Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109752

Mary F. Riley-Jácome, MA, Prevention Research Center, University at Albany, 1 University Place, Rm 116, Rensselaer, NY 12144, (518) 408-2339, mrjacome@albany.edu, Mary P. Gallant, PhD, School of Public Health, University at Albany, 1 University Place, Department of Health Policy, Mgmt & Behavior, Rensselaer, NY 12144, and Benjamin A. Shaw, PhD, School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy, Mgmt & Behavior, University at Albany, 1 University Place, Renssealer, NY 12144.

Improving diabetes management requires an understanding of the social and environmental factors that influence self-care behaviors. The University at Albany Prevention Research Center conducted a community–based assessment of self-care behaviors and factors that support or inhibit diabetes management among adults in two underserved communities, one urban and one rural. Results showed that physical activity levels were significantly lower in the rural community. In addition, rural participants reported limited environmental supports for physical activity. Forty percent of rural participants identified environmental barriers to physical activity such as inadequate walkways, lack of facilities, too many hills, traffic and bad weather. An independent assessment by the NYS Department of Health corroborated the lack of adequate sidewalks in this community.

Given these findings, intervention strategies to increase access to places for physical activity are recommended. However, rural communities often lack the resources to implement evidence based interventions, and changing environmental conditions requires ingenuity. In response to this challenge, key stakeholders identified a seemingly simple solution to the access issue: enlisting the use of public school buildings to give residents the opportunity to walk indoors after school hours for exercise.

As an initial step, research findings were disseminated to local schools to explore their potential role in addressing this need. One school district offered to pilot an evidence based walking program. This presentation will describe the process used to plan and implement this pilot intervention. Results will be shared with other rural communities to help guide future physical activity interventions.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the process of translating community-based research findings into local programs and policies.
• Learn how community-based initiatives can be tailored to local resources.

Keywords: Community Health Planning, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.