Grant: Catalyst Gr: Disease Prev./Risk Factor Modification - Non-communicable diseases

Rural communities in Canada have higher rates of non-communicable disease and experience poorer health compared to more populated urban regions. Participation in regular physical activity is an important behaviour to prevent non-communicable disease. Physical activity behaviour is impacted by many factors at individual, community, system, and policy levels. Rural communities face increased barriers, have decreased access to resources, and greater geographic distance to opportunities. All of these factors impact regular participation in physical activity. The purpose of this project is to increase understanding of the factors impacting physical activity behaviour in rural communities to develop interventions based on community priorities and needs. Our research team includes a partnership between researchers, health system decision makers, and community champions. A strong partnership with regional health authorities means this research will have direct policy implications and ensure that knowledge generated will be used by health system decision makers. Working with a community engagement facilitator and local community champions, we will conduct focus groups with a diverse sample of six rural communities in the northern and interior regions of British Columbia. Focus group discussions will be supplemented with photographs taken by participants. Data will coded to a behaviour change framework to map barriers and facilitators, local resources, and social-cultural and environmental factors impacting physical activity behaviour for people living in rural communities. This conceptual model will enable the development and implementation of programming and policy that is driven by the community, for the community.