Schmid Simone M, Short Cara Troy, Nigg Claudio R
Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI.
Hawaii J Med Public Health. 2019 Feb;78(2):52-60.
Physical Activity (PA) is essential for the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCD). The risk of developing NCDs is three times as high among people with disabilities than people without disabilities. In 2016, an estimated 158,570 people in Hawai'i had disabilities. So far, only limited studies have considered increasing PA opportunities for people with disabilities. AccesSurf is a non-profit organization empowering people with disabilities to perform adaptive swimming and surfing. The purpose of this study was to conduct qualitative process and pilot outcome evaluation of AccesSurf. A focus group was conducted to explore the perspectives of six AccesSurf participants on AccesSurf's process, participants' outcomes, and suggestions. Participants were individuals with neurological health conditions, aged between 30 to 64 years. The analysis followed a deductive-inductive approach. Focus group participants reported on process variables, such as the positive environment and the provision of a range of PA opportunities (eg, adaptive swimming & surfing, stand up/outrigger/va'a paddling, kayaking, and surf skiing). They recognized AccesSurf's positive contribution to their physical, mental, and social health. Participants not only felt empowered through AccesSurf, but also increased their PA frequency and built athletic identities. A comfortable environment and provision of a variety of opportunities for participants were identified as advantageous AccesSurf outputs, fostering progressive short- and long-term outcomes that result in life-changing effects. This research shows that AccesSurf may play an important role towards increasing PA among participants.
身体活动（PA）对于预防非传染性疾病（NCD）至关重要。残疾人患非传染性疾病的风险是无残疾者的三倍。2016年，夏威夷估计有158,570人患有残疾。到目前为止，只有有限的研究考虑为残疾人增加身体活动机会。AccesSurf是一个非营利组织，致力于帮助残疾人进行适应性游泳和冲浪。本研究的目的是对AccesSurf进行定性过程评估和试点结果评估。开展了一次焦点小组讨论，以探讨六名AccesSurf参与者对AccesSurf的过程、参与者的成果及建议的看法。参与者为患有神经健康疾病的个体，年龄在30至64岁之间。分析采用了演绎 - 归纳法。焦点小组参与者报告了过程变量，如积极的环境以及提供一系列身体活动机会（如适应性游泳和冲浪、站立式/舷外/瓦阿划桨、皮划艇和冲浪滑雪）。他们认识到AccesSurf对他们的身体、心理和社会健康的积极贡献。参与者不仅通过AccesSurf感到有了力量，还增加了身体活动频率并建立了运动身份认同。为参与者提供舒适的环境和各种机会被确定为AccesSurf的有利成果，促进了渐进的短期和长期结果，产生了改变生活的影响。这项研究表明，AccesSurf可能在增加参与者的身体活动方面发挥重要作用。
