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Adapted Intervention Mapping: A Strategic Planning Process for Increasing Physical Activity and Healthy Eating Opportunities in Schools via Environment and Policy Change
Author(s) -
Belansky Elaine S.,
Cutforth Nick,
Chavez Robert,
Crane Lori A.,
Waters Emily,
Marshall Julie A.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of school health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.851
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1746-1561
pISSN - 0022-4391
DOI - 10.1111/josh.12015
Subject(s) - intervention (counseling) , healthy eating , physical activity , action plan , intervention mapping , behavior change , psychology , process (computing) , built environment , randomized controlled trial , health promotion , medical education , medicine , public health , physical therapy , nursing , computer science , engineering , social psychology , civil engineering , surgery , operating system , ecology , biology
BACKGROUND School environment and policy changes have increased healthy eating and physical activity; however, there has been modest success in translating research findings to practice. The School Environment Project tested whether an adapted version of Intervention Mapping ( AIM ) resulted in school change. METHODS Using a pair randomized design, 10 rural elementary schools were assigned to AIM or the School Health Index ( SHI ). Baseline measures were collected fall 2005, AIM was conducted 2005‐2006, and follow‐up measures were collected fall 2006 and 2007. Outcome measures included number and type of effective environment and policy changes implemented; process measures included the extent to which 11 implementation steps were used. RESULTS AIM schools made an average of 4.4 effective changes per school with 90% still in place a year later. SHI schools made an average of 0.6 effective changes with 66% in place a year later. Implementation steps distinguishing AIM from SHI included use of external, trained facilitators; principal involvement; explicitly stating the student behavior goals; identifying effective environment and policy changes; prioritizing potential changes based on importance and feasibility; and developing an action plan. CONCLUSION The AIM process led to environment and policy changes known to increase healthy eating and physical activity.