Formative Evaluation of a Pilot Study of a University Exercise Class for Female Muslims

Kahan, David; Amini, Hamza; Osman, Maryan

doi:10.12691/jpar-3-1-6

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 32 publications

(36 reference statements)

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“…These aspects of the intervention were generally favoured by the participants as indicated in the process evaluation, which have been similarly reported in previous pilot physical activity interventions targeting Muslim women. For example, gender-exclusive settings were an important facilitator for participation and provided women with a sense of comfort [ 59 , 60 ]. Additionally, engaging in programs with other members of the community was also reportedly a facilitator [ 59 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feasibility and acceptability of a culturally tailored physical activity intervention for Arab-Australian women

2021

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Background Despite being one of the largest migrant groups in Australia, few physical activity interventions exist for Arab-Australians. The primary aim of this study was to test the feasibility and acceptability of a 12-week culturally tailored physical activity intervention for Arab-Australian women. Methods This study used a single-group pretest–posttest design, and was informed by extensive formative research and consultation involving the Arab-Australian community. Participants were insufficiently active Arab-Australian women aged 35–64 with no current illness or injury that would limit physical activity participation. The intervention comprised 6 face-to-face physical activity and education sessions over 12 weeks. The intervention was conducted at 2 separate intervention sites in Western Sydney, Australia. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment, session attendance, and retention. The acceptability of the intervention was assessed through a process evaluation questionnaire completed post-intervention. Accelerometers and the short-form International Physical Activity Questionnaire were used to measure physical activity at baseline and post-intervention. Descriptive statistics were used for feasibility and acceptability outcomes, and changes in physical activity were examined using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Results Of the 53 women who were contacted or expressed interest, 22 were eligible and enrolled in the study. Participants were primarily recruited through direct contact by Arab-Australian community workers and by word-of-mouth. Average session attendance was 63% and the retention rate post-intervention was 68%. The culturally-related intervention components, such as the appropriateness of content, and women-only setting, were rated highly favourably (4.33 to 4.87/5). General intervention elements, such as the face-to-face delivery, knowledge and approachability of facilitators, and session structure, were also rated favourably (4.33 to 4.93/5), and the lowest scored item was the intervention session frequency (3.2/5). There were no statistically significant changes in physical activity post-intervention. Conclusions The findings from this study highlighted factors related to recruitment and delivery that need to be considered when developing physical activity interventions for Arab-Australian women. Further research is required using a larger sample and a randomised controlled trial design to examine the longer-term impact on physical activity, and to also examine ways of increasing intervention engagement and retention among Arab-Australian women. Trial Registration: ANZCTR, ACTRN12618001392257. Registered 20 August 2018, https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=375636.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feasibility and acceptability of a culturally tailored physical activity intervention for Arab-Australian women

2021

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“…The fitness class setting was the only one for which postings of single-sex classes for women outnumbered those for men (i.e., 2 to 1), yet twice as many men vs. women taught fitness classes. It is important to consider the sex of class relative to overcoming barriers to participation—particularly for women [ 22 ]. Over 90% of listed instructors were Muslim, which may attract participants as well as offer co-religionist modelling of and motivation for a physically active lifestyle.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most U.S. mosques are not considered women-friendly; thus, it is important moving forward that women are purposely included in decisions related to governance and development of women’s and family PA programs [ 48 ]. To the degree required by a local Islamic community in general, and particularly its women, individual centers should strive to offer conditions that facilitate women’s unfettered involvement in PA programs such as providing women-only classes, female instructors, and discrete spaces for PA [ 22 , 23 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A number of studies conducted in the U.S. collectively suggest that Muslims, particularly women, generally face more barriers to participation in PA compared to non-Muslims and to conditions encountered in their Islamic birth/heritage country including issues related to access, scheduling, clothing, gender roles, normative beliefs, self-efficacy, knowledge, social support, neighborhood conditions, and others [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. Cultural factors, including level of community and familial social support for Muslim women engaging in PA, may dictate the environmental/structural conditions necessary for their unimpeded access to PA (e.g., need for modest dress, discrete changing spaces, and single-sex PA classes, instructors, and supervision) [ 19 , 20 , 22 , 23 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Physical Activity Programming Advertised on Websites of U.S. Islamic Centers: A Content Analysis

Kahan

2018

IJERPH

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Previous research has found churches to be effective at delivering physical activity (PA) programs to their congregants. Mosques, however, have not been extensively studied. Therefore, we quantified U.S. Islamic centers’ advertisement of PA programming and examined their programming characteristics. We conducted a content analysis of the websites of 773 eligible Islamic centers of which 206 centers in 32 states advertised PA programming. We categorized PA by program type: camping, fitness classes, sports, youth programs, and irregular offerings. We calculated descriptive statistics by program type for specific activity, frequency/duration/volume, participant/instructor sex, and instructor religion. Youth group (44%) and sports (23%) programs were most and least frequently advertised, respectively. Most centers (66%) that posted information on PA programming advertised only one program type. Men and Muslims taught most activities. Most activities—except for fitness classes—were advertised to a male audience. Islamic centers should offer and advertise additional PA programming—especially for women—and better utilize their websites for promoting such programming. Individual Islamic centers and Islamic- and non-religion based public health agencies can utilize our findings to fashion future PA offerings.

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“…I was particularly interested in summarizing how Muslim females living in Western societies experience barriers to and facilitators of physical activity. Published physical activity interventions delivered to Muslim females have tapped into multiple layers of the socioecological model to redress intrapersonal (e.g., lack of self-efficacy, motivation, and knowledge), interpersonal (lack of social support), and environmental (i.e., lack of low-cost venues that comply with cultural/religious beliefs about women's participation relative to modest dress and intermingling of the sexes) barriers [17][18][19]. Yet, to date, no synthesis of barriers to and facilitators of physical activity among this subpopulation has been published.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Critical Appraisal of Qualitative Studies of Muslim Females’ Perceptions of Physical Activity Barriers and Facilitators

Kahan

2019

IJERPH

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Muslim women's perceptions of cultural, religious, and secular determinants of physical activity have been studied for many years, with information typically acquired through focus groups or interviews. Multiple reviews synthesizing the research have been published, however, individual studies have not been scrutinized for their quality/rigor. Therefore, I critically appraised the quality of the body of qualitative research studies that utilized focus groups to identify Muslim women's perceptions of physical activity barriers and facilitators. I utilized 26 items from the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) to assess the quality of 56 papers published between 1987 and 2016. Using crosstabulations, I also examined associations between paper quality (low vs. high) and binary categorical variables for impact factor, maximum paper length allowed, publication year, and database the paper was indexed. Overall, papers averaged only 10.5 of 26 COREQ reporting criteria and only two out of 26 items were reported in more than 75% of the papers. Paper quality was not associated with impact factor and length. High quality papers were more likely published more recently (i.e., 2011 or later) and in journals indexed in the PubMed database compared to low quality papers. There is contention among qualitative researchers about standardizing reporting criteria, and while the trend in quality appears to be improving, journal reviewers and editors ought to hold authors to greater accountability in reporting.

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Formative Evaluation of a Pilot Study of a University Exercise Class for Female Muslims

Cited by 5 publications

References 32 publications

Feasibility and acceptability of a culturally tailored physical activity intervention for Arab-Australian women

Feasibility and acceptability of a culturally tailored physical activity intervention for Arab-Australian women

Physical Activity Programming Advertised on Websites of U.S. Islamic Centers: A Content Analysis

Critical Appraisal of Qualitative Studies of Muslim Females’ Perceptions of Physical Activity Barriers and Facilitators

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