Open Collections

Chopra, Sunaina

University of British Columbia

Background: Many First Nations communities engage in sports, cultural events, and land-based activities. However, due to various intrinsic, systemic and structural barriers, individuals noted through the Health Evaluation conducted by Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS), a First Nations-led healthcare society, there is a need for improved physical activity programming. This project supports increased emphasis in communities and calls to action made at all governmental levels to support physical activity programming for those with chronic conditions. Objective: In a partnership between the University of British Columbia and CSFS, this project determined the values of, and barriers and facilitators to, physical activity in rural and remote northern British Columbia First Nations communities, specifically among individuals with chronic conditions. Methods: This was a mixed-methods, community-based participatory action project that followed an explanatory sequential design. The first phase was the administration of surveys to members aged 12+ years residing in one of 13 CSFS member communities. The results were used to inform the second phase of the project: semi-structured interviews with an optional Photovoice component with a subset of participants from the first phase. Eligible interview participants included those who were 12+ years old, reported experiencing at least one chronic condition, and resided in one of 13 CSFS member communities. Results: In the first phase, 216 survey responses (62% females, median age=42 years) were received. About half of participants reported being active at least 5 days per week with walking as the most enjoyable activity. Many reported physical or mental health barriers to being active. Participants felt that physical activity was important to them and showed preferences toward specific kinds of future programming. In the second phase, 29 individual interviews were conducted (69% female, mean age=55 years). Findings suggest that physical activity aligns with cultural values, specifically the benefits to health and wellness through land-based activity. Restoring historical ways of life may reduce barriers to activity, including barriers arising from chronic conditions. Tailoring future programming to each community’s needs may facilitate activity. Conclusion: These findings will enable CSFS to create strategies to improve programming inclusive of the entire population, including those with chronic conditions.

Text

2024-08-27

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/89044

Rehabilitation Sciences

University of British Columbia

UBCV

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/