Boyd Jamie K, Braun Kathryn L
University of Hawaii, Windward Community College, HI 96744, USA.
Prev Chronic Dis. 2007 Oct;4(4):A88. Epub 2007 Sep 15.
Physical inactivity and lower levels of education are associated with increased risk for obesity and chronic disease. Compared with other racial/ethnic groups in Hawai'i, Native Hawaiians have a higher prevalence of chronic disease, including diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. In 2000, 72.5% of Native Hawaiians were overweight, 54.4% met national recommendations for physical activity, and about 10% enrolled in college.
We conducted four focus groups involving 32 Native Hawaiian young adults enrolled in community (i.e., 2-year) colleges to explore perceived supports for and barriers to living a healthy lifestyle. Questions were based on social marketing concepts and proven physical activity strategies. We adhered to cultural protocol and engaged 10 key informants to help develop the study. Results of the study were presented to these key informants.
Native Hawaiian young adults perceive themselves as invincible and cited demanding lifestyle and laziness as barriers to increasing their levels of physical activity. Young adults did not define health in terms of individual strength, endurance, and appearance. Rather, they defined it in terms of being purposefully engaged in life's responsibilities, which include working, going to school, and caring for family. Native Hawaiian young adults expressed preferences for group-oriented and college-course-based opportunities to learn more about healthy living and to be encouraged to become more physically active.
Our research provides insights into the barriers to and supports for increasing physical activity levels among Native Hawaiian young adults and confirms the importance of talking to targeted end-users before designing interventions.
缺乏体育活动和低教育水平与肥胖及慢性病风险增加相关。与夏威夷的其他种族/族裔群体相比，夏威夷原住民患慢性病的比例更高，包括糖尿病、癌症和心血管疾病。2000年，72.5%的夏威夷原住民超重，54.4%的人达到了国家体育活动建议标准，约10%的人进入大学就读。
我们开展了四个焦点小组，涉及32名就读于社区（即两年制）大学的夏威夷原住民青年，以探讨对健康生活方式的感知支持和障碍。问题基于社会营销概念和经过验证的体育活动策略。我们遵循文化规范，并聘请了10名关键信息提供者来帮助开展研究。研究结果向这些关键信息提供者进行了汇报。
夏威夷原住民青年认为自己不可战胜，并指出生活方式要求高和懒惰是增加体育活动水平的障碍。青年们并非从个人力量、耐力和外表来定义健康。相反，他们从有目的地履行生活责任的角度来定义健康，这些责任包括工作、上学和照顾家人。夏威夷原住民青年表示，他们更喜欢以群体为导向且基于大学课程的机会，以便更多地了解健康生活并受到鼓励，从而增加体育活动。
我们的研究深入了解了夏威夷原住民青年增加体育活动水平的障碍和支持因素，并证实了在设计干预措施之前与目标终端用户进行沟通的重要性。
