OBJECTIVES: To examine barriers and self-efficacy relative to attendance at a cardiovascular risk reduction program. METHODS: Subjects (N=161) represented 3 levels of program participation: full, minimum, and none. Survey scales for barriers to attendance and health behavior change, food security, and self-efficacy for nutrition and physical activity were administered. RESULTS: Minimum and no-exposure participants perceived significantly more barriers to attendance than did the full-exposure participants (P<0.05); barriers to health behavior change were not significantly different. Self-efficacy for nutrition and physical activity were not significantly different among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Health promotion programs need to consider anytime, any place modes of program delivery to address "program day and time" and "no time to attend" barriers perceived by target audiences.