Write, draw, show, and tell: a child-centred dual methodology to explore perceptions of out-of-school physical activity

Background Research to increase children’s physical activity and inform intervention design has, to date, largely underrepresented children’s voices. Further, research has been limited to singular qualitative methods that overlook children’s varied linguistic ability and interaction preference. The aim of this study was to use a novel combination of qualitative techniques to explore children’s current views, experiences and perceptions of out-of-school physical activity as well as offering formative opinion about future intervention design. Methods Write, draw, show and tell (WDST) groups were conducted with 35 children aged 10–11 years from 7 primary schools. Data were analysed through a deductive and inductive process, firstly using the Youth Physical Activity Promotion Model as a thematic framework, and then inductively to enable emergent themes to be further explored. Pen profiles were constructed representing key emergent themes. Results The WDST combination of qualitative techniques generated complimentary interconnected data which both confirmed and uncovered new insights into factors relevant to children’s out-of-school physical activity. Physical activity was most frequently associated with organised sports. Fun, enjoyment, competence, and physical activity provision were all important predictors of children’s out-of-school physical activity. Paradoxically, parents served as both significant enablers (i.e. encouragement) and barriers (i.e. restricting participation) to physical activity participation. Some of these key findings would have otherwise remained hidden when compared to more traditional singular methods based approaches. Conclusions Parents are in a unique position to promote health promoting behaviours serving as role models, physical activity gatekeepers and choice architects. Given the strong socialising effect parents have on children’s physical activity, family-based physical activity intervention may offer a promising alternative compared to traditional school-based approaches. Parents' qualitative input is important to supplement children’s voices and inform future family-based intervention design. The WDST method developed here is an inclusive, interactive and child-centred methodology which facilitates the exploration of a wide range of topics and enhances data credibility

Mobility, satisfaction with functional capacity and perceived quality of life (PQOL) in older persons with self-reported visual impairment: The pathway between ability to get around and PQOL

Research shows that ability to get around (AGA) is significantly associated with perceived quality of life (PQOL) among older persons with self-reported visual impairment. Much of this impact, however, is through satisfaction with one's functional capacity. Satisfaction with functional capacity is a construct composed of five items: satisfaction with (1) activities of daily living, (2) capacity to work, (3) self, (4) health and (5) sleep. At present, it is not known how AGA interacts individually with these items to influence PQOL. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the extent to which AGA interacts with each of these five items to affect PQOL. Methods: Structural equation modelling was employed in a secondary-analysis of data from 356 persons (aged 56-72) with self-reported visual impairment to identify the pathways by which AGA affects PQOL. Results: Satisfaction with self and health were the only items found to be both directly related to QOL and to provide a significant pathway between AGA and PQOL.Conclusion: AGA significantly affects PQOL both directly and indirectly through its impact on people's satisfaction with self and health. Lessons may be learnt from this to better focus mobility interventions to enhance PQOL in this population. Implications for Rehabilitation: The findings of this study indicate that ability to get around (AGA) has a significant impact on perceived quality of life (PQOL): the stated goal of many rehabilitation programs for older persons who are visually impaired. The study also found that the primary pathway by which AGA influenced PQOL was indirect through its association with both satisfaction with one's self and health rather than direct. Attempts to enhance PQOL by increasing AGA may be most effective if the focus of intervention was on restoring one's sense of self and health as opposed to focusing on meeting practical needs

Examining the cardiac nk-2 genes in early heart development

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