F148 - PHYSICAL ACTIVITY KNOWLEDGE AMONG U.S. COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS
Time: 11:00 AM - 11:50 AMTopics: Physical Activity, Health of Marginalized Populations
Poster Number: F148
The knowledge and awareness of physical activity (PA) guidelines (e.g., 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA per week) is limited among adults in the United States. Community health workers (CHWs) are frontline public health workers and members of the community they serve. Their roles include health education, promotion and advocacy, mostly focused on tackling health inequities. CHWs may be important collaborators to promote PA among underserved populations. However, little is known about the knowledge of this population towards PA. We conducted a nationwide survey to explore the current knowledge of PA among U.S. CHWs. We administered the questionnaire on knowledge and awareness of the PA guidelines from the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion to CHWs across the country. Among 108 surveyed CHWs (Mage=42 SD=9.7, 86% Female, 47.2% White), 77.6% reported that they have recommended PA to their clients; however, only 38% reported any familiarity with the U.S. PA guidelines. This is reflected through their overall score (Moverall score=3.18, SD=1.5), which ranges from 0-7 correct answers; thereby suggesting low knowledge of PA, largely driven by the lack of awareness on specific dosage recommendations: only 19.4% selected the correct answer for the recommended weekly dose of moderate PA, 8.4% for vigorous PA, and 24.3% for muscle strengthening. The majority of CHWs had a good understanding of PA (>50% of the respondents selected the correct answer for what is moderate PA/vigorous PA, as well as the correct example for each). Chi-Square tests show no statistically significant difference in PA knowledge between demographic groups, but those who reported having familiarity with PA guidelines were more likely to correctly respond to what the dosage of moderate PA is (X2(1, N=108), 6.35, p=0.012). These findings provide an insight on the current knowledge of PA among CHWs. It suggests a gap in knowledge and awareness of PA guidelines and recommendations among CHWs. Future research may consider increasing education on PA among CHWs and examine how increase in education may translate to increase in PA among the communities they serve.
Keywords: Physical activity, Health promotionAuthors and Affliiates
Author: Ana Selzer, MS, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignCo-Author: Andiara Schwingel, PhD, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Co-Author: Pedro Hallal, PhD, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Co-Author: Tracey Smith, DNP, PHCNS-BC, MS, Illinois Public Health Association
Co-Author: Susan Aguiñaga, PhD, PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
F148 - PHYSICAL ACTIVITY KNOWLEDGE AMONG U.S. COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS
Category
Scientific > Poster/Paper/Live Research Spotlight