Promoting Moderate-Intensity Physical Activity and Trail Use in Sumter County Phase 1 and Phase 2 Focus Group Interview Guides Phase 1 Focus Group Interview Guide 1. What types of physical activity do you like to do? a) Is walking something you enjoy? 2. What are some of the reasons people walk? 3. What makes it difficult to walk regularly? 4. If you ever take a walk, describe your walk. a) Do you walk with others? b) Who do you walk with? c) What days and times of the day are most convenient for you to walk, or might be if you did walk? d) Where do you go? e) What types of places or specific routes? 5. Have you ever taken a walk on any of the trails in [name of community]? By trail, we mean either a paved or natural surface trail or pathway, in town or in a forested area. a) Which trails have you used? (prompt with list of trails if necessary) 6. What might be appealing about walking on a trail? 7. What is unappealing about using a trail? 8. Describe people who use trails on a regular basis. a) Are they people with lives similar to yours?
b) What do you think of them? 9. We are considering ways to promote walking and trail use in [name of community], and we d like your thoughts about how to go about this. First, is this even a good idea? a) How would it go over in [name of community]? 10. Let s imagine that you are members of a committee to get people to be more physically active. Would you recommend that we focus on walking as an appealing activity or take another approach? a) (If another approach:) What other approach should we take? 11. What would you tell a friend to get him or her take a walk regularly? 12. We d also like your thoughts on how interested you or people like you (your friends, family, or co-workers) would be in participating in some different types of walking programs. Walking clubs would be small groups of people who meet at a time that is convenient for all to walk together. Would you participate in something like that? At work? With members of your church? With your friends? With your family? a) If not, what are the reasons? What would keep you from it? b) How about other people in [name of community]? Do you think they would find walking groups appealing? c) How should these groups be organized? Who would be the leaders?
13. Some cities have had community wide competitions where people or groups wear step-counters and win prizes for participation. How would that go over in [name of community]? a) Does this sound like something you would participate in? b) What are the reasons for that? 14. What would you think of a program that you sign up to walk and keep track of your walking, but you walk on your own? a) This program could involve giving prizes, educational materials, etc. Would you find this appealing? b) What are the reasons for that? c) Would other people you know find this appealing? d) What are the reasons for that? 15. Are there other physical activity programs or campaigns you and your friends might be interested in participating in? 16. What types of incentives or prizes might motivate you to participate in a walking program or campaign? 17. Once people get started in these types of walking programs we ve been discussing, how do you keep them going?
Phase 2 Focus Group Interview Guide 1. How is the term physical activity different or the same from the word exercise? a) Do you prefer the term physical activity or exercise? b) Why? c) What do these words mean to you? 2. We want to get a common meaning for moderate activity. When you hear the statement, People should get at least 30 minutes of moderate activity five or more days per week, what does moderate activity mean to you? 3. Experts say 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity is the minimum for good health, but the 30 minutes does not have to be done all at once. It can be done in 10 or 15-minute intervals. In our campaign, what should we do? a) Should we focus on 30 minutes only or should we talk about accumulating 30 minutes too? b) How do we make it clear in our campaign that the activity needs to be of at least moderate intensity? 4. We want to get across that moderate activity is at a pace that increases your breathing and heart rate, so that you can still talk but can t sing. Another way to describe brisk walking is to say that it causes small increases in breathing or heart rate. What are some short ways to say this so that women will know what we mean? a) When I say you should walk at a brisk pace, what does brisk mean to you?
5. Have you attempted to be regularly active (at least 5 days a week for 30 minutes a day) at certain times in your life? If so, when was this and what happened? 6. What would really help you personally to become and stay regularly physically active? What would it take? 7. What are the most rewarding things about being physically active or exercising for you personally? a) Once you ve been active for a while, what are the most rewarding things for you? 8. Some say that a healthy, active woman can actually live a more productive, happy life. For example: time for yourself to be physically active makes you a better mom or wife, sets a good example to family/friends, and makes you more successful at your job and at play. How do you feel about this? 9. Some women have told us that they feel selfish taking the time away from their family or responsibilities to do exercise. How might we address this concern in our campaign? a) Is there a way to reverse this feeling of responsibility so that it is a positive factor that encourages physical activity or exercise, rather than being a barrier? 10. Some women say that time is a major challenge or barrier to getting exercise. Is this true for you? How would you suggest a woman like you work 30 minutes of physical activity into her daily schedule?
a) In what way exactly is time a barrier? Is it the time of day, length of time, competing priorities, hectic schedule? 11. In the telephone survey, some women here in [name of community] said that exercise was tiring or difficult. But women who are regularly active often say it gives them more energy and pep. How can we get this message across about increased energy? a) Sometimes it might take a while before a person starts seeing or feeling the benefits of exercise. What kinds of messages or support would be encouraging for you to keep exercising long enough to start seeing benefits? 12. In our telephone survey of Sumter County, some women said that health conditions (for example arthritis, diabetes, or heart conditions) were a barrier to physical activity or exercise. But almost everyone, regardless of health status, can do some type of activity (such as walking), and it is beneficial for their health. Is there some way to get that across in a short, simple sentence? 13. Who would be a convincing spokesperson to encourage you and your women friends to walk or exercise? a) Who is well-known in [name of community] and would be a good role model for women in the 35-54 year old age group? Someone who is active but who also seems a lot like you. 14. What types of activity should we promote? Should we focus on the favorite of most women, which is walking, or should we encourage more than one?
15. What kinds of words, messages, images, and colors would be encouraging or motivating for you to be more physically active? (Use a flipchart to record words. Then ask them to vote on top 3.) a) What might be a good motto for the campaign? 16. On the flipchart we ve written down some ideas for promoting physical activity or exercise. I ll briefly explain each of these: Walking groups (There are some women who prefer to exercise with a partner, but may have difficulty finding a partner. How should we address this issue?) Individual signup to participate but track progress individually Providing individual feedback about progress by email, on internet, or by mail (which one) Walking bus/tours (regular time and place, route just join in when want to) (Who would lead these?) County-wide campaign (individual or groups competition or cooperative spirit) Spokesperson (in ads, make presentations to groups) Combining walking with other activities (trail circuit, strength training, bicycling) Discounts or coupons for stores (which stores) Quarterly drawings for larger prizes for individuals who participate and track their progress Trail events every month at different trails in county
Sign up stations around the area for walk a pal type activities Participation in activities organized by your workplace Of these ideas listed, what would be the three most appealing options for each of you? Vote for 3. 17. A pedometer is a small device that you clip onto your belt or waistband that counts how many steps you take. (Demonstrate use.) We are thinking about offering pedometers as an incentive in our campaign. We ve learned that taking about 3500 steps in 30 minutes would be equal to a moderate intensity for most women. How would you feel about using a pedometer to track how much you are walking? a) Do you feel a pedometer would be something that might help motivate you to start or continue walking regularly? b) What do you think about 3500 steps as a guideline that is about equal to 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity?