title: Recommendations for a culturally relevant Internet-based tool to promote physical activity among overweight young African American women, Alabama, 2010-2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Innovative approaches are needed to promote physical activity among young adult overweight and obese African American women. We sought to describe key elements that African American women desire in a culturally relevant Internet-based tool to promote physical activity among overweight and obese young adult African American women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed-method approach combining nominal group technique and traditional focus groups was used to elicit recommendations for the development of an Internet-based physical activity promotion tool. Participants, ages 19 to 30 years, were enrolled in a major university. Nominal group technique sessions were conducted to identify themes viewed as key features for inclusion in a culturally relevant Internet-based tool. Confirmatory focus groups were conducted to verify and elicit more in-depth information on the themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-nine women participated in nominal group (n = 13) and traditional focus group sessions (n = 16). Features that emerged to be included in a culturally relevant Internet-based physical activity promotion tool were personalized website pages, diverse body images on websites and in videos, motivational stories about physical activity and women similar to themselves in size and body shape, tips on hair care maintenance during physical activity, and online social support through social media (eg, Facebook, Twitter).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incorporating existing social media tools and motivational stories from young adult African American women in Internet-based tools may increase the feasibility, acceptability, and success of Internet-based physical activity programs in this high-risk, understudied population.
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Division of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 1600 7th Ave S, CPPI 310, Birmingham, AL 35294. E-mail: ndurant@peds.uab.edu.
authors.forename: Nefertiti H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Durant
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
authors.forename: Rodney P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cherrington
authors.affiliation: New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Yendelela
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cuffee
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
authors.forename: BernNadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
authors.forename: Dwight
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Jeroan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Allison
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000407:Alabama; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D009043:Motor Activity; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control