title: Community readiness for adopting a physical activity program for people with arthritis in West Virginia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The health benefits of physical activity are well established in older adults with arthritis. Despite these benefits, many older adults with arthritis are not active enough to maintain health; therefore, increasing physical activity in adults with arthritis is a public health priority. The purpose of this study was to use the Community Readiness Model to assess readiness for adopting a physical activity program for people with arthritis in 8 counties in West Virginia.
  
  
  METHODS
  During 2007 and 2008, we conducted a telephone survey among 94 key informants who could provide insight into their community's efforts to promote physical activity among older adults with arthritis. We matched survey scores with 1 of 9 stages of readiness, ranging from 1 (no awareness) to 9 (high level of community ownership).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey placed the counties in stage 3 (vague awareness), indicating recognition of the need for more physical activity programming; community efforts were not focused and leadership was minimal. The interviews suggested that culturally sensitive, well-promoted free or low-cost programs conducted by community volunteers may be keys to success in West Virginia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Information derived from our survey can be used to match intervention strategies for promoting physical activity among people with arthritis to communities in West Virginia according to their level of readiness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, West Virginia University, PO Box 9196, 1 Medical Center Dr, Morgantown, WV 26506-9196, USA. dljones@hsc.wvu.edu
authors.forename: Dina L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Srilakshmi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Settipalli
authors.forename: R Turner
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Goins
authors.forename: Jeanne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hootman
mesh_terms: D001168:Arthritis / Q000628:therapy*; D003153:Community Health Services; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006293:Health Promotion; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009043:Motor Activity; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011634:Public Health; D014903:West Virginia