Defining a physical activity policy and environmental research agenda

Background: Despite interventions to promote physical activity, most Americans fall short of recommended levels. The connection between physical activity and policies that support or encourage physical activity is a relatively new research area; therefore, identifying policy and environmental research topics that will likely lead to substantial increases in physical activity is necessary.

Objective: The purpose of this project was to develop a research agenda that will focus and guide future physical activity policy research and environmental strategies.

Methods: This project brought together practitioners (e.g., safe routes to school coordinators), academic researchers from several disciplines (e.g., public health, urban planning) and funding agencies to systematically provide input for an agenda to guide policy and environmental research. Data were collected and analyzed using concept mapping - a six-step process that incorporates both qualitative and quantitative data. In a joint meeting of practitioners and researchers, the results were reviewed to create a concise research agenda and develop action steps for implementation.

Results: A total of 238 practitioners and researchers participated in various phases of the project. The final list of research topics includes 109 ideas addressing different policy and environmental strategies. The preliminary results describe participants' operationalizations of these strategies to address physical inactivity and the relative importance and feasibility of these strategies in guiding future research.

Conclusion: The resulting research agenda should serve as a guide for future research and funding to address physical inactivity in communities. Plans to implement these actions through grant activity and collaborative efforts are currently underway.