Tools
Listed below are tools that relate to physical activity and other health-related topics. Many of the items were developed by the PRC, often in partnership with community agencies and partners. Each tool is described briefly and further information can be found by following the links provided.
FAITH, ACTIVITY, AND NUTRITION (FAN) PROGRAM MATERIALS
Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) is a 12-month program designed to help churches create lasting healthier environments for physical activity and healthy eating. Based on the results of two research studies, FAN is indexed as a Research Tested Intervention Program (RTIPs) by the National Cancer Institute and is included in the Rural Health Information Hub as an intervention with a “promising evidence” ranking. The FAN program materials are available for download and include a manual to help churches and other places of worship identify areas where they can add opportunities, programs, messages, pastor support, and policies/guidelines for physical activity and healthy eating. Other resources include a FAN Program Plan, planning documents, and 12 months of materials.
Vaccine Communication Toolkit for Community Health Workers Serving African American Communities
The University of South Carolina Prevention Research Center, in partnership with the South Carolina Community Health Worker Association, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, and Palmetto Aids Life Support Services, developed this toolkit as part of a larger project led by Dr. Shan Qiao to increase vaccine confidence in African American adults in South Carolina. The work is funded through the CDC’s Vaccine Confidence Network. The toolkit contains guidance and suggestions for how community health workers can talk about the COVID-19 vaccine with residents in their communities – it is informed by CDC messaging guidelines, research done at UofSC, and other sources. The toolkit is available here.
Faith and Health Toolkit
The Faith and Health Toolkit is now available online! Created in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Toolkit provides faith-based organizations with ideas and resources to plan, develop, and implement health programs and activities related to physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco prevention.
Church Environment Audit Tool
The Church Health Environmental Audit Tool is an objective checklist developed as part of the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) Program Dissemination and Implementation Project. It can be used to evaluate the physical environment of faith-based settings as it relates to opportunities for physical activity and healthy eating, and has been shown to be a reliable and efficient resource. The tool consists of seven sections, each covering a different area of the physical activity and healthy eating environment. The first page includes extensive instructions about data collection procedures including definitions of key terms used.
Sumter County on the Move! Walking Group Materials
Sumter County on the Move! (SCOTM!) was a community-based study that used strategies for mobilizing, supporting, and reinforcing existing social networks to increase walking. Conducted in partnership with Sumter County Active Lifestyles (SCAL), leaders were recruited and formed groups (ideally 4-8 members) from their existing social networks. The SCOTM! walking manuals and materials are available for download and cover topics such as: strategies to keep group members motivated, tips for overcoming common barriers, and health and safety information. Walking maps developed by SCAL to promote walking throughout Sumter County parks and trails are also available.
Parks and Trails Health Impact Assessment Toolkit
To encourage outdoor activity today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed a parks and trails toolkit that will help communities create parks with expanded health benefits. The toolkit includes: Resources that provide data about health issues in an area,recommendations from existing Health Impact Assessments, and citations that support the recommendations.
Free Online Course for Assessing the Built Environment for Physical Activity
The Built Environment Assessment Training Institute has launched a free online course to learn how to assess the built environment for physical activity. Participants will learn about the main variables found in most physical activity-focused built environment audit tools, with a more in-depth look at a few specific tools (IMI, ANC, PEDS, PARA, EAPRS & PEAT). Participants will also learn how to customize the tools and train others to conduct assessments.
CDC Health Equity Resource Toolkit for State Practitioners Addressing Obesity Disparities from Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity
The purpose of the CDC/DNPAO Health Equity Resource Toolkit for State Practitioners Addressing Obesity Disparities is to increase the capacity of state health departments and their partners to work with and through communities to implement effective responses to obesity in populations that are facing health disparities. The Toolkit’s primary focus is on how to create policy, systems, and environmental changes that will reduce obesity disparities and achieve health equity. The Toolkit provides: a 6-step planning framework to guide the implementation of effective responses to obesity in populations facing health disparities, guidance on how to supplement and complement existing state efforts to address obesity across populations, and evidence-informed and practice-based examples of strategies for addressing disparities.
Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Health Brochure and Poster Tailored to American Indian Women
These educational materials contain information to raise awareness of cervical cancer, Human Papillomavirus and the need for regular Pap tests in the American Indian population. Included are a brochure and poster created through a partnership between the USC PRC and the Cherokee Women's Wellness Center, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Community Mini-grant Application Form and Reviewers' Form
The application form is an example of a form completed by community groups to apply for a mini-grant for projects to help create an active community environment. The reviewers' form was used by external reviewers to rate the application. An internal awards committee, comprised of university researchers and community coalition members reviewed the applications, summary of reviewers' ratings and comments, and site visit reports (if needed).
Share the Road Video
The Share the Road video was created by Sumter County Active Lifestyles coalition members. Community members wrote, produced and acted in the video to promote the concept of friendly and respectful sharing of the roadways between bicyclists and motorists.
Share the Road Surveys
These questionnaires were used to assess bicyclists' and motorists' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding "Sharing the Road."
Accelerometer Script, Diary and Placement Photos
These materials were used in the Sisters Taking Action For Real Success (STARS) intervention with women. They are provided here as an example for researchers and practitioners collecting accelerometer data in the community.
Volunteer Walk Leader Manual
This manual was developed by Jean Butel in partnership with Linda Pekuri and the Sumter Active Lifestyles Coalition. It was used in conjunction with an in-person training session for community volunteers interested in starting a walking group. The manual provides relevant and useful information to assist walk leaders and enhance the walk leader experience. It contains the information and tools needed to be a successful volunteer walk leader.
Environmental Supports for Physical Activity Questionnaire
This questionnaire was used to develop and test questions for a future Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) module to assess individual perceptions of physical activity supports in the social and physical environment. From the questionnaire, a 5-item short BRFSS module and an 11-item long BRFSS module were created.
Recreation Facility Evaluation Tool
This instrument can be used to identify and evaluate parks, playgrounds, sports fields, aquatic facilities/pools, and recreation centers. Each park and recreation center can be rated with respect to safety, condition, and maintenance of the facility.
Sidewalk Assessment Tool
The Sidewalk Assessment Tool consists of five items used to assess each segment of a sidewalk: levelness, artificial items blocking the path, natural items blocking the path, cleanliness (litter), and surface condition.
Evaluating Community Coalition Characteristics and Functioning
An inventory of measurement tools for evaluating coalition functioning was created from a review of the research literature and the Internet. In this inventory, the measurement tools are organized by five general categories (which are not necessarily mutually exclusive): 1) Member Characteristics and Perceptions, 2) Organizational or Group Characteristics, 3) Organizational or Group Climate and Processes, 4) General Coalition Function or Scales Bridging Multiple Constructs, and 5) Impacts and Outcomes.
The Compendium of Physical Activities
Since its first use in 1987, the Compendium has been used in studies worldwide to assign intensity units to physical activity questionnaire responses and to develop innovative ways to assess energy expenditure in physical activity studies.
International Physical Activity Questionnaire
The purpose of the International Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQ) is to provide a set of well-developed instruments that can be used internationally to obtain comparable estimates of physical activity. There are two versions of the questionnaire. The short version is suitable for use in national and regional surveillance systems and the long version provide more detailed information often required in research work or for evaluation purposes. Dr. Barbara Ainsworth, former director of the USC PRC, is a member of the IPAQ development team. This link will take you directly to the IPAQ website.
Heart Healthy & Ethnically Relevant (HHER) Tools
The Heart Healthy and Ethnically Relevant (HHER) Tools study developed a replicable process for redesigning educational tools to improve diet and physical activity patterns for cardiovascular disease risk reduction to be culturally relevant for financially disadvantaged African American women. In addition to a paper detailing the HHER Tools process, final products of the study include educational materials for "Lowfat Living" and Walking.
Tools for Reviewing Physical Activity Promotional Materials
The USC PRC has developed a tool for evaluating physical activity promotional materials and has used this tool to assess a number of current materials. At this link you will find a list of reviewed materials plus tools and instructions for evaluating your own materials.
