Increasing Physical Activity Among Adults in Ethnically Diverse Communities

Saint Louis University: Prevention Research Center

Topics:
Community Health | Nutrition & Physical Activity for Adults

The scientific community joins forces with the Prevention Research Centers’ National Community Committee (NCC) to evaluate physical activity interventions designed for racial and ethnic minority communities. The 33 members of the NCC, each representing a Prevention Research Center, have taken the Saint Louis University PRC’s Evidence-Based Public Health course to increase their understanding of the vocabulary and processes of public health. NCC members used brainstorming and concept mapping to develop criteria for evaluating physical activity interventions intended for racial and ethnic minorities. The research team conducted a comprehensive literature review of current strategies to increase physical activity in racial and ethnic minority populations, and ranked the interventions based on the NCC criteria and those used by the scientific community, such as the Guide to Community Preventive Services. NCC members reviewed the findings and worked with academic partners to prioritize intervention strategies. The NCC members and academic partners chose five demonstration projects to determine the most promising approaches. These projects are described below. A web-based tool will be developed to disseminate the project findings.

Demonstration Projects

Increasing Physical Activity Awareness Among Filipinos and Samoan Pacific Islanders in Carson, CA
University of California at Los Angeles, UCLA/RAND Center for Adolescent Health Promotion
Researchers and community members are developing a culturally and spiritually appropriate information awareness campaign for Filipino and Samoan (Pacific Islander) families to demonstrate the importance of physical activity.

EnhanceFitness for American Indian Elders
University of Washington, Health Promotion Research Center
This project focuses on increasing physical activity among urban American Indian elders in Washington State through the cultural adaptation of EnhanceFitness, an effective fitness program for seniors. To encourage replication, the effective cultural adaptations, perhaps traditional dance and music, will be incorporated into an instructor’s manual.

Salsita Community Mapping Project
San Diego State University & University of California at San Diego, San Diego Prevention Research Center
The focus of this project is on creating maps to encourage Latino community members in Salsita, California, to locate and use safe, affordable, and accessible physical activity resources.

Effect of Built Environment on Physical Activity
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, University of Texas Prevention Research Center
Community members and researchers are looking for ways to increase Hispanic and African American residents’ use of parks for physical activity in Harris County, Texas. The partners will also create initiatives for developing community parks.

Dancing with Our Elders
University at Albany, SUNY: Prevention Research Center
Community members and researchers aim to increase access to group exercise by providing an indoor activity program; such as, a Latin dance program, for African Americans in upstate New York.

 

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