PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROMOTION 2:A SETTINGS-BASED APPROACH

Unit 3

Area of Study 1

Chapter 3

A setting is broadly defined as a geographical area or institution containing a large, ‘captive’ audience, where health messages can be delivered efficiently

Examples include: Community School Work Home Clubs/Centres

WHAT IS A SETTING?

A settings-based approach has been the most popular strategy for promoting physical activity in Australia to date, as it has the potential to reach large groups of people in varying target populations

A multi-level approach that uses individual methods of behaviour change within a settings-based approach, and includes environmental policy support, appears to be the most viable strategy for sustained population change

WHY TAKE A SETTINGS APPROACH TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROMOTION?

To create an environment supportive of participation in physical activity within a settings-based approach, the choice to be physically active needs to be made:

Convenient Easy Safe Enjoyable

IMPLEMENTING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROMOTION USING A SETTINGS APPROACH

As a group, discuss and draw up a mind map on the whiteboard of the influences on physical activity and sedentary behaviour, with reference to the following settings:

CommunitySchoolWorkHomeTransport

Make a note of the key factors related to each setting, and the potential sedentary and physically active behavioural choices specific to each setting

(See example mind map on wiki as a guide)

CLASS TASK

Schools play an essential role in providing a physical and social environment that supports young people, their parents and the whole school community in enjoying an active life.

A school setting has the potential to reach large numbers of children within one local area for a significant proportion of their lives, and provides access to at-risk groups such as inactive children

SCHOOL SETTINGS

Policy Establish policies that promote enjoyable, lifelong PA

Environment Provide physical & social environments that encourage & enable safe & enjoyable PA

Physical & Health Education

Implement physical education curricula & instruction that emphasises enjoyable participation in PA & that helps students develop the knowledge, attitudes, behavioural skills & confidence needed to adopt & maintain active lifestyles

Extracurricular activities

Provide extracurricular physical activity programs that meet the needs and interests of all students

Community programs

Provide a range of developmentally appropriate community sports and recreation programs that are attractive to all young people

SCHOOL SETTINGS…RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROMOTING PA

Parental involvement

Include parents & guardians in physical activity instruction & in extracurricular & community PA programs, & encourage them to support their children’s participation & enjoyment in PA

Personnel training Provide training for education, coaching, recreation, health care & other school & community personnel that imparts the knowledge & skills needed to effectively promote enjoyable, lifelong PA among young people

Health services Assess PA patterns among young people, counsel them about physical activity, refer them to appropriate programs & advocate for PA instruction & programs for young people

Evaluation Regularly evaluate school & community PA instruction, programs & facilities

SCHOOL SETTINGS…RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROMOTING PA...

Source: Centres for Disease Control & Prevention 1997

Strengthening national policies related to physical education, physical activity and sport for all in schools

Implementing sufficient physical education programs by trained teachers in school curricula

Providing sufficient playgrounds, sports facilities and equipment on school premises

Making schools’ sports facilities available for public use

Increasing physical activity in cultural & leisure programs & events

SCHOOL SETTINGS…The WHO recommends that policy-makers in education focus on:

The Walking School Bus initiativehttp://youtu.be/xYNVp-joZBE

Kids – Go for your life:

SCHOOL-BASED INITIATIVES

KIDS – GO FOR YOUR LIFE

Using your text books and what you have learned in the previous slides, make an information campaign using print-media (brochure – hand-made or Microsoft Publisher; poster; booklet, etc.) on the physical activity promotion in the school, community and work settings, including:

Characteristics of each setting Overview of the major campaigns & initiatives

designed for each setting Benefits of promoting physical activity in each

setting Potential barriers of physical activity participation

and suggestions of how they could be overcome

LEARNING TASK

Healthy Spaces and Places is a national program resulting from a collaboration between the Heart Foundation, the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) and the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), which focuses on how to plan, design and create environments that promote physical activity.

HEALTHY SPACES AND PLACES

The guide is aimed at everyone who can make a difference to the health and wellbeing of Australians, including:

Planning & design professionals (planners, landscaper architects, building designers,

transport planners) Health professionals

(health educators, health advocates) Developers

(the real-estate & construction industries) Governments and communities

(individuals, schools, advocacy organisations and peak bodies)

HEALTHY SPACES AND PLACES…

Healthy Spaces and Places was developed in response to the fact that the built environment in Australia generally encourages sedentary behaviour rather than active living.

The following factors have been shown to positively influence physical activity, and informed the design principles to be applied within the built environment…

HEALTHY SPACES AND PLACES…DESIGN PRINCIPLES & RECOMMENDATIONS

Active transport Maximise travel modes that involve activity

(walking/cycling, paths, public transport) Aesthetics

The attractiveness of a location can affect users’ experience and enjoyment (parklands, paths, facilities)

Connectivity Direct links in paths and roads to allow people to

actively walk or ride to local destinations Environments for all people

Places and facilitates should be accessible to all individuals

HEALTHY SPACES AND PLACES…DESIGN PRINCIPLES & RECOMMENDATIONS…

Parks and open spaces Provision of recreational reserves and parklands for

both passive recreation and sport (natural environments and green space)

Safety and surveillance Feeling unsafe is a major barrier preventing people

from being active. Ensure areas and paths are brightly lit, paths/trails are well-maintained, etc.

Social inclusion Cater to needs and interests of a diverse range of

people and community groups, regardless of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds

Supportive infrastructure Walking (footpaths, lighting, drinking taps, signage) Cycling (paths, bike racks/shelters, bike lanes on roads) Public transport (safe shelters, lighting, signage) Social interaction (seating, BBQ areas, shade,

amenities) Recreation (playgrounds, facilities, exercise equipment)