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Journal ArticleDOI

System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC): Reliability and Feasibility Measures

TL;DR: SOPARC is a reliable and feasible instrument for assessing physical activity and associated contextual data in community settings and met acceptable criteria for area contexts.
Abstract: Background: New tools are needed to examine physical activity and the contexts in which it occurs. Community parks contribute to physical activity, but measuring activity and associated variables in them is challenging because area contexts change and the numbers and characteristics of users are highly variable. Methods: We developed SOPARC (System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities) and tested its use by observing 16,244 individuals in 165 park areas. Reliabilities included 472 simultaneous measures by independent observers. Results: Correlations between observers on number of area participants was 0.99 for female and male park users. Reliabilities (i.e., percent agreement) for age (89%, females; 85%, males), race/ethnic (80%, females; 82%, males), and activity level (80%, females; 88%, males) groupings met acceptable criteria. Reliabilities for area contexts (i.e., usable, accessible, supervised, organized, equipped) exceeded 94%. Conclusions: SOPARC is a reliable and feasible instrument for assessing physical activity and associated contextual data in community settings.

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Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This first comprehensive examination of built-environment measures demonstrates considerable progress over the past decade, showing diverse environmental variables available that use multiple modes of assessment.

1,195 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: How residents in low-income, minority communities use public, urban neighborhood parks and how parks contribute to physical activity are studied to find public parks are critical resources for physical activity in minority communities.
Abstract: Objectives. Parks provide places for people to experience nature, engage in physical activity, and relax. We studied how residents in low-income, minority communities use public, urban neighborhood parks and how parks contribute to physical activity.Methods. In 8 public parks, we used direct observation to document the number, gender, race/ethnicity, age group, and activity level of park users 4 times per day, 7 days per week. We also interviewed 713 park users and 605 area residents living within 2 miles of each park.Results. On average, over 2000 individuals were counted in each park, and about two thirds were sedentary when observed. More males than females used the parks, and males were twice as likely to be vigorously active. Interviewees identified the park as the most common place they exercised. Both park use and exercise levels of individuals were predicted by proximity of their residence to the park.Conclusions. Public parks are critical resources for physical activity in minority communities. B...

863 citations


Cites background from "System for Observing Play and Recre..."

  • ...9 for area-related variables.(21) During each visit to a target area, observers documented whether it was dark, accessible, usable, provided with supervision or equipment (e....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Parks with more features were more likely to be used for physical activity; size and distance were not significant predictors; parks with more facilities were more important than were park amenities.
Abstract: Objectives. We studied whether park size, number of features in the park, and distance to a park from participants’ homes were related to a park being used for physical activity.Methods. We collected observational data on 28 specific features from 33 parks. Adult residents in surrounding areas (n=380) completed 7-day physical activity logs that included the location of their activities. We used logistic regression to examine the relative importance of park size, features, and distance to participants’ homes in predicting whether a park was used for physical activity, with control for perceived neighborhood safety and aesthetics.Results. Parks with more features were more likely to be used for physical activity; size and distance were not significant predictors. Park facilities were more important than were park amenities. Of the park facilities, trails had the strongest relationship with park use for physical activity.Conclusions. Specific park features may have significant implications for park-based phy...

619 citations


Cites background from "System for Observing Play and Recre..."

  • ...Nevertheless, direct observation within parks provides another systematic means of collecting setting-specific physical activity data.(13,32) In future studies, observational methods should be combined with interviews of park participants to gather information about park use and other personal attributes....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The goal of this study was to examine the association between park proximity, park type, and park features and physical activity in adolescent girls, and found that the type, number, and specific parks features were associated with girls' nonschool metabolic equivalent–weighted moderate/vigorous physical activity.
Abstract: OBJECTIVES.Physical activity may be constrained or facilitated by local environments. The availability of neighborhood facilities for physical activity may be particularly relevant for youth, who are unable to drive and whose activity is often limited to the immediate distance they are able to walk or bicycle. Several studies have shown that proximity to recreational facilities and parks is one of the most important predictors of physical activity. Because the United States already has an extensive infrastructure of parks, with 70% of adults indicating that they live within walking distance of a park or playground, parks may be a potential venue for increasing physical activity. This might be particularly important for adolescent girls, whose physical activity levels decline substantially as they go through puberty. The goal of this study was to examine the association between park proximity, park type, and park features and physical activity in adolescent girls. PATIENTS AND METHODS.This was a cross-sectional study using baseline data from the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls. It included 1556 grade 6 girls who were randomly selected from 6 middle schools in each of the following 6 field site areas: Washington, DC, and Baltimore, Maryland; Columbia, South Carolina; Minneapolis, Minnesota; New Orleans, Louisiana; Tucson, Arizona; and San Diego, California. Girls wore accelerometers for 6 days to measure metabolic equivalent‐ weighted moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, a measure accounting for the volume and intensity of activity. Metabolic equivalent‐weighted moderate-tovigorous physical activity was calculated for the hours outside of school time using 2 different cutpoints, activity levels 3.0 metabolic equivalents and 4.6 metabolic equivalents, the latter indicating activity at the intensity of a brisk walk or higher. We mapped all of the parks within 1 mile of each girl’s home. Trained staff used a checklist to document the presence of facilities and amenities at each park, including passive amenities, such as drinking fountains, restrooms, and areas with shade, as well as active amenities like basketball courts, multipurpose fields, playgrounds, and tennis courts.

475 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A review of physical activity in children and adolescents can be found in this paper, where a wide range of methods have been used to measure physical activity, including self-report methods such as questionnaires, activity logs, and diaries, as well as objective measures of physical activities such as direct observation, doubly labeled water, heart rate monitoring, accelerometers, and pedometers.
Abstract: To date, a wide range of methods has been used to measure physical activity in children and adolescents. These include self-report methods such as questionnaires, activity logs, and diaries as well as objective measures of physical activity such as direct observation, doubly labeled water, heart rate monitoring, accelerometers, and pedometers. The purpose of this review is to overview the methods currently being used to measure physical activity in children and adolescents. For each measurement approach, new developments and/or innovations are identified and discussed. Particular attention is given to the use of accelerometers and the calibration of accelerometer output to units of energy expenditure to developing children.

382 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An updated version of the Compendium of Physical Activities, a coding scheme that classifies specific physical activity (PA) by rate of energy expenditure, is provided to enhance the comparability of results across studies using self-reports of PA.
Abstract: We provide an updated version of the Compendium of Physical Activities, a coding scheme that classifies specific physical activity (PA) by rate of energy expenditure. It was developed to enhance the comparability of results across studies using self-reports of PA. The Compendium coding scheme links a five-digit code that describes physical activities by major headings (e.g., occupation, transportation, etc.) and specific activities within each major heading with its intensity, defined as the ratio of work metabolic rate to a standard resting metabolic rate (MET). Energy expenditure in MET-minutes, MET-hours, kcal, or kcal per kilogram body weight can be estimated for specific activities by type or MET intensity. Additions to the Compendium were obtained from studies describing daily PA patterns of adults and studies measuring the energy cost of specific physical activities in field settings. The updated version includes two new major headings of volunteer and religious activities, extends the number of specific activities from 477 to 605, and provides updated MET intensity levels for selected activities.

7,872 citations


"System for Observing Play and Recre..." refers background in this paper

  • ..., soccer, volleyball) are available for both children(27) and adults.(28)...

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Journal ArticleDOI
12 Sep 2001-JAMA
TL;DR: The prevalence of obesity and diabetes continues to increase among US adults, and interventions are needed to improve physical activity and diet in communities nationwide.
Abstract: ContextRecent reports show that obesity and diabetes have increased in the United States in the past decade.ObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and use of weight control strategies among US adults in 2000.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThe Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a random-digit telephone survey conducted in all states in 2000, with 184 450 adults aged 18 years or older.Main Outcome MeasuresBody mass index (BMI), calculated from self-reported weight and height; self-reported diabetes; prevalence of weight loss or maintenance attempts; and weight control strategies used.ResultsIn 2000, the prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) was 19.8%, the prevalence of diabetes was 7.3%, and the prevalence of both combined was 2.9%. Mississippi had the highest rates of obesity (24.3%) and of diabetes (8.8%); Colorado had the lowest rate of obesity (13.8%); and Alaska had the lowest rate of diabetes (4.4%). Twenty-seven percent of US adults did not engage in any physical activity, and another 28.2% were not regularly active. Only 24.4% of US adults consumed fruits and vegetables 5 or more times daily. Among obese participants who had had a routine checkup during the past year, 42.8% had been advised by a health care professional to lose weight. Among participants trying to lose or maintain weight, 17.5% were following recommendations to eat fewer calories and increase physical activity to more than 150 min/wk.ConclusionsThe prevalence of obesity and diabetes continues to increase among US adults. Interventions are needed to improve physical activity and diet in communities nationwide.

2,779 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Physical environment factors have consistent associations with physical activity behavior and further development of ecologic and environmental models, together with behavior-specific and context-specific measurement strategies, should help in further understanding of these associations.

1,589 citations


"System for Observing Play and Recre..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Because they reach large segments of society, environmental approaches to increasing physical activity and reducing obesity have recently been emphasized, 5 but they have not been thoroughly studied.(6) Children and adolescents can accrue a portion of their activity in school physical education, recess, and sports,(7) but a similar environment is not available to most adults....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a model describing the development of policy and environmental interventions is proposed, in the hope of stimulating more research in this area, and two studies showed that placing signs encouraging stair use can be effective.

1,189 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A conceptual model is proposed to guide thinking and suggest hypotheses about the relationships between park benefits, park use, and physical activity, and the antecedents/correlates of park use that focus on park environmental characteristics that could be related to physical activity.

1,130 citations