scholarly journals Enabling Better Physical Activity and Screen Time Behaviours for Adolescents from Middle Eastern Backgrounds: Semi-Structured Interviews with Parents

Author(s):  
Nematullah Hayba ◽  
Yumeng Shi ◽  
Margaret Allman-Farinelli

The unrelenting obesity pandemic in Middle Eastern (ME) adolescents living in Australia warrants culturally responsive and locally engineered interventions. Given the influence of parents on the lifestyle behaviours of adolescents, this qualitative study aimed to capture the opinions of ME parents on the barriers and enablers to sufficient physical activity and limiting screen time behaviours in adolescents. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 ME parents (female) aged 35–59 years old, most of whom resided in lower socioeconomic areas (n = 19). A reflexive thematic analysis using the Theoretical Domains Framework and the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour model was performed for coding. Parents voiced confidence in their knowledge of the importance of physical activity and limiting screen time but were less optimistic in their ability to enable change in behaviours, especially for older adolescents without outside support. Despite adolescents having the necessary skills to engage in a wide array of sports, the parents admitted deep fears regarding the safety of the social environment and restricted their children’s independent mobility. Gender differences were noted, with parents reporting older girls expressing disinterest in sports and having limited physical opportunities to participate in sports at school. It may be that a community-based participatory framework is needed to improve physical activity opportunities and to address specific physical, social, and cultural barriers.

BJGP Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. bjgpopen20X101100
Author(s):  
Sharon Ann Carstairs ◽  
Rayna H Rogowsky ◽  
Kathryn B Cunningham ◽  
Frank Sullivan ◽  
Gozde Ozakinci

BackgroundInconclusive evidence supporting referrals from health professionals to gym-based exercise programmes has raised concern for the roll-out of such schemes, and highlights the importance of developing links between healthcare settings and community-based opportunities to improve physical activity (PA) levels.AimThis study aimed to identify methods, and explore barriers and facilitators, of connecting primary care patients with PA opportunities from the perspectives of both health professionals (HPs) and patients, using the example of jogscotland.Design & settingAn exploratory study utilising semi-structured interviews with primary care patients (n = 14) and HPs (n = 14) from one UK NHS board was conducted.MethodPatient and HP transcripts were analysed separately using thematic analysis. Potential methods of connection were identified. The Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, behavioural (COM-B) model and theoretical domains framework (TDF) were employed to facilitate identification of barriers and facilitators for connecting primary care to community jogscotland groups.ResultsThree methods of connecting patients to community-based groups were identified: informal passive signposting, informal active signposting, and formal referral or prescribing. Barriers and facilitators for patient connection fell into five TDF domains for HPs and two COM-B model components for patients.ConclusionFor patients, HPs raising the topic of PA can help to justify, facilitate, and motivate action to change. The workload associated with connecting patients with community-based opportunities is central to implementation by HPs. Integrative resource solutions and social support for patients can provide a greater variety of PA options and the vital information and support for connecting with local opportunities, such as jogscotland.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 4904
Author(s):  
Nan Yang ◽  
Gerbrand van Hout ◽  
Loe Feijs ◽  
Wei Chen ◽  
Jun Hu

With the development of sensing technology and the popularization of quantified-self devices, there are increasing types of health-related data that can be sensed, visualized and presented to the user. However, most existing quantified-self applications are designed to support self-management and self-reflection; only a few studies so far have investigated the social aspect of quantified-self data. In this study, we investigated the social role of quantified-self data by introducing the design and evaluation of SocialBike—a digitally augmented bicycle that aims to increase the user’s intrinsic motivation in physical activity through on-site quantified-self data sharing. We conducted a controlled experiment on a cycling simulation system. Two forms of SocialBike’s on-bike display were evaluated with 36 participants. We used the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory to collect quantitative data about users’ intrinsic motivation in physical activity; the cycling simulation system recorded quantitative data about user behavior. Qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews. We conducted paired sample t-test to analyze both types of quantitative data; qualitative data were analyzed by the method of thematic analysis. The results show that SocialBike’s front display significantly increased users’ intrinsic motivation in physical activity. A total of nine themes were identified from the qualitative analysis, providing supplementary explanations for the quantitative results and additional insights into the overall design.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 236-246
Author(s):  
Amy Eyler ◽  
Laurel Schmidt ◽  
Alan Beck ◽  
Amanda Gilbert ◽  
Maura Keeper ◽  
...  

Objective: In this study, we explore parent perception of children’s physical activity and screen time during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. Methods: We interviewed 16 parents of children ages 5-12 years in the St. Louis, Missouri region using snowball sampling. We sampled from rural, urban, and suburban areas. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a priori and emergent codes. Results: The transition to virtual school and work transformed daily activities. Physical education requirements varied, generally perceived as not contributing to overall physical activity. Parents perceived the amount of physical activity as the same or increased but reported an increase in screen time. The physical environment of the home, yard, and neighborhood emerged as a theme as did the social environment for physical activity. Conclusions: COVID-19 stay-athome orders created challenges for children’s physical activity. Results can be used to inform more generalizable studies and serve as a basis for creating better parent resources to support their children’s physical activity outside of ordinary school, sport, and community activity opportunities.


Author(s):  
Maria Belizan ◽  
R. Chaparro ◽  
Marilina Santero ◽  
Natalia Elorriaga ◽  
Nadja Kartschmit ◽  
...  

Background: Obesogenic environments promote sedentary behavior and high dietary energy intake. The objective of the study was to identify barriers and facilitators to the implementation and impact evaluation of projects oriented to promote physical activity and healthy diet at community level. We analyzed experiences of the projects implemented within the Healthy Municipalities and Communities Program (HMCP) in Argentina. Methods: A mixed methods approach included (1) in-depth semi-structured interviews, with 44 stakeholders; and (2) electronic survey completed by 206 individuals from 96 municipalities across the country. Results: The most important barriers included the lack of: adequate funding (43%); skilled personnel (42%); equipment and material resources (31%); technical support for data management and analysis (20%); training on project designs (12%); political support from local authorities (17%) and acceptance of the proposed intervention by the local community (9%). Facilitators included motivated local leaders, inter-sectorial participation and seizing local resources. Project evaluation was mostly based on process rather than outcome indicators. Conclusions: This study contributes to a better understanding of the difficulties in the implementation of community-based intervention projects. Findings may guide stakeholders on how to facilitate local initiatives. There is a need to improve project evaluation strategies by incorporating process, outcome and context specific indicators.


2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 294-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marion Herens ◽  
Annemarie Wagemakers ◽  
Lenneke Vaandrager ◽  
Johan van Ophem ◽  
Maria Koelen

This article presents a practitioner-based approach to identify key combinations of contextual factors (C) and mechanisms (M) that trigger outcomes (O) in Dutch community-based health-enhancing physical activity (CBHEPA) programs targeting socially vulnerable groups. Data were collected in six programs using semi-structured interviews and focus groups using a timeline technique. Sessions were recorded, anonymized, and transcribed. A realist synthesis protocol was used for data-driven and thematic analysis of CMO configurations. CMO configurations related to community outreach, program sustainability, intersectoral collaboration, and enhancing participants’ active lifestyles. We have refined the CBHEPA program theory by showing that actors’ passion for, and past experiences with, physical activity programs trigger outcomes, alongside their commitment to socially vulnerable target groups. Project discontinuity, limited access to resources, and a trainer’s stand-alone position were negative configurations. The authors conclude that local governance structures appear often to lack adaptive capacity to accommodate multilevel processes to sustain programs.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 529-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aviva Must ◽  
Sarah Phillips ◽  
Carol Curtin ◽  
Linda G. Bandini

Background:Individual, social, and community barriers to physical activity (PA) experienced by children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) make PA participation more difficult and may contribute to increased screen time.Methods:We compared the prevalence of parent-reported barriers to PA among 58 typically developing (TD) children and 53 children with an ASD, 3 to 11 years, and assessed the association between barriers and PA participation and screen time among children with ASD.Results:Parents of children with ASD reported significantly more barriers than parents of TD children. Based on parent-report, 60% of children with ASD required too much supervision compared with no TD children (P < .001). Parents of children with ASD were more likely to report that adults lack skills needed to include their child (58%), that their child has few friends (45%), and that other children exclude their child (23%). The number of parent-reported barriers to PA was inversely correlated with the hours spent in PA per year (r = −0.27, P = .05) and positively related to total screen time (r = .32, P < .03).Conclusions:These findings underscore the need for community-based PA programs designed to meet the special requirements of this population and policies that compel schools and other government-supported organizations for inclusion and/or targeted programming.


ARCTIC ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 312-325
Author(s):  
Mary Ollier ◽  
Audrey R. Giles ◽  
Meghan Etter ◽  
Jimmy Ruttan ◽  
Nellie Elanik ◽  
...  

In 2017, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation partnered with a diverse research advisory team to understand how Project Jewel, a land-based program in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, could be evaluated in a way that promotes cultural safety (i.e., in a way that addresses the social, historical, and economic contexts that shape participants’ experiences). We used community-based research methodology to approach the study, through which semi-structured interviews, sharing circles, and photovoice were identified by the community advisory board and research advisory team as appropriate research methods for this project. After piloting and evaluating these methods, we then used thematic analysis to analyze the data, which included images and transcripts, to identify the components of a culturally safe evaluation: centring the land, building relationships, working with words and pictures, and promoting benefit over harms through program aftercare. Our community-based research and findings provide a template of a meaningful evaluation framework that other on-the-land programs can use if contextualized within local cultural practices and values.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jena Shank ◽  
Carolina Chamorro-Viña ◽  
Gregory Guilcher ◽  
Fiona Schulte ◽  
S. Nicole Culos-Reed

Abstract Purpose The evidence demonstrating the benefits of exercise and PA in patients and survivors of childhood cancer has been translated into a handful of community-based programs, such as the Pediatric cancer patients and survivors Engaging in Exercise for Recovery Program (PEER). In order to support the translation of research to practice, the next step in knowledge translation is to evaluate program effectiveness. An evaluation must consider the goals of the PEER program, feedback from key stakeholders and logistics of this program. Thus, the purpose of this study was to develop an evaluation toolkit with an algorithm for implementation for the PEER program. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three different groups (stakeholders in pediatric oncology, PEER parents and PEER participants). The interviews were transcribed and coded by two independent reviewers. Results Key themes extracted from the interviews were split into physical and psychosocial themes. The most commonly reported psychosocial themes were QOL, fatigue/energy levels, fun and confidence levels; and physical themes included motor skills, physical literacy and physical activity levels. Tools were compiled into the evaluation based on key themes identified as well as logistics of PEER. An algorithm was developed to tailor the evaluation to participants based on age, cognitive ability and mobility. Conclusion To date, this is the first evaluation toolkit and algorithm developed for a specific community-based PA program, the PEER program. The next step in knowledge-translation will be to implement the evaluation to assess feasibility, and share the evaluation for adoption within other developing programs.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Ann Carstairs ◽  
Rayna H Rogowsky ◽  
Kathryn B Cunningham ◽  
Frank Sullivan ◽  
Gozde Ozakinci

Abstract Background Inconclusive evidence in support of referrals from health professionals to gym-based exercise programmes has raised a concern for the roll-out of such schemes and highlights the importance of developing and maintaining links between primary care settings and community-based opportunities to improve physical activity levels. This study aimed to identify methods of connecting primary care patients to community-based physical activity opportunities, using the example of jog scotland , and to explore what factors can facilitate this connection. Methods We conducted a qualitative exploratory study utilising semi-structured interviews with primary care patients (n=14) and health professionals (HP) (n=14) from one UK National Health Service (NHS) board. We analysed the transcripts separately for patients and HPs using thematic analysis and synthesised them for potential methods of connection. Sub-themes for patients and HPs were mapped onto relevant components of the capability, opportunity, motivation behavioural (COM-B) model and theoretical domains framework (TDF) to identify barriers and facilitators for connecting primary care to community jog scotland groups. Results Three potential methods of connecting patients to community-based jog scotland groups were identified: informal passive signposting, informal active signposting, and formal referral or prescribing. Barriers and facilitators to connecting patients to jog scotland groups fell into five TDF domains for HPs and two COM-B model components for patients. Conclusions Our findings suggest that for patients, the acknowledgement and raising of the topic of physical activity improvement by their HP can help to justify as well as facilitate and motivate action to change. The workload associated with connecting patients to community-based opportunities is central to the implementation by HPs. Resource solutions (e.g. intermediary person or community information hub) and social support opportunities for patients (e.g. meet and greet) can provide patients with a greater variety of physical activity options and the vital information and support for connecting with local community-based opportunities, such as jog scotland .


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Godi Katito ◽  
Emma Davies

PurposeDespite the health benefits of physical activity (PA), participation rates Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) adults in the United Kingdom (UK) are low in comparison to the general population. This study aimed to explore the social-ecological factors related to PA participation among BAME immigrants.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviews were carried out with 12 purposively selected adults from the BAME populace residing in one postcode district of a city in southern England.FindingsThe three main themes that developed from this study demonstrated that the barriers to PA participation among BAME were perceived to exist at intrapersonal, and environmental (social and physical) levels.Research limitations/implicationsUnderstanding these unique social-ecological factors may assist in intervention development.Originality/valueProminent barriers included intrapersonal factors such as deportation fear and cultural beliefs; and environmental factors such as the cost of accessing PA facilities. Length of residency appeared to be related to increased PA.


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