NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area, Sahtu Settlement Area, Dehcho Region, North Slave Region, South Slave Region, Qikiqtaaluk Region

Tags: health, recreation, sports, physical activity

Objective(s): To examine factors or correlates of physical activity that may enhance or detract from participation in physical activity or sport among Canadian adults 18 years and older.

Project Description: The 2014 Physical Activity Monitor (PAM) will collect data to examine factors or correlates of physical activity that may enhance or detract from participation in physical activity or sport among Canadian adults 18 years and older, determine current activity levels of Canadians, as well as time spent in sedentary behaviors, and participation in sport. Data collected will provide trend data related to activity levels and sport participation and numerous correlate variables. The PAMs are telephone-based surveys based on random-digit dialing, using Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) software. The PAM procedures apply a multi-stage probability selection process to select a survey respondent. The first stage involved the selection of households by randomly selecting telephone numbers, using a method of random digit dialing (RDD). The second stage of sample selection involved the random selection of a respondent (18 years of age or older) in the household. The 2014 PAM also adds a third-stage selection process whereby respondents will be asked whether or not there are children aged 5 to 17 living in the household and if they are parents or guardians of the child. If so, an eligible child aged 5 to 17 will also be selected at random. Since 1995, the PAM procedures have applied a multi-stage probability selection process to select a survey respondent. The first stage involved the selection of households by randomly selecting telephone numbers (i.e., constructed from electronic version of telephone books or other available sampling lists), using a method of RDD. A random sample of telephone numbers was selected to be called, however, these RDD samples may have included telephone numbers that may not be in service, business numbers, or other unlisted numbers. The second stage of sample selection involved the random selection of a respondent (18 years of age or older) in the household. Information on the age, the number of adults in the household was obtained, and when there was more than one adult living in the household, a respondent was selected based on the nearest birthday, as this method yields a representative sample. The above procedures also apply to the 2014 and, in addition for the 2014 PAM specifically, a third-stage selection process will be applied whereby respondents will be asked whether or not there are children aged 5 to 17 living in the household and if they are parents or guardians of said child. If so, an eligible child aged 5 to 17 will also be selected at random. The interview about this child will be completed with the selected parent/guardian. At the beginning of the interview, the interviewer provides a brief introduction to the survey and the respondent is informed that participation in the study is voluntary and that they are able to refuse individual questions and to stop the interview at any time if they so choose. They are also told that the interview takes an average of 25 minutes; however, an additional 2 minutes may be required for the sub-sample of the parental questions related to children’s activity. They then ask for verbal permission to proceed with the interview. Questionnaires are pre-tested in the first 100 interviews. Given that the 2014 data collection represents the fourth wave within the data collection cycles established in 1998 to use the same questions for trend comparisons, these 100 pre-test interviews will be retained on the data set. Respondent conversion will be attempted in 2014 by following the procedures that have been used in all previous PAMs. More specifically, selected respondents within households that refused to complete the interview were called again at a later date (several weeks later) by a senior interviewer and an attempt was made to convert the first refusal to participate. Historically, roughly 15% of interviews were completed after a household refused initially. Respondents who are difficult to reach or who initially refuse may have different characteristics from typical survey respondents, and as such the number of call attempts, the timing of callbacks and attempts to convert initial refusals can help to increase the response rate and representativeness of the sample. The PAM takes a comprehensive population health approach to understanding and changing physical activity levels for the population as a whole in the context of their everyday lives, rather than focusing on people at risk for specific diseases. It synthesizes information on the current situation in relation to the scientific literature to provide a solid foundation for informed decision-making in terms of building healthy public policy, creating supportive environments, strengthening community action, development of personal skills and a reorientation of health services. This forms part of the reporting of progress to Ministers The indicators selected for use in the PAM were originally determined through a 1996 needs assessment conducted by the CFLRI in conjunction with senior Federal, Provincial and Territorial officials and scientific advisors to determine what data was required. Based on the number of indicators identified in the initial needs assessment, the indicators were divided into a theme based rotation, resulting in a cyclical rotation of topics for the annual PAM survey. Telephone interviewing for the PAMs has been conducted by the Institute for Social Research (ISR) at York University, Toronto, Canada on behalf of the CFLRI since 1995. This has ensured standard procedures over that period, with no changes in methods that might inadvertently impact secular trends. Reports on the findings of this research are freely available on the form the CFLRI‘s website www.cflri.ca. Reports on the findings of the surveys are made to the funding agencies, Health Canada, Sport Canada, and various Federal, Provincial and Territorial departments responsible for fitness and healthy living. Research papers are presented at conferences on physical fitness, Sports and health. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from February 6, 2014 to December 31, 2014.