Environmental Change
The goal of environmental intervention is to remove barriers; however, almost all interventions in the environment require funding and this is usually accompanied by changes in policy. Physical activity programs should be tailored to settings.
Environmental Strategies include:
- Removing impediments to activity - The installation of speed humps and 40-km-hr signs near school zones can reduce the volume & speed of traffic which in turn increases safety for pedestrians and cyclist.
- Introducing new resources & facilities - Installing showers, providing footpaths and bike trails or new playgrounds.
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Natural Environment
Including terrain, climate & vegetation is often a barrier to physical activity. E.g. Alpine region – snow sports compared to Mildura. Constructed/Built Environment Can also be a barrier to physical activity, e.g. escalators are often easier to find in shopping centres compared to finding stairs. PolicyPolicies are laws, regulations, formal rules, informal rules or understandings that are adopted on a collective basis to guide individual & collective behaviour. Policy can be classified as legislation & organisational policy. Legislation: formal, documented policies that are governed by law enforcement agencies. Organisational Policies: designed to establish an appropriate behaviour within a particular organisation. Research shows that organisational policy has a significant impact on public health.
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Mass Media
The goal of mass media is to reach groups of individuals using a medium other than personal contact or face-to-face meetings & raise awareness & increase peoples motivation to be physically active.
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Examples include:
Benefit of this approach is that it has the potential to reach large numbers of people at a lower cost per person than individualised approaches. |
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