Key informant surveys as a tool to implement and evaluate physical activity interventions in the community

Area of Science:

• Community Health
• Public Health Policy
• Physical Activity Promotion

Background:

• Key informant surveys are vital for community health program planning and evaluation.
• Understanding community perspectives on physical activity policy is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess key informant and general population views on physical activity policies in southeastern Missouri.
• To identify support levels for specific physical activity initiatives, such as school physical education and community exercise facilities.

Main Methods:

• Mailed surveys were administered to 797 key informants (physicians, church, business, civic leaders) across 12 counties.
• Data were compared with a telephone survey of 2106 individuals from the general population.
• Analysis focused on policy support and perceived access to exercise facilities.

Main Results:

• Over 85% of key informants strongly supported required physical education in schools.
• Less than 69% supported government funding for community exercise facilities.
• Physicians perceived greater community access to exercise facilities compared to other informant groups.
• Key informant and general population surveys showed similar support for physical activity policies.

Conclusions:

• Key informant surveys provide valuable insights into physical activity policy support, complementing general population data.
• Findings can inform community health strategies and identify potential agents for change.
• Further research on physical activity policy and cardiovascular disease prevention is needed due to limited existing studies.