This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Emery, J. Articles by Hawkins, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Emery, J. Articles by Hawkins, M. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Formative Evaluation of AARP's Active for Life® Campaign to Improve Walking and Bicycling Environments in Two Cities

Department of Health Behavior and Health Education in the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Carolyn Crump, PhD

Department of Health Behavior and Health Education in the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Margaret Hawkins, MS

AARP in Washington, DC

AARP conducted a 2.5-year social-marketing campaign to improve physical activity levels among older adults in Richmond, Virginia and Madison, Wisconsin. This article presents formative evaluation findings from the campaign's policy/environmental change component. Evaluation data were abstracted from technical-assistance documentation and telephone interviews. Results include 11 policy and 14 environmental changes attained or in-process by campaign closure. Differences between the cities' results are explained through differences in program implementation (e.g., types of changes planned, formalization of partnerships). Project teams took less time deciding to pursue policy change than environmental change; however, planning the policy activities took longer than planning environmental-change activities. Recommendations for future policy/environmental change interventions focus on the selection of strategies; planning for administrative resources; formalizing partnerships to ensure sustainability of impact; ensuring training and technical assistance; and documenting progress. Similar intervention results may be attainable with a multi-year timeframe, adequate part-time coordination, and committed volunteers.

Key Words: physical activity • policy and environmental change • built environment • older adults

References

• Aarp. (2002). Exercise attitudes and behaviors: A survey of midlife and older adults. Washington, DC: Author.
• Aarp. (2004). Synthesis of AARP research in physical activity: 1999-2003. Washington, DC: Author.
• AARP, American College of Sports Medicine, American Geriatrics Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute on Aging, & The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (2001). National blueprint: Increasing physical activity among adults age 50 and older. Princeton, NJ: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Available at http://www.agingblueprint.org
• Bell, J., & Standish, M. (2005). Communities and health policy: A pathway for change. Health Affairs, 24(2), 339-342.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
• Blaine, M.B., Guire, D.K., & Forster, J. (2002). STEPES: The development and testing of a database program monitoring tool. In A. Steckler & L. Linnan (Eds.), Process evaluation for public health interventions and research (pp. 293-320). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
• Brenner, B. (2002). Implementing a community intervention program for health promotion. Social Work and Mental Health, 35(1-2), 359-375.
• Carmeli, E., Coleman, R., Omar, H.L., & Brown-Cross, D. (2000). Do we allow elderly pedestrians sufficient time to cross the street in safety? Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 8(1), 51-58. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2005). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey data. Atlanta, GA: USDHHS, CDC.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Chalmers, M.L., Housemann, R.A., Wiggs, I., Newcomb-Hagood, L., Malone, B., & Brownson, R.C. (2003). Process evaluation of a monitoring log system for community coalition activities: Five-year results and lessons learned. American Journal of Health Promotion, 17(3), 190-196.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Cheadle, A., Sterling, T.D., Schmid, T.L., & Fawcett, S.B. (2000). Promising community-level indicators for evaluating cardiovascular health-promotion programs. Health Education Research, 15(1), 109-116.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
• Chodzko-Zajko, W.J. (2001). National blueprint increasing physical activity among adults age 50 and older. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 9(Supplement), S5-S28.
• Cunningham, G.O., & Michael, Y.L. (2004). Concepts guiding the study of the impact of the built environment on physical activity for older adults: A review of the literature. American Journal of Health Promotion, 18(6), 435-443.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Emery, J., Crump, C., & Bors, P. (2003). Reliability and validity of two instruments designed to assess the walking and bicycling suitability of sidewalks and roads. American Journal of Health Promotion, 18(1), 38-46.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Hann, N.E., Kean, T.J., Matulionis, R.M., Russell, C.M., & Sterling, T.D. (2004). Policy and environmental change: New directions for public health. Health Promotion Practice, 5(4), 377-381.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
• Heath, G.E., Brownson, R.C., Kruger, J., Miles, R., Powell, K.E., Ramsey, L.T., et al. (2006). The effectiveness of urban design and land use and transport policies and practices to increase physical activity: A systematic review. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 3(S1), S55-S76.
• Hill, S. (2003). Review of: Henderson, S., & Peterson, A. Consuming health: The commodification of health care. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 27(4), 470.
• Humpel, N., Owen, N., & Leslie, E. (2002). Environmental factors associated with adults' participation in physical activity: A review. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 22(3), 188-199.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• International City/County Management Association (ICMA). (2003). Active living for older adults: Management strategies for healthy and livable communities. Washington, DC: Author.
• Johnson, D.B., & Smith, L.T. (2006). Testing the recommendations of the Washington State Nutrition and Physical Activity Plan: The Moses Lake case study. Preventing Chronic Disease: Public Health Research, Practice and Policy [Serial online]. Retrieved April 7, 2006, from http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2006/apr/05_0096.htm
• Kamimoto, L.A., Easton, A.N., Maurice, E., Husten, C.G., & Macera, C.A. (1999, December 17). Surveillance for five health risks among older adults—United States, 1993-1997. In CDC Surveillance Summaries. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 48(SS-8), 89-130.
• Keenan, T. (2004). Active for Life®: Summary of research and evaluation. Washington, DC: AARP.
• Langlois, J.A., Keyl, P.M., Guralnik, J.M., Foley, D.J., Marottoli, R.A., & Wallace, R.B. (1997). Characteristics of older pedestrians who have difficulty crossing the street. American Journal of Public Health, 87(3), 393-397.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
• Li, F., Fisher, K.J., Bauman, A., Ory, M.G., Chodzko-Zajko, W., Harmer, P., et al. (2005). Neighborhood influences on physical activity in middle-aged and older adults: A multilevel perspective. Journal on Aging and Physical Activity, 13(1), 87-114.
• Mitchell, R.E., Florin, P., & Stevenson, J.F. (2002). Supporting community-based prevention and health promotion initiatives: Developing effective technical assistance systems. Health Education and Behavior, 29(5), 620-639.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
• Plescia, M., Young, S., & Ritzman, R.L. (2005, November). Statewide community-based health promotion: A North Carolina model to build local capacity for chronic disease prevention. Preventing Chronic Disease: Public Health Research, Practice and Policy [Serial online]. Retrieved April 7, 2006, from http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2005/nov/05_0058.htm
• Saelens, B.E., Sallis, J.F., & Frank, L.D. (2003). Environmental correlates of walking and cycling: Findings from the transportation, urban design, and planning literature. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 25(2), 80-91.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Sallis, J.F., Bauman, A., & Pratt, M. (1998). Environmental and policy interventions to promote physical activity. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 15(4), 379-397.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Spangler-Murphy, E., Krummel, D.A., Morrison, N., & Gordon, P.M. (2005). Environmental perceptions related to physical activity in high- and low-risk counties. Health Promotion Practice, 6(1), 57-63.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
• Steele, R., & Caperchione, C. (2005). The role of local government in physical activity: Employee perceptions. Health Promotion Practice, 6(2), 214-218.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
• Task Force on Community Preventive Services. ( 2002). Recommendations to increase physical activity in communities. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 22(4S), 67-72.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS). (1996). Physical activity and health—a report of the Surgeon General Executive Summary. Atlanta, GA: USDHHS, CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

This version was published on October 1, 2007

Health Promotion Practice, Vol. 8, No. 4, 403-414 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1524839906292179


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Emery, J. Articles by Hawkins, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Emery, J. Articles by Hawkins, M. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?