Development and evaluation of a physical activity intervention informed by participatory research- a feasibility study

Abstract

Background: Despite numerous interventions aiming to improve physical activity in socially disadvantaged populations, physical inactivity remains to be a rising challenge to public health globally, as well as, in Sweden. In an effort to address this challenge, a community-based participatory intervention was developed through active community engagement and implemented in a socially disadvantaged neighborhood in Sweden. The current study aims to present the development and initial evaluation of a participatory research driven physical activity intervention. Methods: Fifteen participants (11 females and 4 males) aged 17-59 years volunteered to participate in the physical activity intervention program. The intervention program was evaluated using a longitudinal mixed methods design measuring health impact changes over time through focus group discussions and quality of life surveys. Further additional biomedical health parameters such as levels of glycosylated hemoglobin, blood pressure, levels of oxygen saturation and body mass index were monitored before and after the intervention. Focus group data were analyzed using content analysis with an inductive approach. The pre-and post-test scores from the survey-based quality of life domains, as well as the health parameters were compared using non-parametric and parametric statistics. Results: Four themes emerged from the analysis of the focus group discussions including sense of fellowship, striving for inclusion and equity, changing the learner perspective and health beyond illness. The scores for the domains Physical Health, Psychological Health, Social Relationships and Health Satisfaction where significantly higher after participation in the physical activity intervention program compared to the pre-test scores (p < .05)s. There were however, no significant changes in the scores for the environmental domain and overall quality of life after intervention compared to that prior to intervention start. Overall, the biomedical health parameters remained stable within the normal ranges during intervention. Conclusion: The focus group discussions and results from the surveys and biomedical measures reveal important findings to understand and further develop the intervention program to promote health equity among citizens in disadvantaged areas. Evaluating the feasibility of such an intervention using multiple approaches contributes to effective implementation of it for larger communities in need.

Collaborating in a penta-helix structure within a community based participatory research programme: ‘Wrestling with hierarchies and getting caught in isolated downpipes’

“…They had been chosen by the citizens to represent the community in the CBPR planning and could be seen as facilitators for participant recruitment and language interpretation, as well as building relations and trust. They had continuous dialogues with the citizens [ 21 ], whom they represented, and they were also engaged in the steering group. They participated actively in creating the CBPR model of the research platform.…”

“It was just for us”: qualitative evaluation of an exercise intervention for African-American couples

“…Focus groups are valuable qualitative tools that can assist investigators in the development, assessment, and tailoring of various components of PA interventions [14]. In addition to utilizing focus groups preintervention, several studies have shown it advantageous to use post-intervention focus groups to qualitatively evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of a program from the participants' perspective [15][16][17][18]. Research has shown post-intervention focus groups can assist in refining the procedures of an intervention, identifying obstacles from the participants' perspective, and inviting suggestions for programmatic improvements [14,15].…”

Development, implementation and evaluation of the ‘BELIEVE’ program for improving physical activity among women: a mixed method action research study

“…Children also learned fundamental movement, sport and life skills, some of which transferred to other areas of their lives [ 20 ]. Here, scores for the domains relating to physical health, psychological health, social relationships and health satisfaction where significantly higher after participation in the PA intervention program compared to the pre-test scores ( p < 0.05) [ 21 ]. These studies and their findings make important contributions to our understandings in relation to the development of intervention programs to promote health equity among citizens in disadvantaged areas.…”

“…These studies and their findings make important contributions to our understandings in relation to the development of intervention programs to promote health equity among citizens in disadvantaged areas. Multiple approaches are required in the evaluation and the feasibility testing of such interventions if they are to be implemented effectively for larger communities in need [ 5 , 19 – 21 ].…”