Influence of Public Parks on Physical Activity Levels of Diverse Communities

NCT00693901 | Completed DMC

• 2 other identifiers: 499R01HL083869
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Engaging in physical activity is an important health behavior for maintaining good health and preventing disease. Public parks offer community members readily accessible areas for recreation and exercise. Modifying park programs and facilities to meet the specific needs of community members may encourage people to engage in more physical activity. Furthermore, using feedback from the community might be the best way to determine how park funds should be allocated for modifications. This study will compare two approaches to park programming and will determine which approach is best at increasing physical activity within the community.

Conditions

Physical Activity

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Composite measure of energy expenditure at public parks

  Measured at Year 5

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Number of park users

  Measured at Year 5

Study Arms (3)

1

EXPERIMENTAL

Parks will be assigned to the community-based participatory research condition.

Behavioral: Community-based participatory research (CBPR)

2

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Parks will be assigned to the director-only condition.

Behavioral: Director-only

3

NO INTERVENTION

Parks will be assigned to the control condition and will receive no intervention.

Interventions

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) BEHAVIORAL

CBPR will involve park advisory boards and community members in the research process, including the park assessments and data analysis. The assessment research will be used to inform use of discretionary funds for park programming and facilities in the hopes of increasing community physical activity. Park directors will be provided with analysis of descriptive information and community feedback to help improve outreach, park programming, and features to attract more park users and increase physical activity.

1

Director-only BEHAVIORAL

Park directors will be provided with descriptive information on park use and community feedback. They will also receive assistance on how to improve outreach, programming, and park features that will increase park use and physical activity. These parks will not take part in any assessments.

2

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Neighborhood park with an advisory board
• Park director who is willing to participate

You may not qualify if:

• Park that is NOT a neighborhood park

Sponsors & Collaborators

• RAND: lead
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

RAND

Santa Monica, California, 90407, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity

Interventions

Community-Based Participatory Research

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Health Services Research; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation

Study Officials

• Deborah A. Cohen, MD, MPH

  RAND

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 5, 2008
• First Posted: June 9, 2008
• Study Start: October 1, 2007
• Primary Completion: April 1, 2012
• Study Completion: April 1, 2012
• Last Updated: December 17, 2012

Record last verified: 2012-12

Locations

US (1)