Overcoming Barriers to Walk With Ease Implementation in Community Organizations

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Community Health Programs
• Chronic Disease Management

Background:

• The Arthritis Foundation's Walk With Ease (WWE) program effectively reduces arthritis symptoms and improves physical function.
• Limited research exists on the community-based implementation of the WWE program.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the early implementation of the WWE program in community organizations.
• To identify factors influencing successful and unsuccessful early implementation.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving 45-minute telephone interviews with program managers from five Osteoarthritis Action Alliance grantee organizations.
• Organizations were selected based on high (n=3) and no (n=2) WWE enrollment at 6 months.
• The Planning for Sustainability framework guided the qualitative analysis.

Main Results:

• All organizations recognized WWE's benefits and the importance of leadership support and community partnerships.
• Low enrollment organizations cited internal structural changes, communication difficulties, and competing responsibilities.
• Barriers necessitated plan alterations, but adaptations like program flexibility, staff training, and partnerships provided solutions.

Conclusions:

• Overcoming early implementation barriers is crucial for building organizational capacity.
• Findings offer practical solutions for WWE implementation in community settings.
• Further research is needed on adapting WWE for enhanced flexibility in community organizations.