239802 VERB Summer Scorecard: Increasing Physical Activity Among Female Adolescents

Monday, October 31, 2011

Moya Alfonso, MSPH, PhD , Jiann Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA
Zachary Thompson , College of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Jenna Davis, MPH , H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Carol A. Bryant, PhD , Florida Prevention Research Center, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Anita Courtney, MS, RD , Chair, Tweens Nutrition and Fitness Coalition, Public Health Consultant, Lexington, KY
Jeff A. Jones, PhD , Health Behavior, University Of Kentucky, College of Public Health, Lexington, KY
Robert J. McDermott, PhD , Florida Prevention Research Center, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Introduction: Females are at greater risk of inadequate physical activity levels. Community-based physical activity interventions, such as VERBTM Summer Scorecard, may be capable of increasing physical activity levels among females. The purpose of this study was to examine how changes across time in female's physical activity levels can be accounted by VERBTM Summer Scorecard. Methods: Survey data gathered from females in 2004, 2006, and 2007 were used to examine trends in physical activity across time and potential intervention effects on female physical activity. Cumulative logit models were employed to analyze the trend of physical activity in three groups of females: participants (i.e., those who completed a Scorecard), refusers (i.e., those who received a Scorecard but did not complete it), and the reference groups (i.e., those who had never heard of program). Results: Results demonstrated that intervention effects increased over time among females. In 2004, female participants had higher activity levels then the reference group. In 2006, the only increase is in the no exercise category to the low category. In 2007, there is an increase of every activity level in the female participants group compared to the reference students. Conclusions: This study illustrates how VERB Summer Scorecard, a community-based intervention, accounts for the trend in females' physical activity levels from the years 2004, 2006, and 2007. The results indicate VSS was a success in increasing the PA levels in girls who participated over time. This information illustrates how interventions executed long-term can result in more favorable outcomes overall.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe a promising community-based intervention capable of increasing physical activity among female adolescents. Identify a method for assessing change across time in physical activity. Discuss evaluation strategies appropriate for community based interventions.

Keywords: Adolescents, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I co-led the evaluation discussed in the abstract and served as Co-Director of the Methods and Evaluation Unit at the Florida Prevention Research Center at the time of this study.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.