Different strategies contribute to community physical activity program participation in rural versus metropolitan settings.
OBJECTIVE
Determine if recruitment methods are differentially related to the reach of a physical activity program in metro/urban vs. rural settings.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Kansas counties.


METHODS
Ninety-four Cooperative Extension agents responsible for 102 counties.


METHODS
Promotional score, task force activity, and years of program delivery were assessed using a self-report survey. Reach was assessed for each county by dividing the number of participants by intended population using census data.


METHODS
Rural/urban comparisons on reach were completed using a Mann-Whitney test. Multiple linear regression models were used to determine the relationship between independent variables and participation rate by setting type.


RESULTS
Metro/urban counties had lower mean participation rates than rural counties (z = -4.5; p < .001). In metro/urban counties, the regression on participation rate was significant (R(2) = .19; F = 4.09; p = .011), but only promotional score significantly contributed to the model (p = .003). In rural counties, the regression was also significant (R(2) = .34; F = 6.64; p = .001), with task force activity and years of delivery making significant contributions (p = .001 and p = .017, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Interpersonal methods may be more effective in recruiting physical activity program participants in rural settings, whereas using a greater variety of promotional methods may be more effective in metro/urban settings.
Wages
Joan Given
JG
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, 24061, USA. jwages@vt.edu
Jackson
Sharolyn Flaming
SF
Bradshaw
Michael H
MH
Chang
Mido
M
Estabrooks
Paul A
PA
D000328:Adult; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007615:Kansas; D009043:Motor Activity; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*