Dataset Information

Parent Perceptions on a Walking School Bus Program Among Low-Income Families: A Qualitative Study.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:The walking school bus (WSB) is a promising intervention to increase walking to school and physical activity in school-age children. The aim of this qualitative study was to assess parent perceptions of a WSB program that was part of a randomized controlled trial to inform future programs. METHODS:The authors interviewed 45 parents whose children had participated in a WSB program in the Seattle area, in which third- and fifth-grade students walked to/from school with adult chaperones along a set route. The authors performed a qualitative analysis of the interview transcripts and coded interview segments into 4 broad categories as follows: facilitators, barriers, general positive sentiments, and proposals. RESULTS:Most parents spoke of the benefits of the WSB program; in particular, parents frequently applauded exercise/physical health benefits. Of the barriers, the most frequently cited was time, with work schedule and commute changes leading some families to walk less frequently. CONCLUSIONS:Most parents voiced support for the WSB program as a means to improve child health, to learn pedestrian safety, and to interact with positive adult role models. Parents made several suggestions to improve the program, including better recruitment methods, logistical improvements, and a platform for communicating with other parents.

SUBMITTER: Teller K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7089828 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Parent Perceptions on a Walking School Bus Program Among Low-Income Families: A Qualitative Study.

Teller Katie K Abbey-Lambertz Mark M Sharma Nasira N Waite Alan A Ickes Scott S Mendoza Jason A JA

Journal of physical activity & health 20190924 11

<h4>Background</h4>The walking school bus (WSB) is a promising intervention to increase walking to school and physical activity in school-age children. The aim of this qualitative study was to assess parent perceptions of a WSB program that was part of a randomized controlled trial to inform future programs.<h4>Methods</h4>The authors interviewed 45 parents whose children had participated in a WSB program in the Seattle area, in which third- and fifth-grade students walked to/from school with ad ...[more]

PMID: 31553945

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Project description:To evaluate the impact of a walking school bus (WSB) program on student transport in a low-income, urban neighborhood.The design was a controlled, quasi-experimental trial with consecutive cross-sectional assessments. The setting was three urban, socioeconomically disadvantaged, public elementary schools (1 intervention vs. 2 controls) in Seattle, Washington, USA. Participants were ethnically diverse students in kindergarten-5th grade (aged 5-11 years). The intervention was a WSB program consisting of a part-time WSB coordinator and parent volunteers. Students' method of transportation to school was assessed by a classroom survey at baseline and one-year follow-up. The Pearson Chi-squared test compared students transported to school at the intervention versus control schools at each time point. Due to multiple testing, we calculated adjusted p-values using the Ryan-Holm stepdown Bonferroni procedure. McNemar's test was used to examine the change from baseline to 12-month follow-up for walking versus all other forms of school transport at the intervention or control schools.At baseline, the proportions of students (n = 653) walking to the intervention (20% +/- 2%) or control schools (15% +/- 2%) did not differ (p = 0.39). At 12-month follow up, higher proportions of students (n = 643, p = 0.001)) walked to the intervention (25% +/- 2%) versus the control schools (7% +/- 1%). No significant changes were noted in the proportion of students riding in a car or taking the school bus at baseline or 12-month follow up (all p > 0.05). Comparing baseline to 12-month follow up, the numbers of students who walked to the intervention school increased while the numbers of students who used the other forms of transport did not change (p < 0.0001). In contrast, the numbers of students who walked to the control schools decreased while the numbers of students who used the other forms of transport did not change (p < 0.0001).A WSB program is a promising intervention among urban, low-income elementary school students that may promote favorable changes toward active transport to school.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00402701.

Dataset Information

Parent Perceptions on a Walking School Bus Program Among Low-Income Families: A Qualitative Study.

Publications

Parent Perceptions on a Walking School Bus Program Among Low-Income Families: A Qualitative Study.

Similar Datasets

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