Scheduled for Poster Session: The Impact of Physical Activity Across Society, Lifespans, and Cultures, Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 1:45 PM - 3:15 PM, Convention Center: Exhibit Hall, Reseach Consortium Poster Sessions


Formative Evaluation: A Physical Activity Video for Low Income Preschoolers

Karol K. Harris1, Nell H. Gottlieb1, Carol J. Spaulding1, Jennifer J. Loyo1, Tara Ray1, Jennifer G. Seth1, Amanda Hovis2 and Mary VanEck2, (1)University of Texas-Austin, Austin, TX, (2)Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, TX

This presentation describes the formative evaluation of a physical activity video developed for preschool-aged children enrolled in WIC, the Special Supplemental Feeding Program for Women, Infants, and Children. WIC provides healthy foods and nutritional counseling and education for low-income women and their children who are at nutritional risk. Recently, WIC programs have been challenged to promote physical activity along with healthy eating for WIC clients. This approach is important in addressing the high incidence of child overweight and obesity in low-income and minority population groups. In Texas, the WIC program opted to develop a video lesson for preschool-aged children, and their parents, to encourage children to move and be active at home. The rationale for this approach emerged from several trends. First, education with videos has long been a part of WIC educational offerings. Second, results from the evaluation of an earlier WIC initiative indicated that “sending nutrition education into the home” in innovative ways could enhance WIC's general efforts at behavior change. Third, physical activity behaviors can be particularly difficult to influence without repetition, reinforcement, and psychomotor approaches. The first step in the formative evaluation was to determine the questions of interest to the WIC program in finalizing and implementing the video. Once these questions were identified, the evaluation focused on three main tracks: (1.) determining child and parent reactions and responses to the early version of the video, (2.) conducting a content analysis to determine how the video related to AAPHERD standards for preschool physical activity and health behavior research associated with promotion of physical activity, and (3.) obtaining expert reviews from child psychology and motor development specialists. Qualitative analysis was used to assess parent and child reactions for both Spanish and English language early versions of the video. A minute-by-minute content analysis was performed, and the video contents were assessed to determine relevance to physical activity standards and health behavior constructs. Expert reviews considered the content, timing, and effects of the video (for example, were the dance moves developmentally appropriate?} The video did incorporate elements of the AAPHERD standards, and constructs such as self-regulated behavior were apparent. The WIC program used the evaluation to make final production edits and to develop client evaluations for the statewide rollout and distribution.


Keyword(s): disease prevention/wellness, early childhood, measurement/evaluation

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