“Keep it Realistic”: Reactions to and Recommendations for Physical Activity Promotion Messages From Focus Groups of Women

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 903-911 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chan L. Thai ◽  
Jennifer M. Taber ◽  
April Oh ◽  
Michelle Segar ◽  
Kelly Blake ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Physical Activity Promotion ◽  
Washington Dc ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Body Shapes ◽  
Recommended Guidelines ◽  
Public Health Practitioners

Purpose: Less than half of US adults meet the recommended guidelines of 150 minutes of exercise each week. Health promotion messages are frequently used to promote physical activity (PA); however, this messaging may be ineffective if it does not resonate with the target audience. The purpose of this exploratory study is to understand how women respond to examples of PA promotion messages. Approach/Design: A qualitative study. Setting: Washington DC Metro Area. Participants: Forty women, stratified by race/ethnicity (white, black, Latina) and level of self-reported PA (active, inactive). Method: Eight focus groups were conducted in which participants were shown 3 PA promotion messages representative of typical messaging strategies. Three researchers conducted a thematic analysis to code the data for emergent themes. Results: Current PA promotion messaging strategies do not resonate with women. Women want to see individuals with “realistic” bodies who look similar to them (eg, body shape, age, race/ethnicity), and for PA messaging to include daily activities as a way to be active. Conclusions: Public health practitioners who promote PA to women should consider developing messages that better resonate with women’s dynamic roles and lifestyles. Successful strategies may include depicting busy lifestyles that PA may be physically and logistically difficult to fit into and using models with diverse body shapes.

scholarly journals Communicating Prevention Messages to Policy Makers: The Role of Stories in Promoting Physical Activity

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (s1) ◽  
pp. S99-S107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine A. Stamatakis ◽  
Timothy D. McBride ◽  
Ross C. Brownson
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Activity Promotion ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Prevention Messages ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Public Health Practitioners ◽  
Research To Policy

Background:While effective interventions to promote physical activity have been identified, efforts to translate these interventions into policy have lagged behind. To improve the translation of evidence into policy, researchers and public health practitioners need to consider new ways for communicating health promoting messages to state and local policymakers.Methods:In this article, we describe issues related to the translation of evidence supporting physical activity promotion, and offer some communication approaches and tools that are likely to be beneficial in translating research to policy.Results:We discuss the use of narrative (ie, stories) and describe its potential role in improving communication of research in policy-making settings. In addition, we provide an outline for the development and design of policy briefs on physical activity, and for how to target these briefs effectively to policy-oriented audiences.Conclusions:Improvements in researchers' and practitioners' abilities to translate the evidence they generate into high-quality materials for policy makers can greatly enhance efforts to enact policies that promote physical activity.

“Advertise in the Chippy”

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-283
Author(s):  
Naomi Ellis ◽  
Christopher Gidlow ◽  
Rachel Davey
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Population Group ◽  
Physical Activity Promotion ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Activity Groups

Background. To maximize often limited resources for health promotion interventions, it is critical to identify and consult with the target population to inform program design and implementation. Objective. To highlight the value of scoping (identifying any barriers or limitations within a target population group) in the initial social marketing phase of targeting physical activity interventions for positive mental health. Method. Semistructured focus groups were undertaken in 2 segmented population groups: Study 1—adults (aged between 20 and 50 years) from a deprived community; Study 2—older adults (50+ years of age) attending physical activity groups. Discussions centered on health, mental health, physical activity, and methods of promotion. Results. Five focus groups were conducted, 2 in study 1 (n = 17; age 38.1 ± 10.8 years) and 3 in study 2 (n = 25; age 68.1 ± 5.6 years). Themes and perspectives were consistent within each case study, but differed between them, indicating that basic segmentation during recruitment (by age, area of residence, and physical activity participation) had identified 2 distinct audience segments. Differences between groups in perceived benefits of physical activity, preferred intervention type, and appropriate terminology provided valuable insight to inform physical activity promotion. Conclusion. Focus groups offer a simple and feasible means of scoping to begin to identify and understand population segments for targeting of health promotion efforts.

scholarly journals How to Make Physical Activity Promotion Work in Thai Schools: Perspectives of Multiple Stakeholders

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Areekul Amornsriwatanakul ◽  
Narongsak Noosorn ◽  
Kittipong Poonchob ◽  
Rung Wongwat ◽  
Somkiat Sornprasit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
School Setting ◽  
Physical Activity Promotion ◽  
School Level ◽  
Information Support ◽  
School Based ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
The Government ◽  
Depth Interviews

Background: This study aimed to determine current practice in physical activity (PA) promotion in Thai schools, explore barriers and facilitators to PA promotion within the school setting, and identify strategies to support schools’ future practice. Methods: A qualitative study design was applied comprising document analysis, focus groups, in-depth interviews, and onsite observations. The focus groups and in-depth interviews were conducted with 144 informants, purposively recruited through 24 schools in 4 regions across Thailand. Inductive content analysis was used. Results: Most schools were promoting PA in the absence of written policies, and without an accurate understanding of PA. Nonalignment of school performance indicators and policies, concerns about children’s academic performance, and lack of budget were raised as barriers to PA promotion, whereas strong partnerships with multiple local stakeholders facilitated school-based PA promotion. Mandated government PA policies and more information support were suggested as strategies to enhance schools’ future practices. Conclusions: For PA promotion to be successful in the school setting, significant challenges will need to be addressed. Results from this study help the government and concerned stakeholders to better understand the situation at the school level, and further strive for achieving the target PA levels specified in the National PA Plan.

scholarly journals What works best when implementing a physical activity intervention for teenagers? Reflections from the ACTIVE Project: a qualitative study

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. e025618
Author(s):  
Michaela James ◽  
Danielle Christian ◽  
Samantha Scott ◽  
Charlotte Todd ◽  
Gareth Stratton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Physical Activity Promotion ◽  
Randomised Control Trial ◽  
Support Worker ◽  
Local Council ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Registration Number

ObjectiveThis paper explores what aspects of a multicomponent intervention were deemed strengths and weaknesses by teenagers and the local council when promoting physical activity to young people.DesignQualitative findings at 12 months from a mixed method randomised control trial.MethodsActive Children Through Incentive Vouchers—Evaluation (ACTIVE) gave teenagers £20 of activity enabling vouchers every month for a year. Peer mentors were also trained and a support worker worked with teenagers to improve knowledge of what was available. Semistructured focus groups took place at 12 months to assess strengths and weaknesses of the intervention. Eight focus groups (n=64 participants) took place with teenagers and one additional focus group was dedicated to the local council’s sport development team (n=8 participants). Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.ResultsTeenagers used the vouchers on three main activities: trampolining, laser tag or the water park. These appeal to both genders, are social, fun and require no prior skill or training. Choice and financial support for teenagers in deprived areas was considered a strength by teenagers and the local council. Teenagers did not engage with a trained peer mentor but the support worker was considered helpful.ConclusionsThe ACTIVE Project’s delivery had both strengths and weakness that could be used to underpin future physical activity promotion. Future interventions should focus on improving access to low cost, fun, unstructured and social activities rather than structured organised exercise/sport. The lessons learnt from this project can help bridge the gap between what is promoted to teenagers and what they actually want from activity provision.Trial registration numberISRCTN75594310

“You’ve got a Friend in Me” A Case for using Entertainment Education and Gamification Elements in Children’s Physical Activity Sessions: Creating an Immersive Environment to Increase Engagement. (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Budzynski-Seymour ◽  
Michelle Jones ◽  
James Steele
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Physical Activity Promotion ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Entertainment Education ◽  
Activity Setting ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
The Media ◽  
Immersive Environment ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

UNSTRUCTURED Engaging children in physical activity is a pertinent research area. The health benefits of physical activity are well known, however it is consistently reported that many children are failing to accumulate the recommended hours. The media may have a role to play in physical activity promotion, however this is a relatively under explored area. This research aims to explore one potential use of the media by investigating children’s preferences for characters, specifically Disney characters, which are present in the media that they are frequently exposed to. Focus groups were conducted, with 27 children (20 girls, 7 boys) aged between seven and ten. In the focus groups children were asked to draw their favourite Disney character and then discuss in the group the reasoning behind the chosen characters. The results were discussed in relation to two areas of research, entertainment education and gamification and how all of this can be incorporated into a physical activity setting. The main findings from the study suggest that if you can create an immersive environment, by incorporating elements such as characters/preferred characteristics of a character which have been identified by this research, you may be able to promote physical activity to children.

Experiences in physical activity promotion in health care settings for primary prevention in the UK

2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Physical Activity Promotion ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Randomised Controlled

In addition to the delivery of primary care services, recent changes to the NHS in the United Kingdom have placed increasing responsibility on GPs for the commissioning of the full range of health services from prevention through to clinical interventions and rehabilitation. Whilst historically there has always been an expectation that primary care professionals were ideally placed to provide support for prevention as well as treatment, their active engagement in the promotion of physical activity has remained largely superficial. With notable exceptions where individuals have a personal interest or commitment, the majority of health professionals tend to limit themselves to peremptory non-specific advice at best, or frequently don’t broach the subject at all. There are a number of reasons for this including increasing time pressures, a general lack of knowledge, limited evidence and concerns about litigation in the event of an adverse exercise induced event. However in the 1990s there was a surge of interest in the emerging “Exercise on Prescription” model where patients could be referred to community based exercise instructors for a structured “prescription” of exercise in community leisure centres. Despite the continuing popularity of the model there remain problems particularly in getting the active support of health professionals who generally cite the same barriers as previously identified. In an attempt to overcome some of these problems Wales established a national exercise referral scheme with an associated randomised controlled trial. The scheme evaluated well and had subsequently evolved with new developments including integration with secondary and tertiary care pathways, accredited training for exercise instructors and exit routes into alternative community based exercise opportunities.

Design Intervention Assessment of Urban Public Park for Physical Activity Promotion in Bangkok, Thailand

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-4
Author(s):  
Sigit Arifwidodo ◽  
Orana Chandrasiri
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Landscape ◽  
Physical Activity Promotion ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Public Park ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Design Intervention

Public Park is considered one of the essential settings for physical activity, especially in urban areas. Parks support physical activity through their accessibility, their provision to facilitate active pursuits; their capacity to provide opportunities to a wide range of users; and their semi-permanent nature. The paper explores the design intervention assessment of Benchakitti Park, which serves as the pilot project for active park and showcase during the past ISPAH 2016 conference. The objective of the paper is to understand the health and well-being benefits of an urban park in increasing PA levels of urban population and promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. Keywords: Public park; physical activity; urban landscape design; public health; SOPARC

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