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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Kathryn Remmes Martin, MPH, Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, 3300 Thurston Building, CB 7280, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, 919-966-7209, kathryn.martin@unc.edu, Britta Schoster, MPH, Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3300 Thurston Building, CB7280, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, Andrea Meier, EdM, PhD, School of Social Work, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, 301 Pittsboro Street, CB 3550, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, and Leigh F. Callahan, PhD, Orthopedics and Social Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3300 Thurston Building, CB 7280, Chapel Hill, NC 27599.

Background Increasing physical activity is a cornerstone of Healthy People 2010. The public health community is looking to the built environment for clues in understanding physical activity levels. North Carolinians were queried about their environment and its' impact on type, amount and location of physical activity. Methods In 2004 and 2005, 2491 individuals from 17 North Carolina communities completed a telephone survey assessing health status, neighborhood characteristics, health attitudes and sociodemographic variables. Focus groups and key informant interviews were conducted in 7 geographically disparate communities to examine participant understanding of place and health. Focus group participants used photographs to represent neighborhood characteristics and completed an additional survey. Analyses were conducted with Atlas.ti and STATA v. 8. Results Most participants self-reported regular physical activity. Walking was the most frequent form of exercise. Residence in rural areas, no sidewalks, and heavy traffic were barriers to increased PA. Participants are aware of community resources and perceive them as available (e.g. YMCA, Curves, pools). While environmental influences on PA were the main focus, participants commonly cited personal reasons (e.g. illness/physical disability and low motivation) as primary barriers to participating in physical activity. Conclusion While the built environment and community resources are influential, they cannot fully explain physical (in)activity. Future research must use a multi-level approach to understand the complex relationship between the built environment, personal barriers, and physical activity.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Articulate the barriers to and opportunities for physical activity for North Carolinians.
• Describe the process of using triangulation of data to examine factors relating to physical activity.

Keywords: Physical Activity, Community

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered