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Physical activity intervention research in the Pacific–What works?
Friday 2 November Papers / Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 15 (2012) S188–S264
S259
625
626
Correlates of physical activity among Indigenous and nonindigenous adolescents
Physical activity intervention research in the Pacific–What works?
R. Macniven 1,∗ , S. Hearn 2 , A. Nutbeam 4 , A. Bauman 1
K. Siefken ∗ , G. Schofield
Grunseit 1 , J.
Richards 3 , D.
Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
1
University of Sydney 2 Cox Inall Ridgeway, Australia 3 University of Oxford, UK 4 University of Southampton, UK
Introduction: In Australia, life expectancy of people of Indigenous descent is 16-17 years lower than their non-Indigenous counterparts. Physical inactivity is the third leading cause of the burden disease for Indigenous adults. However, in children the situation is more positive with almost three quarters (74%) of Indigenous children aged 4–14 years meeting national physical activity recommendations. Adolescence is typically a period where physical activity declines and is an important target point for interventions. This study describes frequency and duration of out-of-school physical activity in a sample of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian adolescents and explores relationships between physical activity participation and demographic, health and lifestyle factors. Methods: The Health and Lifestyle of NSW School Students Survey was developed using established measures from surveys conducted in adolescents from similar populations. The survey was completed by 348 Indigenous and 633 non-Indigenous students aged 13–17 years residing in rural New South Wales (NSW). The survey included questions on frequency and duration of physical activity out of school. These items were combined to establish whether national physical activity recommendations were being achieved. Bivariate analyses stratified by Indigenous status identified demographic, health and lifestyle behaviours statistically related to meeting physical activity recommendations. These variables were included in multiple binary logistic regression models conducting including the total sample and stratified by Indigenous status. Results: Indigenous adolescents were less likely to meet physical activity recommendations through out of school activity than non-Indigenous adolescents (21% versus 28%; p = 0.010). In the stratified regression analyses, Indigenous females had a higher odds of meeting physical activity recommendations than males (OR = 0.39, 95% CI 0.20–0.77) after adjusting for age, membership of a sports team, parental employment status, feeling confident and community involvement. In the non-Indigenous model, adolescents involved in a sports team had higher odds of meeting physical activity recommendations than those not involved in a team (OR = 2.41, 95% CI 1.58–3.67), after adjusting for age, gender, time spent watching television, maternal employment status, alcohol behavior, feeling lonely, feeling confident and community involvement. Discussion: These results provide an indication of physical activity levels in rural Indigenous and non-Indigenous adolescents outside of the school setting where less than a quarter of this sample were meeting physical activity recommendations. Indigenous adolescents, particularly girls, are a specific target group for intervention. Increased policy and practical efforts to reverse the decline in physical activity during adolescence is essential to reduce population disparities in chronic disease risk in adulthood among Indigenous Australians. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2012.11.628
Introduction: The South Pacific region has recently undergone rapid urbanisation and lifestyle changes leading to high rates of chronic diseases. Physical inactivity has been identified as a major risk factor for such chronic diseases, and well evaluated programs showing success in promoting physical activity are needed in the region. We developed a 12-week physical activity program targeting female civil servants in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The program presents a robust evaluation approach consisting of formative, outcome and process evaluation. Methods: A structured step count challenge was implemented over a 12-week period (N∼200). Pre and post health screening outcomes measured the health effect of the PA intervention. Pedometers objectively measured physical activity behaviour. The step count challenge was evaluated via both qualitative (openended questions) and quantitative (Likert scale) approaches. Findings: The program was successful in increasing participants’ PA levels. A daily mean step increase of 2100 steps in all participants was detected. Desegregated by age groups we found that the older population (46-65 yrs) experienced the highest step number increase (3565 steps). Health indicators improved over the course of the program: whilst overweight levels increased from 32.8% to 38.4%, obesity levels decreased (pre: 45.6%; post 37.6%). The most significant positive health change was a drop in waist circumference from 96.0 cm to 92.1 cm. Process evaluation findings indicate that almost all participants rate most elements of the program positively. A thematic analysis elicited a considerable change in eating behaviour, though the program’s major focus was to increase physical activity levels. Findings uncovered areas for continuous program improvements. Discussion: Findings suggest that our program contains essential elements that contributed to lifestyle changes. Gender separation issues need further investigation for future Pacific health program design: whilst previous research indicates that pedometer-based health interventions have a greater effect if restricted to women only, this finding might not be culturally relevant to individuals in the Pacific region. Participants’ feedback highlights the true value of this program. Life-changing experiences were cited by a number of participants and continued commitment demonstrates that independent long-term lifestyle change is realistic. Process evaluation outcome shows that we were successful in developing and delivering a healthy lifestyle program that was culturally meaningful and had utility for the target group. Future work may detect men’s perception about healthy lifestyle behaviour, which may be used for future program design. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2012.11.629
S259
625
626
Correlates of physical activity among Indigenous and nonindigenous adolescents
Physical activity intervention research in the Pacific–What works?
R. Macniven 1,∗ , S. Hearn 2 , A. Nutbeam 4 , A. Bauman 1
K. Siefken ∗ , G. Schofield
Grunseit 1 , J.
Richards 3 , D.
Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
1
University of Sydney 2 Cox Inall Ridgeway, Australia 3 University of Oxford, UK 4 University of Southampton, UK
Introduction: In Australia, life expectancy of people of Indigenous descent is 16-17 years lower than their non-Indigenous counterparts. Physical inactivity is the third leading cause of the burden disease for Indigenous adults. However, in children the situation is more positive with almost three quarters (74%) of Indigenous children aged 4–14 years meeting national physical activity recommendations. Adolescence is typically a period where physical activity declines and is an important target point for interventions. This study describes frequency and duration of out-of-school physical activity in a sample of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian adolescents and explores relationships between physical activity participation and demographic, health and lifestyle factors. Methods: The Health and Lifestyle of NSW School Students Survey was developed using established measures from surveys conducted in adolescents from similar populations. The survey was completed by 348 Indigenous and 633 non-Indigenous students aged 13–17 years residing in rural New South Wales (NSW). The survey included questions on frequency and duration of physical activity out of school. These items were combined to establish whether national physical activity recommendations were being achieved. Bivariate analyses stratified by Indigenous status identified demographic, health and lifestyle behaviours statistically related to meeting physical activity recommendations. These variables were included in multiple binary logistic regression models conducting including the total sample and stratified by Indigenous status. Results: Indigenous adolescents were less likely to meet physical activity recommendations through out of school activity than non-Indigenous adolescents (21% versus 28%; p = 0.010). In the stratified regression analyses, Indigenous females had a higher odds of meeting physical activity recommendations than males (OR = 0.39, 95% CI 0.20–0.77) after adjusting for age, membership of a sports team, parental employment status, feeling confident and community involvement. In the non-Indigenous model, adolescents involved in a sports team had higher odds of meeting physical activity recommendations than those not involved in a team (OR = 2.41, 95% CI 1.58–3.67), after adjusting for age, gender, time spent watching television, maternal employment status, alcohol behavior, feeling lonely, feeling confident and community involvement. Discussion: These results provide an indication of physical activity levels in rural Indigenous and non-Indigenous adolescents outside of the school setting where less than a quarter of this sample were meeting physical activity recommendations. Indigenous adolescents, particularly girls, are a specific target group for intervention. Increased policy and practical efforts to reverse the decline in physical activity during adolescence is essential to reduce population disparities in chronic disease risk in adulthood among Indigenous Australians. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2012.11.628
Introduction: The South Pacific region has recently undergone rapid urbanisation and lifestyle changes leading to high rates of chronic diseases. Physical inactivity has been identified as a major risk factor for such chronic diseases, and well evaluated programs showing success in promoting physical activity are needed in the region. We developed a 12-week physical activity program targeting female civil servants in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The program presents a robust evaluation approach consisting of formative, outcome and process evaluation. Methods: A structured step count challenge was implemented over a 12-week period (N∼200). Pre and post health screening outcomes measured the health effect of the PA intervention. Pedometers objectively measured physical activity behaviour. The step count challenge was evaluated via both qualitative (openended questions) and quantitative (Likert scale) approaches. Findings: The program was successful in increasing participants’ PA levels. A daily mean step increase of 2100 steps in all participants was detected. Desegregated by age groups we found that the older population (46-65 yrs) experienced the highest step number increase (3565 steps). Health indicators improved over the course of the program: whilst overweight levels increased from 32.8% to 38.4%, obesity levels decreased (pre: 45.6%; post 37.6%). The most significant positive health change was a drop in waist circumference from 96.0 cm to 92.1 cm. Process evaluation findings indicate that almost all participants rate most elements of the program positively. A thematic analysis elicited a considerable change in eating behaviour, though the program’s major focus was to increase physical activity levels. Findings uncovered areas for continuous program improvements. Discussion: Findings suggest that our program contains essential elements that contributed to lifestyle changes. Gender separation issues need further investigation for future Pacific health program design: whilst previous research indicates that pedometer-based health interventions have a greater effect if restricted to women only, this finding might not be culturally relevant to individuals in the Pacific region. Participants’ feedback highlights the true value of this program. Life-changing experiences were cited by a number of participants and continued commitment demonstrates that independent long-term lifestyle change is realistic. Process evaluation outcome shows that we were successful in developing and delivering a healthy lifestyle program that was culturally meaningful and had utility for the target group. Future work may detect men’s perception about healthy lifestyle behaviour, which may be used for future program design. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2012.11.629