Makoyoh'Sokoi - The Wolf Trail Program Expansion Project - Supporting Indigenous Women to Celebrate Good Health

Summary

During the MKS+ program participants complete health education modules that expose them to health information, a substantial portion of which relate to healthy nutrition and prevention, and on occasion to local healthcare providers. The goal is to increase activation and the ability to manage one's own health. In each community, the Community Organisational Leads will support the Facilitators to establish a comprehensive resource list of healthcare professionals. Additionally, through exposure to local Indigenous Knowledge Keepers and Elders, along with cultural and spiritual elements, the participants will know how to access activities that may further support their wellness. The MKS+ program shows promise as a community-based model for supporting Indigenous women to improve their health. It is grounded in community; increases self-efficacy through the opportunity to learn, practice, and share in manageable increments; and increases health literacy through program contents and coordinating healthcare knowledge exchange with other healthcare providers from the community. By connecting to aspects of Indigenous culture, participants can be affirmed in their identities and learn more about how connecting to culture may be protective of their health through a restored sense of self-worth, sharing, and community support.

At the individual participant level the investigators anticipate the participants will a) improve their fitness, body composition and cardiometabolic health, b) improve their quality of life and mental health, c) develop strong support networks, d) be exposed to cultural elements in their community that the participants were not previously aware of that may lead to engagement, better understanding and easier access to their community resources, e) learn about healthy diet composition - shopping, cooking, and meal planning which will lead to improved nutrition, and f) understand the importance of health screening and smoking cessation. The investigators' earlier pilot work established these outcomes and the investigators are hopeful because this project will support an extended program that will include an additional 12 weeks of less intense, follow-up programming, that the investigators will also find that these elements are sustained at one-year post-programming. In previous grants, the investigators have never had the opportunity to extend the program in this way.

Conditions

• Physical Inactivity

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Physical activity-based wellness programs

Each MKS+ program has 20-25 participants and consists of the following: 12 Week INTENSE PHASE: 1) pre-program information and orientation session, and data collection/testing; 2) core weekly programming with the following three components: a) 45-60 minute exercise class, b) 15-20 minute nutrition and wellness education, and c) 15-30 minute sharing circle; 3) end of program celebration; 4) urban poling sessions; 5) introduction to local healthcare providers as identified as relevant for the group; 6) ongoing online support via private Facebook group; 7) daily pedometer tracking to provide immediate motivational feedback to participants. 6-12 Week FOLLOW-UP PHASE: 1) Program Facilitator contacts participants weekly to encourage healthy activities, address concerns as needed, and record weekly step counts; 2) encourages continued engagement in private Facebook group; 3) 15-30 minute nutrition and wellness education, and c) 15-45 minute sharing circle.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• University of Calgary

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Sonja Wicklum, MD CCFP FCFP · University of Calgary

• Levi Frehlich, BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD Candidate · University of Calgary

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-11-22

Primary Completion

2025-06-30

Completion

2025-06-30

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations