Perceived Facilitators and Barriers for Physical Activity in Neighborhood Environments: A Focus Group Interview

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study is to explore how people perceive neighborhood environment as facilitators and barriers for their physical activity through focus group interviews. Methods: Three focus group interviews were conducted using purposive sampling to explore different perspectives by sex, various ages, and employment status. Focus group participants engaged in physical activity in their neighborhood of Seoul metropolitan area were recruited. Focus groups were conducted until no new themes and categories emerged. Themes of the study were extracted with content analysis. Results: Twenty-one participants took part in the three focus groups with the mean age of 49.6 years. Content analysis identified two main themes, facilitators and barriers. Facilitators in the neighborhood included three sub-themes: free access, places to spend time with family, and open areas for physical activities. Barriers included four sub-themes: accessibility problems, dissatisfaction with facilities, feeling unsafe, and places built as bureaucratic displays. Conclusions: People recognize that various elements of their neighborhood environment play important roles in their desire to engage in physical activity. To promote people"s physical activity and health, nurses should actively participate in policymaking and intervention studies relating to the structuring of neighborhood environments. actions today affect both the present and future generations.