Evaluation of a rural community’s approaches to promoting physical activity

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristi M. King ◽  
Jason A. Rice ◽  
Ian Maki
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Funding Agency ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Healthy Community ◽  
Physical Activity Programming

To address the lack of physical activity opportunities in their rural community, a non-profit coali-tion formed to address health disparities. This evaluation investigated the coalition’s effectiveness in movingtoward sustainable physical activity programming for all community members. Participants engaged insemi-structured interviews or focus groups, and observations and informal conversations were conductedat approximately 30 meetings (e.g., town hall), programs (e.g., funding agency meetings), and events(e.g., two fundraising galas). A commitment to partnerships, the diversity of coalition member’s expertise,a focus on equity, and the recognition that a healthy community is economically attractive positioned thecoalition for success.

scholarly journals Rethinking success, integrity, and culture in research (part 1) — a multi-actor qualitative study on success in science

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Noémie Aubert Bonn ◽  
Wim Pinxten
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Research Integrity ◽  
Current Paper ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Past ◽  
Research Students

Abstract Background Success shapes the lives and careers of scientists. But success in science is difficult to define, let alone to translate in indicators that can be used for assessment. In the past few years, several groups expressed their dissatisfaction with the indicators currently used for assessing researchers. But given the lack of agreement on what should constitute success in science, most propositions remain unanswered. This paper aims to complement our understanding of success in science and to document areas of tension and conflict in research assessments. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews and focus groups with policy makers, funders, institution leaders, editors or publishers, research integrity office members, research integrity community members, laboratory technicians, researchers, research students, and former-researchers who changed career to inquire on the topics of success, integrity, and responsibilities in science. We used the Flemish biomedical landscape as a baseline to be able to grasp the views of interacting and complementary actors in a system setting. Results Given the breadth of our results, we divided our findings in a two-paper series, with the current paper focusing on what defines and determines success in science. Respondents depicted success as a multi-factorial, context-dependent, and mutable construct. Success appeared to be an interaction between characteristics from the researcher (Who), research outputs (What), processes (How), and luck. Interviewees noted that current research assessments overvalued outputs but largely ignored the processes deemed essential for research quality and integrity. Interviewees suggested that science needs a diversity of indicators that are transparent, robust, and valid, and that also allow a balanced and diverse view of success; that assessment of scientists should not blindly depend on metrics but also value human input; and that quality should be valued over quantity. Conclusions The objective of research assessments may be to encourage good researchers, to benefit society, or simply to advance science. Yet we show that current assessments fall short on each of these objectives. Open and transparent inter-actor dialogue is needed to understand what research assessments aim for and how they can best achieve their objective. Study Registration osf.io/33v3m.

scholarly journals Qualitative exploration of local knowledge, attitudes and use of Moringa oleifera seeds for home-based water purification and diarrhoea prevention in Niger State, Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 300-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agatha Aduro ◽  
Bassey Ebenso
Keyword(s):  
Rural Community ◽  
Water Purification ◽  
Moringa Oleifera ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Resource Setting ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Acceptable Method ◽  
Diarrhoea Prevention

Abstract This qualitative study explored stakeholders' knowledge of diarrhoea; their attitude to and perceptions of the use of Moringa oleifera seeds for home-based water treatment (HWT) and diarrhoea prevention in a low resource setting. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 13 respondents comprising rural community dwellers, health implementers and policy makers, and analysed using thematic analysis. Most rural community members interviewed had no knowledge of specific causes of diarrhoea or of the link between unsafe water and diarrhoeal diseases. They also practised inadequate or no methods of HWT. Although respondents were unaware of the use of M. oleifera seeds for HWT, community members and policymakers were keen on adopting it after observing demonstrations of its use for this purpose. Reasons for this behaviour change included easy accessibility to and a familiarity with M. oleifera for other uses. These results highlight the importance of providing health education on diarrhoea and water safety to motivate and empower community members to adopt healthy HWT behaviours. The use of M. oleifera seeds for HWT should be taught and advocated because it is a cheap, efficient and acceptable method of water purification for stakeholders.

Latino grandparents’ perception of disagreements with parents in children’s leisure time physical activity

2019 ◽  
Vol 79 (5) ◽  
pp. 543-555
Author(s):  
Hui Xie ◽  
Linda L Caldwell ◽  
Steven Loy
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Los Angeles County ◽  
Leisure Time ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Sedentary Lifestyle ◽  
Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Permissive Parenting

Background: Latino grandparents are often involved in the care and rearing of grandchildren and may help parents in promoting children’s leisure time physical activity (LTPA). However, potential disagreements between grandparents and parents may undermine their collaboration and subsequently their support for children’s LTPA. Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore Latino grandparents’ perception of disagreements with parents in children’s (age 2–12) LTPA. Methods: Qualitative data were collected from 53 Latino grandparents in Los Angeles County, USA, using four semi-structured focus groups and 26 semi-structured interviews. Transcribed data were systematically and iteratively coded and analysed. Results: Many Latino grandparents disagreed with parents’ sedentary lifestyle, permissive parenting and lack of support for children’s LTPA. In addition, Latino grandparents described disagreement with parents in specific issues such as children’s LTPA options and safety during LTPA. Conclusion: There were disagreements between Latino grandparents and parents concerning children’s LTPA. Health researchers and practitioners should be aware of those disagreements and consider using education/intervention programmes to reduce the tension between Latino grandparents and parents and increase their collaborative support for children’s LTPA.

Understanding Physical Activity through the Experiences of Adolescent Girls

2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hope E. Yungblut ◽  
Robert J. Schinke ◽  
Kerry R. McGannon ◽  
Mark A. Eys
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Adolescent Females ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Female Adolescents ◽  
Early Adolescent ◽  
Late Adolescent ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Physical Activity Programming ◽  
Gender Specific

Researchers have found that female youths are particularly vulnerable to withdrawing from sport and physical activity programs in early adolescence (see Active Healthy Kids Canada, 2010). However, there is an absence of a comprehensive, emic description of how female adolescents experience physical activity. Open-ended, semi-structured interviews were conducted individually with 15 early adolescent females (12–14 years old) and 20 middle and late adolescent females (15–18years old). Co-participants in the mid to late adolescent cohort provided retrospective accounts of their early adolescent experiences along with insight on how their experiences shaped their current participation. The girls’ voices were brought to the forefront through composite vignettes that highlight their physical activity experiences, integrating the words used by the co-participants. Results are discussed in relation to physical activity programming for adolescent females and why a qualitative approach is useful in contributing to gender-specific physical activity programming.

scholarly journals Rethinking success, integrity, and culture in research (part 1) — A multi-actor qualitative study on success in science

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noémie Aubert Bonn ◽  
Wim Pinxten
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Research Integrity ◽  
Current Paper ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Past ◽  
Research Students

ABSTRACTBackgroundSuccess shapes the life and careers of scientists. But success in science is difficult to define, let alone to translate in indicators that can be used for assessment. In the past few years, several groups expressed their dissatisfaction with the indicators currently used for assessing researchers. But given the lack of agreement on what should constitute success in science, most propositions remain unanswered. This paper aims to complement our understanding of success in science and to document areas of tension and conflict in research assessments.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews and focus groups with policy makers, funders, institution leaders, editors or publishers, research integrity office members, research integrity community members, laboratory technicians, researchers, research students, and former-researchers who changed career to inquire on the topics of success, integrity, and responsibilities in science. We used the Flemish biomedical landscape as a baseline to be able to grasp the views of interacting and complementary actors in a system setting.ResultsGiven the breadth of our results, we divided our findings in a two-paper series, with the current paper focusing on what defines and determines success in science. Respondents depicted success as a multi-factorial, context-dependent, and mutable factor. Success appeared to be an interaction between characteristics from the researcher (Who), research outputs (What), processes (How), and luck. Interviewees noted that current research assessments overvalued outputs but largely ignored the processes deemed essential for research quality and integrity. Interviewees sustained that we need a diversity of indicators to allow a balanced and diverse view of success; that assessments should not blindly depend on metrics but also value human input; that we must value quality over quantity; and that any indicators used must be transparent, robust, and valid.ConclusionsThe objective of research assessments may be to encourage good researchers, to benefit society, or simply to advance science. Yet we show that current assessments fall short on each of these objectives. Open and transparent inter-actor dialogue is needed to understand what research assessments aim for and how they can best achieve their objective.Trial Registrationosf.io/33v3m

scholarly journals Rural Community Input to School District Strategic Planning

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brent L. Winand ◽  
Carla Edlefson
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Strategic Planning ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Community Members ◽  
District Administrators ◽  
Group Data ◽  
Focus Group Data ◽  
Community Input ◽  
Data Informed

A rural superintendent used action research principles in conducting a series of focus groups with community members, students, and staff. The focus group data informed strategic planning. At the end of a carefully designed process, district administrators found more agreement among residents than they had expected. Community members were grateful for the opportunity to participate, and the district’s strategic plan contained important goals that would not have been recognized without community input. Administrators believed conducting the focus groups themselves brought more benefit than if they had hired a consultant, because of the interaction with community members. The result was a model that could be used by other rural superintendents.  

scholarly journals “I Wasn’t Sure What It Meant to Be Honest”—Formative Research Towards a Physical Literacy Intervention for Preschoolers

Children ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan D. Foulkes ◽  
Lawrence Foweather ◽  
Stuart J. Fairclough ◽  
Zoe Knowles
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
Literacy Intervention ◽  
Funding Policy ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Physical Literacy ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Children’S Centres

Physical literacy (PL) as a concept is important in developing lifelong physical activity; however, there is little research exploring how PL can be developed during the preschool years. This two-phase qualitative study sought the insights of academics/expert practitioners and preschool staff towards PL in order to inform the design of future preschool PL interventions. Phase One comprised of nine semi-structured interviews with experts in the field of children’s physical activity and/or PL. Interview topics included perspectives on the concept of PL and recommendations for interventions targeted at improving preschool PL. Phase Two consisted of focus groups with practitioners from four local children’s centres. Focus groups explored perspectives on the feasibility and acceptability of proposed PL interventions. Interviews and focus groups were analysed by thematic analysis and means of representation, respectively. Findings revealed that whilst there was limited understanding about the concept of PL among preschool educators, knowledge of child development was evident and that all participants agreed that there was a need for further training for practitioners. Perceived barriers to promoting PL noted by practitioners included funding, policy, curricular priorities, parental opinions, and the preschool environment. It was recommended that interventions should be: (i) designed using a participatory approach including all key stakeholders, (ii) conducted over the long term, and (iii) incorporate opportunities for children to engage in free and outdoor play. Furthermore, any intervention should be flexible to allow for variation between children’s centres, aligned to current policy/children’s centre targets and provide training and resources in order to overcome perceived barriers.

scholarly journals Social, Cultural and Behavioral Determinants of Health among Hawaii Filipinos

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 01-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Pobutsky ◽  
Charlene Cuaresma ◽  
Gregg Kishaba ◽  
Cecilia Noble ◽  
Ellen Leung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Community Leaders ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Behavioral Determinants ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Health Communities

Background/Purpose: Filipinos are Hawaii’s largest immigrant group and second largest ethnic group. The Hawaii Filipino Health Communities Project was initiated by the Hawaii State Department of Health, because of the high rates of heart disease and stroke mortality, and other behavioral risks seen among Hawaii’s Filipino population (i.e. high smoking rates among Filipino men). The project sought to gather Filipino community members’ perspectives on why such chronic disease health disparities exist for Filipinos, and identify solutions to address them. Methods: The project gathered information from both immigrant and local Filipinos throughout the state, using community engagement methods of interviews with community leaders (n=20) and community-based focus groups (n=20 groups with 130 participants), Results: Filipino community members were aware of, and community leaders well-versed in, the behavioral, cultural, and social determinants of health in their communities. However, being aware of such determinants of health has yet not resulted in changed behavior in the overall Filipino community (i.e. improved diet, increased physical activity, or better access to healthcare). Conclusion: More outreach is needed with Filipinos, along with interventions to combat health disparities in chronic disease, such as increased smoking cessation and creative ways to eat healthier and increase physical activity

A comparison of interviews, focus groups, and photovoice to identify sanitation priorities and increase success of community-based sanitation systems

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (10) ◽  
pp. 1451-1463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allie Davis ◽  
Amy Javernick-Will ◽  
Sherri M. Cook
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Sanitation Systems

Semi-structured interviews with females and community members identified the greatest number of unique and most priorities in resource-limited communities.

Uplifting the voices of rural American Indian older adults to improve understanding of physical activity behavior

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maja Pedersen ◽  
Kari Jo Harris ◽  
Jordan Lewis ◽  
Mattea Grant ◽  
Chelsea Kleinmeyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
American Indian ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Ecological Model ◽  
Intervention Development ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Structured Interviews

Abstract American Indian (AI) older adults experience pronounced health disparities and demonstrate one of the lowest levels of physical activity (PA) among racial and ethnic groups. Nearly half of AI older adults live in rural areas, indicating distinct challenges to participation in PA. Research to identify factors influencing PA in this population is missing from the literature, yet is critical to informing culturally relevant PA intervention development and implementation. The purpose was to identify barriers to and facilitators of PA among rural AI older adults using the ecological model and qualitative methods. A community-based approach was used to conduct semi-structured interviews with rural AI older adults. Interview questions were based on a multi-level ecological model. Content analysis was performed, using an iterative coding process to identify findings. The mean age of participants (n = 21) was 66 years. Barriers to and facilitators of PA were identified across ecological model levels. Barriers included factors such as caregiving and community responsibilities, lack of acceptable areas for walking, and overall lack of community-level support for older adult health. Facilitators included a personal connection to the land and ancestors through PA, multigenerational participation, and supportive tribal policies. This study addressed a gap in the literature by identifying barriers to and facilitators of PA among rural AI older adults, which can inform PA intervention development. With barriers and facilitators identified by AI older adults themselves, the voices of those directly affected are uplifted to shape efforts toward addressing longstanding health disparities through relevant public health interventions.

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