The TRIP for Salud y Vida program was implemented and led by the Rural Economic Assistance League (REAL) and its partners. It is an expansion of the Project Salud y Vida program. The program is designed to improve health outcomes, specifically blood pressure results, through enhanced integrated services. It also includes systematic and seamless transportation to the three intervention clinics for the five counties participating in the program.
Study Goals:
The impact evaluation was designed to examine the TRIP for Salud y Vida program’s impact at three intervention clinics compared to two clinic sites. It focused on measuring the level of program services provided and quality of services the intervention group received. The evaluation also assessed what similar program service the comparison group received.
Research Questions:
The confirmatory and exploratory research questions were:
- Did TRIP for Salud y Vida participants significantly improve in the following areas compared to Project Salud y Vida participants?
- Blood pressure
- Blood sugar (for those with a history and/or diagnosis of diabetes)
- Body mass index (BMI)
- Quality of life
- Depressive symptoms
- Dietary habits
- Physical activity
- Health literacy
- Did TRIP for Salud y Vida participants experience increased appointment keeping compared to Project Salud y Vida participants?
- Do TRIP for Salud y Vida participants who live within a rural town have a greater percent change in health outcomes compared to TRIP for Salud y Vida participants traveling from a rural farm to market road residents?
- Do TRIP for Salud y Vida participants have different health outcomes based on the number of transportation services they have available and the frequency of their use?
The program implementation questions were:
- Did the TRIP for Salud y Vida program reach its intended target population?
- What are the components of the TRIP for Salud y Vida program? How do these components work when implemented at a location at six and 12 months?
- Are these components different than what was planned? If so, why?
- What level of Integrated Behavioral Health did TRIP for Salud y Vida achieve?
- How well have providers and program staff adopted the components of the TRIP for Salud y Vida program at six and 12 months?
- What are the facilitators and barriers to adoption?
- How well do providers and staff buy-in to the TRIP for Salud y Vida program? How has this buy-in affected implementation?
- Does the comparison group receive services that are similar to those in TRIP for Salud y Vida?
- Did REAL and partners implement the TRIP for Salud y Vida model with fidelity?
- How satisfied are TRIP for Salud y Vida participants with the services they received? How satisfied are providers with the TRIP for Salud y Vida program?
Findings:
The evaluation found the following:
- The program resulted in significant impact on changes of exploratory outcomes and no negative effects on a confirmatory outcome.
- Significant improvements in quality of life and the Patient Health Questionnaire were found within the intervention group.
- At the 12-month check-in, there were significant improvements for anxiety between the intervention group and comparison group.
- The impact of the program on depression is significant and promising.
For more information, download the full report and report brief.
Full report
Further information
Program/Intervention
TRIP for Salud y Vida
Implementing Organization
REAL, Inc.
Intermediary(s)
Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.
AmeriCorps Program(s)
Social Innovation Fund
Age(s) Studied
26-55 (Adult)
Study Type(s)
Impact
Implementation
Study Design(s)
Quasi-Experimental (QED)
Level of Evidence
Preliminary
Researcher/Evaluator
Dr. Melissa A. Valerio
Published Year
2019
Study Site Location (State)
Texas