Neighborhoods on the move: a community-based participatory research approach to promoting physical activity.
BACKGROUND
There is a scientific and practical need for high-quality effectiveness studies of physical activity interventions in "real-world" settings.


OBJECTIVE
To use a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to develop, implement, operate, and evaluate an intervention for promoting physical activity called Neighborhoods on the Move.


METHODS
Two communities with similar physical and social characteristics participated in this study. One community was involved in Neighborhoods on the Move; the other (comparison community) participated only in the assessments. Academic personnel and residents/organizations in the Neighborhoods on the Move community worked together to create a community environment that was more conducive for physical activity. Pre- and posttest data on new initiatives promoting physical activity, existing physical activity initiatives, and business policies supporting physical activity were collected simultaneously in both communities.


RESULTS
The success of the CBPR approach was evidenced by several developments, including substantial resident involvement and the formation of a leadership committee, marketing campaign, and numerous community partnerships. The number of businesses with policies promoting physical activity and breadth of existing physical activity initiatives (participants, activities, hours) increased substantially more in the Neighborhoods on the Move community than in the comparison community. A total of sixty new initiatives promoting physical activity were implemented in the Neighborhoods on the Move community during the intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
The CBPR approach is an effective strategy for inducing environmental changes that promote physical activity. Additional research is needed to assess the portability and sustainability of Neighborhoods on the Move.
Suminski
Richard R
RR
Department of Physiology, Kansas City Univesity of Medicine and Biosciences, KS, USA.
Petosa
Rick L
RL
Jones
Larry
L
Hall
Lisa
L
Poston
Carlos W
CW
D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000379:methods*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D016730:Program Development; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011634:Public Health; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012931:Social Environment; D040241:Social Marketing; D013997:Time Factors