evaluated a community-based program designed to help US military veterans better manage their high blood pressure. The program involved training a pair of veterans to deliver health-related presentations at their local units. We found that factors such as larger meeting attendance size, rural location, age diversity, and member enthusiasm were positively associated with both a willingness to participate and a high level of engagement in program activities.