Using Qualitative Geospatial Methods to Explore Physical Activity in Children with Developmental Disabilities: A Feasibility Study

Children with developmental disabilities (DDs) experience barriers to physical activity (PA) participation. Greater contextual information regarding their PA behaviors is needed for effective PA promotion. We investigated the feasibility of using activity trackers and Global Positioning Systems (GPS...

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Main Authors: Cameron M. Gee, Brianna T. Tsui, Kathleen A. Martin Ginis, Erica V. Bennett, Kelly P. Arbour-Nicitopoulos, Christine Voss
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Disabilities
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7272/4/4/53
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author Cameron M. Gee
Brianna T. Tsui
Kathleen A. Martin Ginis
Erica V. Bennett
Kelly P. Arbour-Nicitopoulos
Christine Voss
author_facet Cameron M. Gee
Brianna T. Tsui
Kathleen A. Martin Ginis
Erica V. Bennett
Kelly P. Arbour-Nicitopoulos
Christine Voss
author_sort Cameron M. Gee
collection DOAJ
description Children with developmental disabilities (DDs) experience barriers to physical activity (PA) participation. Greater contextual information regarding their PA behaviors is needed for effective PA promotion. We investigated the feasibility of using activity trackers and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) devices with follow-up interviews to explore PA behaviors in children with DDs. Fifteen children with DDs (aged 10 ± 2 years) wore an activity tracker and GPS device for 7 days. Data were time-aligned to measure PA and identify PA locations. Maps were created to guide follow-up semi-structured interviews with the children and their parents/guardians to understand PA contexts and perceptions of daily PA. The children took 8680 ± 4267 steps/day across 6 ± 1 days. The children provided preferences for PA locations and the parents/guardians gave context by expressing how DDs affect PA and identifying environmental factors in PA locations. The children with DDs who lived near parks, participated in PA that leveraged the strengths of their individual skillsets, and had parents/guardians who provided social support had more positive PA experiences. Combining activity tracking and GPS data with follow-up map-based interviews is feasible to explore PA behaviors and the experiences of children with DDs. This methodology may provide novel insight into daily PA in children with DDs, which can inform how future interventions can support them to be more active and have positive experiences while being active.
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spelling doaj-art-a790eb5ec2c34e2fb18a5679b600d99b2024-12-27T14:21:12ZengMDPI AGDisabilities2673-72722024-10-014485687110.3390/disabilities4040053Using Qualitative Geospatial Methods to Explore Physical Activity in Children with Developmental Disabilities: A Feasibility StudyCameron M. Gee0Brianna T. Tsui1Kathleen A. Martin Ginis2Erica V. Bennett3Kelly P. Arbour-Nicitopoulos4Christine Voss5International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, CanadaCentre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, CanadaInternational Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, CanadaSchool of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, CanadaFaculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 2W6, CanadaCentre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, CanadaChildren with developmental disabilities (DDs) experience barriers to physical activity (PA) participation. Greater contextual information regarding their PA behaviors is needed for effective PA promotion. We investigated the feasibility of using activity trackers and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) devices with follow-up interviews to explore PA behaviors in children with DDs. Fifteen children with DDs (aged 10 ± 2 years) wore an activity tracker and GPS device for 7 days. Data were time-aligned to measure PA and identify PA locations. Maps were created to guide follow-up semi-structured interviews with the children and their parents/guardians to understand PA contexts and perceptions of daily PA. The children took 8680 ± 4267 steps/day across 6 ± 1 days. The children provided preferences for PA locations and the parents/guardians gave context by expressing how DDs affect PA and identifying environmental factors in PA locations. The children with DDs who lived near parks, participated in PA that leveraged the strengths of their individual skillsets, and had parents/guardians who provided social support had more positive PA experiences. Combining activity tracking and GPS data with follow-up map-based interviews is feasible to explore PA behaviors and the experiences of children with DDs. This methodology may provide novel insight into daily PA in children with DDs, which can inform how future interventions can support them to be more active and have positive experiences while being active.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7272/4/4/53measurementwearablesphysical activityautism spectrum disorderattention deficit hyperactivity disorder
spellingShingle Cameron M. Gee
Brianna T. Tsui
Kathleen A. Martin Ginis
Erica V. Bennett
Kelly P. Arbour-Nicitopoulos
Christine Voss
Using Qualitative Geospatial Methods to Explore Physical Activity in Children with Developmental Disabilities: A Feasibility Study
Disabilities
measurement
wearables
physical activity
autism spectrum disorder
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
title Using Qualitative Geospatial Methods to Explore Physical Activity in Children with Developmental Disabilities: A Feasibility Study
title_full Using Qualitative Geospatial Methods to Explore Physical Activity in Children with Developmental Disabilities: A Feasibility Study
title_fullStr Using Qualitative Geospatial Methods to Explore Physical Activity in Children with Developmental Disabilities: A Feasibility Study
title_full_unstemmed Using Qualitative Geospatial Methods to Explore Physical Activity in Children with Developmental Disabilities: A Feasibility Study
title_short Using Qualitative Geospatial Methods to Explore Physical Activity in Children with Developmental Disabilities: A Feasibility Study
title_sort using qualitative geospatial methods to explore physical activity in children with developmental disabilities a feasibility study
topic measurement
wearables
physical activity
autism spectrum disorder
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7272/4/4/53
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