Stakeholders’ perceptions and experiences of an outdoor activity project on children myopia prevention: a multiperspective qualitative study

Abstract

Objective: The current investigation sought to examine the experiences and perspectives of the project coordinators, participating parents, and children to identify strategies for enhancing children’s engagement and adherence to outdoor physical activities. Methods: A descriptive, qualitative study was conducted from October 2019 to December 2019 through in-depth interviews with 32 families who participated in the community children myopia prevention project, 15 project volunteers, and 8 community organizers. Results: Five themes and ten subthemes were identified to enhance children’s participation rate and adherence to the project. The five themes were as follows: (1) overcoming parental barriers; (2) attracting parental participation; (3) active support from parents; (4) creating a positive experience for children; and (5) integration into children’s daily lives. Conclusion: Empowering parents and children by meeting their needs, creating innovative activities, and connecting them with community social networks support the successful integration of the outdoor activity program into their daily lives. The sharing and integration of community resources through community empowerment can provide a framework for developing future community interventional projects.