Journal
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
Volume 52, Issue 3, Pages S224-S232Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2016.10.018
Keywords
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Funding
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Healthy Aging Program
- Healthy Brain Research Network (HBRN)
- CDC's Prevention Research Centers program [U48-DP-001911, 001908, 001921, 001924, 001936, 001938, 001944]
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Introduction: Lack of physical activity is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. The Physical Activity Policy Research Network (PAPRN) is a thematic network established in 2004 to identify determinants, implementation, and outcomes of policies that are effective in increasing physical activity. The purpose of this study is to describe the products of PAPRN and make recommendations for future research and best practices. Methods: A mixed methods approach was used to obtain both quantitative and qualitative data on the network. First, in 2014, PAPRN's dissemination products from 2004 to 2014 were extracted and reviewed, including 57 publications and 56 presentations. Next, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 25 key network participants from 17 locations around the U.S. The transcripts were transcribed and coded. Results: The results of the interviews indicated that the research network addressed several components of its mission, including the identification of physical activity policies, determinants of these policies, and the process of policy implementation. However, research focusing on physical activity policy outcomes was limited. Best practices included collaboration between researchers and practitioners and involvement of practitioners in research design, data collection, and dissemination of results. Conclusions: PAPRN is an example of a productive research network and has contributed to both the process and content of physical activity policy research over the past decade. Future research should emphasize physical activity policy outcomes. Additionally, increased partnerships with practitioners for collaborative, cross-sectoral physical activity policy research should be developed. (C) 2016 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc.
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