The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #43603

Susan Lukwago, PhD¹, Keri Jupka, MPH², Caren Bacon, BA², Diana Hawkins, MEd, CHES³, and Matthew W. Kreuter, PhD, MPH². (1) Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Saint Louis County Department of Health, 111 South Meramec, Room 309, Clayton, MO 63105, 314-615-1675, slukwago@stlouisco.com, (2) Health Communication Research Laboratory, Saint Louis University, 3545 Lafayette Avenue, St Louis, MO 63104, (3) Bureau of Chronic Disease Control, Missouri Department of Health, 920 Wildwood, PO Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102

Community interventions based on formative research can be effective. We used focus groups to assess barriers and motivators for physical activity throughout Missouri. We planned, recruited for, conducted, and analyzed 23 focus groups in 22 different communities throughout the state of Missouri. Lessons learned from the formative research included more effective recruitment strategies, ways to prevent errors in data management, improving moderating technique, and effective and efficient analysis of qualitative data. Findings from the focus group were used to develop 10 different community relevant interventions to increase walking and other forms of physical activity in Missouri by addressing barriers to, and motivators for, exercise. Barriers addressed by interventions included safety, lack of access, and lack of knowledge. Motivators addressed in interventions included receiving advice from physicians and other health care providers and having someone with whom to walk. Each of the communities will receive four of the ten interventions based on the issues emerging from the focus groups.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Discuss how focus groups were used throughout Missouri to gather qualitative data on physical activity, walking barriers, benefits, and motivators.
• Discuss how formative focus group research can be used to develop community interventions.
• List the barriers and motivators that guided the development of the statewide campaign to promote physical activity in Missouri.

Keywords: Community-Based Health Promotion, Public Health Education and Health Promotion

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.