Purpose: Universities are increasingly incorporating civic engagement learning goals into course curricula to generate knowledge that contributes to the public good and prepares students to be participatory members of a democratic society. In this case study, George Mason University (GMU) students used the Stanford Our Voice research-to-action citizen science method to identify issues on their college campus related to sustainability, food access, and health equity and convey them to the university to improve current programs.

Methods: GMU undergraduate students participated during Fall Semester 2023. The instructor separated students into groups, each focusing on one of four challenges faced by GMU’s campus: addressing food insecurity, reducing waste, mitigating extreme heat exposure, and redistributing reusable items at academic year-end. Using Our Voice’s Discovery Tool mobile application, students documented barriers to health and food access, equity, and justice relevant to their specific challenge. Virtual community meetings featured collaborative online whiteboards for group-based data discussions, theme identification, and formulation of ideas for change. Groups prioritized their ideas for change based on feasibility and defined action steps to propose to relevant stakeholders. Pre and post surveys evaluating students’ civic attitudes and behaviors were analyzed with a Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results: During a two-week period, students captured 199 photos and 185 text comments concerning their assigned topics. Facilitated community meetings produced 45 themes and 26 ideas for change. Themes identified by groups included issues of awareness, accessibility (e.g., dining hall meal donations; affordable meal plans), sustainability, and absence of campus resources addressing these challenges. Each group presented their ideas for change to the GMU Facilities’ Engagement Coordinator. Pre-post surveys indicated that after participating in this project, students felt more responsible for their community (p=.006), helping poor/hungry residents (p=.05), participating in discussions around social issues (p=.0001), and they more strongly believed, when working with others, that they would make positive community changes (p=.025).

Conclusions: By conducting student-engaged participatory action lessons as a tool for civic learning, young adults can be empowered and activated as agents of local change, which may continue in the future and is worthy of further investigation.

Megan Miller (Presenting and Corresponding author), Caitlin Golden, Jennie Hill, Paul Estabrooks

Purpose: Addressing childhood obesity across lower-income, rural communities may benefit from a collaborative approach that includes state and local level community partners that prioritize family health. The purpose of this presentation is to describe the formation and initial priorities of the Mountain West Family Healthy Weight Collaborative (MW-FHWC) designed to leverage and enhance community capacity to address inequities in childhood obesity prevention and treatment.

Methods: Representatives from regional and local public health networks, federally qualified community health centers, and cooperative extension across Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming were invited to participate in the MW-FHWC (n=49 representatives). The invitation included a survey that assessed organizational priorities as they related to childhood obesity and family health. Survey results were presented and discussed during an initial virtual collaborative meeting that focused on determining the need for, and potential function of, the MW-FHWC.

Results/Findings: Twenty-three organizational representatives (47%), with representation across all 6 states, responded to the invitation to engage with the MW-FHWC. Respondents represented 17 unique organizations with responsibilities related to decision-making on which programs can be delivered within their organization (n=17), program delivery (n=16), policy development (n=14), program funding support (n=6), reaching and engaging families in obesity prevention and treatment efforts (n=11), and networking across the organization to advocate for obesity treatment and prevention activities (n=22). The highest organizational priorities indicated by participants were engaging in cross-sectoral partnerships, addressing social determinants of health, and physical activity promotion. Participants (n=19) in the virtual meeting identified funding, staff support, outcome measures, collaboration, and local resources to be able to refer families to as resources they need to be more effective in addressing the needs of the populations they serve. Participants valued the opportunity to learn from cross-state collaboration and networking, building awareness of health promotion programs, involvement in research, and increasing resources.

Conclusions: Initial results from the partnership survey and initial meeting also suggest that the MW-FHWC collaborative includes, but moves beyond, a focus on childhood obesity to also become a resource for intervention sharing, capacity building, and strategies to address social determinants of health.

Purpose: Adults suffering from serious mental illness (SMI) have a higher likelihood of chronic health conditions, which may impact functional ability. Resistance and aerobic training are associated with physical and mental health improvements in individuals affected by SMI. Yet, adults with SMI have poor functional capacity and physical competence. As part of the Physical Activity to Reduce Cardiometabolic risk in adults with SMI (PARCS) clinical trial, functional movements were assessed to understand intervention effects on resistance training skills.

Methods: Data were collected in 2022-2023 as part of an NIH-funded multi-site randomized control trial (NCT05457179) conducted in the Midwest (36 sessions, 2 waves) and the South (24 sessions, 2 waves). The PARCS intervention included instructor-led small group sessions 2-3 times a week for 12 weeks in a local park. Sessions included a warm-up, resistance training focusing on fundamental movements using body weight or bands, walking, and a cool-down. Sessions were video recorded and analyzed by trained individuals at each site using a modified version of the Resistance Training Skills Battery (RTSB; Lubans et al., 2015). Four fundamental movements (squat, lunge, overhead press, row) were evaluated (1 = Not met, 2 = partially met, 3 = Fully met) using the best set and repetition during the first and last 4 weeks of the intervention. Scores from each movement were averaged to develop a total quotient score (RTSBQ) for each participant.

Results: Participants’ (n=15 ; 9 Midwest, 6 South) RTSBQ improved between first instance (8.0±0.6) and last instance (8.6±1.4; p=0.03). Individual movements did not significantly increase scores at post-testing across sites (p=0.06, 0.1, 0.6, 0.2). The Midwest site exhibited improvement in row (p=0.01), lunge (p=0.03), and RTSBQ (p=0.01). No significant changes were observed on individual movements or the RTSBQ at the South site.”

Conclusion: The PARCS intervention significantly increased RTSBQ scores overall, and on row and lunge movements at the Midwest site. Findings will guide refinement and standardization of movement instruction across sites to improve outcomes. Results will be reevaluated at the end of the 3-year clinical trial once all waves of the intervention data become available.

Purpose
Physical activity (PA) is a basic human right central to sustainable development, yet globally, girls and women attain disproportionately lower levels of PA than male peers, indicating gender-based barriers. In Peru, insufficient PA is twice as common among women than men, and issues related to social determinants of health, such as high rates of gender-based violence, may exert an impactful role on PA engagement. The purpose of this study was to examine factors influencing PA access and participation among female athletes in Peru.
Methods
Leveraging a citizen science-based participatory action research method (Our Voice), this study incorporated mixed methods and was rooted in the theoretical foundations of PA security and the socio-ecological model. Research partners included the Fundación Deporte en Igualdad and Instituto Peruano del Deporte in Peru, and USA-based Stanford University. We present the results of the interpretive focus groups applied to identify factors across socio-ecological domains impacting PA among female athletes in Peru. Research oversight was provided by the Stanford Institutional Review Board.
Results
Study participants (N=19) identified as female and averaged 17 years old (range=15-22 years). All were elite athletes on a Peruvian national sports team that trained at a facility in Lima, Peru. Community-based research facilitators were trained coaches who lived in Lima and were not affiliated with the sports team, including a leadership specialist, a sports psychologist, and a psychotherapist. Participants used the Our Voice Discovery Tool mobile app to collect 55 geotagged audiovisual data points and participated in five interpretive focus groups to collaboratively review data and identify themes related to PA security across socio-ecological domains. Themes characterizing barriers to PA security were safety; infrastructure; street harassment; sanitation; transportation; and outreach. Participants developed recommended solutions for each theme, using a strength-based approach to recognize existing supports. Findings were presented by the participants to stakeholders via an advocacy presentation.
Conclusions
Investigation of PA security among girls and women yielded important findings linked to social determinants of health. The results provide opportunities for meaningful change toward health equity in and through sport which currently are being addressed with local decision-makers.

Human-Centered Participatory Co-Design to Develop a Multi-Level Physical Activity Intervention for Rural Children

Janette M. Watkins (presenting), Sarah J. Greeven, Kathleen N. Heeter, Julia E. Brunnemer, James M. Hobson, Cassandra J. Coble, Nicole E. Werner, Vanessa M. Martinez Kercher, Kyle A. Kercher (corresponding)

PURPOSE: Regular participation in physical activity (PA) is a well-recognized modifiable behavior effective in reducing the risk of CVD. Children in rural areas face distinct barriers to engaging in PA compared to their urban counterparts. The present study utilizes human-centered participatory co-design, a technique that puts community stakeholders at the center of the intervention development, to engage a group of children and adults from the target middle school community. The present study aimed to develop a prototype multi-level PA intervention and implementation protocol called Hoosier Sport. Our primary hypothesis is that the co-design sessions will result in the development of a testable intervention protocol.

METHODS: We formed two co-design teams, one with six children and another with six adults, using human-centered participatory co-design facilitated by research faculty and graduate students. Five co-design sessions were conducted, addressing (1) problem identification, (2) solution generation, (3) solution evaluation, (4) operationalization, and (5) prototype evaluation. Themes and intervention components were identified using thematic analysis.

RESULTS: Child co-designers were in 6th-8th grade (n = 9), with an average age of 12.6 years (SD = 1.8), while adult co-designers (n = 12) had an average age of 43.3 years (SD = 8.08). The deductive thematic analysis revealed that children emphasized autonomy, valuing the freedom to choose physical and non-physical activities, and highlighted the significance of relatedness through building peer relationships during PA. Similarly, in adult interviews, autonomy was a prominent theme, underscoring the importance of choice in both physical and non-physical activities. Adults also frequently discussed relatedness, particularly emphasizing leadership through positive role modeling.

CONCLUSIONS: The prototype intervention and implementation strategies developed yielded a testable intervention and implementation strategy in line with Phase 1 of the ORBIT model. The testable prototype intervention and implementation strategy provides a foundation for building a mutually beneficial campus-community partnership between the university and local community.

Title: A Protocol for Mapping Local Youth Physical Activity Opportunities in Rural Communities 

Authors: Carrie A. Mershon, PhD (Corresponding, Presenting), Mary J. Von Seggern, MS, David A. Dzewaltowski, PhD

Purpose: Many community studies have examined free-play settings, with parks being a particular focus of physical activity (PA) mapping. However, as adults increasingly structure children's lives, there is a gap in how to map youth PA organizational opportunities, like youth sports. This study aims to develop a protocol for mapping local youth PA opportunities in rural communities.

Methods: As part of the Wellscapes randomized rural community trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03380143), a protocol for mapping youth PA opportunities in concentrated Hispanic/Latino rural U.S. Midwest communities (n=2) was implemented. During Spring 2023, an outside researcher used internet scraping to generate a list of community youth PA opportunities. Search terms included: “[town] youth sports,” “[town] public schools,” “[town] recreation,” and “[town] public recreation.” Local stakeholders (e.g., parents, city officials) were purposefully recruited for interviews (n=8; Community A, n=5; Community B, n=3) and focus groups (n=1/community; Community A, n=3 individuals; Community B, n=5) to assess protocol results. The research team used Cohen's kappa (κ) to measure reliability between protocol and member checking.

Results: A 1-hour search of Community A generated a list of 17 youth PA opportunities; 8/17 were recreation-based found using "[town] youth sports;" 9/17 were school-sponsored found using "[town] public schools;" the other search terms did not produce any novel opportunities. Local stakeholders confirmed 16/17 opportunities. A similar search of Community B generated a list of 13 opportunities; 3/13 were recreation-based, found using "[town] youth sports;" 10/13 opportunities were school-sponsored, found using "[town] public schools." Community A reliability reflected a substantial agreement (κ=0.76), and Community B, a near perfect agreement (κ=0.94). Collectively, the protocol's reliability was near perfect (κ=0.9). 

Conclusions: The protocol presented in this study may provide a simple, efficient tool for communities to investigate youth PA at an organizational level. Further, the communities' opportunity variability provides a rationale for the importance of local investigation. Future research is necessary to test the protocol within additional communities.

Hoosier Sport: Pilot testing a co-designed physical activity intervention for rural middle school children

Janette M. Watkins (presenting), Julia E. Brunnemer, Sarah J. Greeven, Kathleen N. Heeter, Cassandra J. Coble, Andrew M. Medellin, William Churchill, Megan Kwaiser, Sandeep Dutta, Janelle M. Goss, James M. Hobson, R. Glenn Weaver, Vanessa M. Martinez Kercher, Kyle A. Kercher (corresponding)

Purpose: This study aimed to test a physical activity intervention developed through human-centered participatory co-design in a rural community. The innovative intervention, conducted through a campus-community partnership, integrated children into the design process through the facilitation of child and adult co-design meetings. The study sought to determine its feasibility in a middle school student sample, addressing declining physical activity levels. The intervention is innovative in that it (1) was developed by co-design teams comprised of children and adults from the target community; (2) included children in the intervention design process; and (3) is conducted as part of a campus-community partnership with an under-resourced community.

Methods: In this study, 29 rural middle school students participated in a mixed-methods pre-post intervention, primarily during PE class. Intervention components included: sport-based youth development during PE class, individualized goal setting, physical activity monitoring, pedometer usage, and health education. Data were collected at baseline (T1) and post-intervention (T3), with some measures during the intervention (T2). Analyses included descriptive statistics, correlations, repeated measures ANOVA, retention ratios, and thematic analysis.

Results: Preliminary findings from 24 participants (6th and 7th graders) show they engaged in an average of 4.52 (± 1.83) days of MVPA weekly (assessed by CAPL-2). Participant physical activity knowledge placed them in the 'Achieving' category (65th to 85th percentile). Participants demonstrated strong autonomy in physical activity (mean of 4.03 ± 0.96) and moderate relatedness to peers in physical activity pursuits (mean of 3.62 ± 1.30, measured by BPNES). Pedometer compliance averaged 3.7 days per week with a 100% retention rate. Post-intervention data collection (T3) is pending.

Conclusion: This study pioneers Phase 1 of the ORBIT model, collaborating with an under-resourced rural community, advancing physical activity methods. It offers valuable insights, innovative techniques, and a practical template for future community-based research.

Purpose: As sedentary lifestyles and physical inactivity continue to increase, there is need for physical activity promotion and ensuring accessibility of locations to recreate. One way to encourage being physically active is to spend more time outside using trails. The community accessible 140-acre Maryville College Woods, with trails for running, walking, biking, disc golf and bird watching, is listed as one of the top outdoor things to do in Maryville, TN; however, trail use has never been monitored. This study aims to describe how many, when, how, who, and why the trails are used. Methods: Multimethod data collection included 33 days of counts from three TRAFx infrared trail counters placed throughout the 2.5+ miles of trail network, direct observations of trail use at the main trailhead, a 36-question trail-use intercept survey completed in-person at the trailhead for 6 days (3 weekdays and 3 weekend days; for 2-hr intervals: morning, noon, and evening) between February and March or online accessed via QR codes posted at trailheads measuring sociodemographics and trail use behaviors. Results: The TRAFx counters recorded a total of 12,446 counts; 5510 passes on the main Perimeter Trail, 3750 at the Perimeter trail extension, and 3186 at a bridge deeper in the woods. Trail use started around 5 am and ended around 8 pm, peaking between 3-5:00 pm. Direct observations tallied 508 users, mostly adults (71%), in the evenings (49%), and on the weekends (62%). The most observed activities were walking (70%), disc golf (16%), running (11%), and biking (3%). Surveys of 189 trail users showed they were predominantly female (50.3%), white (92.7%), college graduates (60.3%), with an average age of 41.1 ± 17.9 years. Users traveled an average of 5 miles to use the trails, twice per week, for 60 minutes/visit. Most felt safe in the woods (95.5%), and 72.8% said being active in the woods made them enjoy life more. Conclusions: The establishment of a trail monitoring program provides valuable baseline information to justify future investment and strategic planning to ensure the sustainability of the trails and the promotion of physical activity in the community and on campus.