Assessing the capacity of state physical activity programs--a baseline perspective.
BACKGROUND
Physical inactivity is one of the top 3 risk factors associated with an increased prevalence of obesity and other chronic diseases. The public health infrastructure positions state health departments to address physical inactivity. To examine preparedness, all 50 health departments were assessed, using the 5 benchmarks developed by CDC for physical activity and public health practice, on their capacity to administer physical activity programs.


METHODS
States were scored on a 5-point scale for each benchmark. The top 2 high and low scores were combined to create 2 categories. Exact Chi-square analyses were performed.


RESULTS
States with CDC obesity funding scored higher on 4 benchmarks than states without. States with a state physical activity plan scored higher on all benchmarks than states without. States with a physical activity coalition scored higher on 2 benchmarks than states without.


CONCLUSIONS
At the time of the assessment, approximately 20% of state physical activity programs could have improved in the use of evidence-based strategies and planning and evaluation approaches. Furthermore, many programs seemed to have limited sustainability. The findings of this report serve as a baseline of the capacity and infrastructure of state health department physical activity programs.
Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, Brookline, MA, USA.
Tamara Vehige
TV
Calise
Sarah
S
Martin
D019985:Benchmarking; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. / Q000191:economics; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006285:Health Planning; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008404:Massachusetts; D009043:Motor Activity; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011634:Public Health; D014481:United States