title: Effects of a structural intervention and implementation on physical activity among youth in residential children's homes.
abstract: This study reports the effects of a structural intervention, ENRICH (Environmental Interventions in Children's Homes) which targeted the physical and social environment within residential children's homes (RCHs) to increase physical activity (PA) among residents (n=799). Participating RCHs (n=29) were randomized to Early (n=17) or Delayed (n=12) groups from 2004 to 2006 and 2006 to 2008, respectively. Children's PA was measured at three time periods (2004, 2006, 2008). Intent-to-treat analysis revealed no intervention impact on PA. Subsequent analyses used process evaluation data to group organizations into high and low PA-promoting RCHs to compare PA level, controlling for assignment to condition. Organizations with high PA-promoting environments were found to have more active youth. Utility of a comprehensive implementation monitoring plan and the need for formative assessment of organizational capacity is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, University of Delaware, 26 North College Avenue, Newark, DE 19716, USA. Electronic address: gdominic@udel.edu.
authors.forename: Gregory M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Dominick
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 915 Greene Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. Electronic address: rsaunders@sc.edu.
authors.forename: Ruth P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. Electronic address: mdowda@mailbox.sc.edu.
authors.forename: Marsha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dowda
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Services and Policy Research, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 730 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. Electronic address: kenison@mailbox.sc.edu.
authors.forename: Kelli
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kenison
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas School of Public Health, 313 East 12th Street, Austin, TX 78701, USA. Electronic address: Alexandra.E.Evans@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Alexandra E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009657:North Carolina; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D012112:Residential Facilities; D012931:Social Environment; D013022:South Carolina; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Foster youth; Implementation monitoring; Physical activity; Process evaluation