Index

• Background
• Mission
• What is a Policy?
• Why study policies that affect physical activities?
• Physical Activity Policy Research Framework
• PAPRN Projects
  • Active Transport To and From School: A Multi-site Exploration of Physical Activity Policy
  • Exploring Policy Change in the Development of Community Trails
  • Defining a Physical Activity Policy and Environmental Research Agenda
• Funding Partners

Background
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created the Physical Activity Policy Research Network (PAPRN) in October of 2004 to study the effectiveness of health policies related to increasing physical activity in communities. The PAPRN was established as a thematic research network of the Prevention Research Centers (PRC) program, with funding from the Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity at CDC. The formally established network consists of four PRC member centers, one coordinating/member and CDC technical advisors. Several other PRCs have joined the network as affiliate member centers.

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Mission
The mission of the Physical Activity Policy Research Network is to conduct transdisciplinary policy research by:

• identifying physical activity policies
• identifying the determinants of the policies
• describing the process of implementing policies
• determining the outcomes of physical activity policies

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What is a Policy?

Policy can be defined in many ways. An overall definition was formed within the context of physical activity and policy. For PAPRN, policy is defined as a legislative action, organized guidance or rule that may affect the physical activity environment or the behavior of people. Policies can be in the form of written codes or standards that guide choices or common practices. (Schmid et al, 2006) Some examples of such policies include:

• National transportation regulations that determine highway trust fund allocations to motor ways, transit and pedestrian amenities
• Community design policies that promote activity friendly environments
• Engineering standards that guide street design and traditions that guide school siting
• Worksite support for physical activity by reduced health club membership fees

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Why Study Policies that affect Physical Activities?

Over half of American adults get the recommended amounts of physical activity. (CDC, 2007) Decades of research has built the evidence base that physical activity has tremendous health promoting and disease preventing benefits. Research on policies that facilitate physical activity in populations can promote more physical active lifestyles. Much of current public health interest in increasing physical activity is focused on identifying social and cultural norms and encouraging the development of written policies to increase physical activity access and availability.

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Physical Activity Policy Research Framework

With input from experts at CDC, academia, multiple sectors, and key partners including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Active Living Leadership Program and the National Institutes of Health, a conceptual framework was developed. This framework helps visualize, categorize, and understand our research and programmatic efforts in physical activity policy. The important components or aspects of policy are found on the vertical axis and the settings in which policy apply are defined by the sector and scale axes.

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PAPRN Projects

Active Transport To and From School: A Multi-site Exploration of Physical Activity Policy

The objectives of this project were to explore the barriers and enablers of active transport to and from school (ATS) and to identify common lessons learned across the school-community sites. The research team especially focused on exploring ATS policies and practices. Each research center chose one elementary school that has an active transport policy or an environmental change that supports active transport. The schools (n = 9) were diverse in socioeconomic status, racial/ethnic make-up, and community characteristics. Researchers at each site interviewed key informants in order to gain insight on the important aspects of the policy change. Clink on the links below for more information on methods and results.

• Interview Guide
  • This guide was developed by the research team and includes questions tailored to each group of people interviewed.
• Policy Brief
  • This is a two-page summary of the ATS study.
• Policies Related to Active Transportation To and From School: A Multisite Case Study
  • This is the full academic report that includes details of methodology and results.
• Parental Involvement in Active Transport to School Programs
  • This is a full academic report on parental perspective and involvement with ATS at our study schools.

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Exploring Policy Change in the Development of Community Trails

With funding from Active Living Research and the research framework of the Physical Activity Policy Research Network (PAPRN), a multiple site case study was conducted. The goals of this case study were to identify the policy influences on trail development, explore the roles of key players in trail development, and compare and contrast findings as they relate to the diverse locations and populations. A total of six trails in Hawaii, Massachusetts, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Washington were chosen for study. The methodology included examination of historical documentation of trail development and key informant interviews. The links below lead to more information about the methods and results of this study.

• Interview guide
  • This guide lists the questions that were asked to the key informants for our study.
• Research Brief
  • This is a brief two-page summary of the trail study and results.
• Case-Study Highlight in Planning Magazine
  • Results from the trail study were highlighted with the other RWJF case studies on policy and physical activity in this article.
• Policy Influences on Community Trail Development
  • This is the full academic report on this study.
• Link to Active Living Research Website
  • See this website for more case studies on policy and physical activity. www.activelivingresearch.org
    

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Defining a Physical Activity Policy and Environmental Research Agenda

The purpose of this project was to develop a research agenda that will focus and guide future physical activity policy research and environmental strategies. This multi-phase project brought together practitioners and academic researchers to systematically provide input on an agenda for policy and environmental research and to rate the importance and feasibility of this input. Data were analyzed using concept mapping - a six-step process that incorporates qualitative and quantitative analysis. The results describe participants’ operationalizations of policies and environmental factors influencing physical activity and the relative importance and feasibility of these factors for future research. The process culminated in a meeting to finalize the action steps and to develop an agenda. The results are compiled in a peer-reviewed publication and the agenda will be publicized with funders, researchers, and practitioners. Click below for the results from the concept mapping process.

• Defining a Physical Activity Policy and Environmental Research Agenda: Obtaining the Perspectives of Practitioners and Researchers
  • This is a copy of the PowerPoint presentation that lists the results from the concept mapping process
• Environmental and Policy Approaches for Promoting Physical Activity in the United States: A Research Agenda
  • Journal of Physical Activity and Health! This is the full academic report from this study.

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Funding Partners

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Active Living Research
  

For more information contact: Amy Eyler, PhD, Saint Louis University School of Public Health, 3545 Lafayette Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63104; 314.304.1481; eyleras@accessus.net

Links to other PAPRN network members Prevention Research Center Websites:
(coming soon!)

References

Schmid T, Pratt M, Witmer L. A framework for physical activity policy research. J Phys Activity Health 2006;3,Suppl 1:s20-29.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevalence of regular physical activity among adults –United States, 2001 and 2005. MMWR 2007. 56 (46); 1209-1212.

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