Utilization of Collaborations to Engage Children in Physical Activity: A Community-Based Research Approach

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-328
Author(s):  
Sheri J. Brock ◽  
Danielle Wadsworth ◽  
Shelby Foote ◽  
Mary E. Rudisill

Institutions of higher education have a responsibility to prioritize the needs of society and local communities. One essential need prevalent in all communities is to address the rise of obesity and health risks due to lack of participation in physical activity. In the United States, children spend a small percentage of time engaged in physical activity, and engagement decreases further in adolescence and adulthood. Collaborative partnerships between kinesiology faculty at universities and community organizations are one avenue for engaging children in physical activity. Partnerships must be multilevel and community wide to evoke change and have long-term impact and sustainability. Within the context of community-based research, we propose a three-step framework for establishing collaborative partnerships: (1) determining the needs of partners; (2) discussing expertise, services, and philosophy; and (3) providing a quality product. In addition, we outline and illustrate our experiences when collaborating with community partners to promote physical activity.

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 401-408
Author(s):  
Anamica Batra ◽  
Richard C. Palmer ◽  
Elena Bastida ◽  
H. Virginia McCoy ◽  
Hafiz M. R. Khan

Objective. In 2015, only half (48%) of older adults in the United States (≥60 years) reported engaging in any kind of physical activity. Few studies examine the impact of evidence-based programs when adopted in community-based settings. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of EnhanceFitness (EF) upto 12-months. Method. EF was offered to older adults in South Florida. A total of 222 EF classes were offered between October 2008 and December 2014. Program consisted of a 1-hour session held three times a week. Even though participation was required for 4 months, 1,295 participants continued the program for at least 1 year. Results. All participants showed significant improvement in outcome measures. A mean change of 1.5, 1.7, and 1.9 was seen in number of chair stands at 4, 8, and 12 months (p < .001), respectively. The number of arm curls performed improved from 16.8 at baseline to 18.8, 18.8, and 19.2 at 4-, 8-, and 12-months, respectively. Participants improved their up-and-go time by decreasing from 9.1 (baseline) to 8.7 (4 months) to 8.6 (12 months; p = .001). Discussion. Randomized controlled trials are commonly used to determine the efficacy of an intervention. These interventions when disseminated at the population level have the potential to benefit large masses. EF is currently offered at more than 700 locations. This tremendous success of EF brings attention to an important question of continuous monitoring of these programs to ensure program consistency and intended outcomes. The model used by the Healthy Aging Regional Collaborative could be replicated by other communities.


1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
William A. Darity ◽  
Robert W. Tuthill ◽  
Alvin E. Winder ◽  
George P. Cernada ◽  
Ted T. L. Chen ◽  
...  

Objective: To carry out a community-based research approach to determine the most effective educational interventions to reduce smoking among African-American smokers. The intervention included preparation of the community, planning and developing a model of change, and developing a community-based intervention. The study population consisted of 2,544 randomly selected adult African-American smokers residing in four sites in the northeastern and southeastern parts of the United States. The research design provided a comparison of active intervention sites with passive control sites as well as low income and moderate income areas. Major Outcome Measures: Point prevalence of non-smoking at the time of interview; Period prevalence of non-smoking at the time of interview; Period prevalence of quit attempts in the prior six months; Number of smoke-free days in the prior six months; Number of cigarettes smoked daily at the time of interview. Results: Based upon a survey eighteen months after baseline data was collected, all four measures of cigarette smoking behavior showed a strong statistically significant reduction of personal smoking behavior among those receiving active interventions versus the passive group. On the basis of process variable analysis, direct contact with the project staff in the prior six months was significantly higher in the active intervention areas. There was only a small non-significant increase in personal smoking behavior in moderate income groups as opposed to low income groups. Conclusion: An analysis of process variables strongly suggests that, within this African-American Community, “hands on” or “face to face” approaches along with mass media, mailings, and other less personal approaches were more effective in reducing personal smoking behavior than media, mailings, and other impersonal approaches alone addressed to large audiences.


1997 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan K. Jacohson ◽  
John J. Arana ◽  
Mallory D. McDuff

The increasing cultural and ethnic diversity in the United States should challenge environmental interpreters to offer programs that attract a variety of audiences. This study investigated minority involvement at Florida's nature centers through a census of 77 nature center directors throughout Florida as well as a survey of 21 minority staff working at these educational facilities. School programs at the nature centers are the primary method for reaching minorities; few programs involve minority adults from the community. The focus of the one-day visits for students is primarily nature awareness, with little emphasis on influencing knowledge or attitudes about local issues, human-environment relationships, or actions to reduce environmental problems. The results indicate the need for nature centers to expand their programs to offer long-term, community-based environmental interpretation for a diverse public.


2021 ◽  
Vol Volume 14 ◽  
pp. 229-240
Author(s):  
Mustafa Abdo ◽  
Benjamin Waschki ◽  
Anne-Marie Kirsten ◽  
Frederik Trinkmann ◽  
Heike Biller ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Racine ◽  
Sheri Madigan ◽  
Shelley Cardinal ◽  
Cailey Hartwick ◽  
Margaret Leslie ◽  
...  

There is now a growing understanding that translational research must be co-created in collaboration with community partners and that solutions to real-world social problems require stepping outside the academic silo. Fewer than half of psychology programs in Canada, however, offer courses in community-based research or evaluation, leaving a gap in skill development amongst the next generation of scholars. In an effort to partially fill this learning gap, the current paper provides insights into lessons learned from the perspectives of researchers and community partners alike, who have been mutually engaging in community-based research over the last 25 years. Ultimately this paper seeks to provide a roadmap for conducting community-based research and illustrates why it should be a central component to research seeking to answer critical questions in psychological science. First, we provide a conceptual foundation of community-based research. Next, using three specific community-based research projects as examples, we share the challenges and benefits of conducting research in the community context. Finally, we highlight future directions for increasing the uptake of community-based research in Canada.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (15) ◽  
pp. 1467-1475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars E Garnvik ◽  
Vegard Malmo ◽  
Imre Janszky ◽  
Hanne Ellekjær ◽  
Ulrik Wisløff ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims Atrial fibrillation (AF) confers higher risk of mortality and morbidity, but the long-term impact of physical activity (PA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) on outcomes in AF patients is unknown. We, therefore, examined the prospective associations of PA and estimated CRF (eCRF) with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, morbidity and stroke in individuals with AF. Methods and results We followed 1117 AF patients from the HUNT3 study in 2006–08 until first occurrence of the outcomes or end of follow-up in November 2015. We used Cox proportional hazard regression to examine the prospective associations of self-reported PA and eCRF with the outcomes. Atrial fibrillation patients meeting PA guidelines had lower risk of all-cause [hazard ratio (HR) 0.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.41–0.75] and CVD mortality (HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.34–0.86) compared with inactive patients. The respective HRs for CVD morbidity and stroke were 0.78 (95% CI 0.58–1.04) and 0.70 (95% CI 0.42–1.15). Each 1-metabolic equivalent task (MET) higher eCRF was associated with a lower risk of all-cause (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.81–0.95), CVD mortality (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.76–0.95), and morbidity (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.82–0.95). Conclusion Higher PA and CRF are associated with lower long-term risk of CVD and all-cause mortality in individuals with AF. The findings support a role for regular PA and improved CRF in AF patients, in order to combat the elevated risk for mortality and morbidity.


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