Increasing opportunities for movement in Nova Scotia, Canada: a community case study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Community Health Interventions
• Rural Health

Background:

• Rural and aging populations in Nova Scotia face significant chronic disease burdens due to low physical activity.
• The Communities on the Move (CoM) initiative aims to increase opportunities for low-barrier movement through environmental and social strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe Phase 1 actions of the CoM initiative in four Nova Scotian communities.
• To detail the participatory evaluation approach used in Phase 1.
• To share early implementation insights from the CoM initiative.

Main Methods:

• The CoM initiative employs a socio-ecological and participatory approach.
• Four communities were selected based on readiness and active transportation investments.
• A mixed-methods evaluation tracked activities and outcomes during Phase 1 (Fall 2022-Spring 2023).

Main Results:

• Three communities successfully formed leadership teams, launched social programs, and improved infrastructure.
• One community adapted its strategy due to leadership changes, leveraging existing partners.
• Early indicators suggest CoM enhanced community capacity for collaboration and resource mobilization.

Conclusions:

• The CoM initiative provides a feasible and promising model for promoting movement in rural, aging contexts.
• Pairing environmental changes with social supports and sustained partnerships is key.
• Phase 1 focused on process evaluation, laying the groundwork for future outcome assessments.