Table 3.

Assessment of Strategies^a to Promote Physical Activity by Focus Group Participants (N = 75), East End District, Houston, Texas, 2005

Strategies	Perceived Benefits and Barriers
Community-wide campaigns: Receive a pack of information by mail Go to class and watch a video Go to a health fair	Perceived benefits	Only health fairs were selected, because they involve a group/community activity, are free, respond to a specific health need, and provide an immediate outcome (i.e., seeing a doctor or getting an exam).
	Perceived barriers	Women do not like activities such as getting a packet of information and going to a class to watch a video. Main barriers were lack of appeal and motivation, literacy level, and lack of time for reading. Activities that involve interaction with others are preferred.
Individual behavior change programs: Work with a personal trainer Work with a fitness counselor Keep track of the number of steps taken	Perceived benefits	These will work only for a few people who like individual activities but not for the majority.
	Perceived barriers	Lack of appeal and motivation of individual activities, cultural issues (e.g., machismo), lack of time. Women prefer group activities and do not feel that individual approaches will work. There is no motivation for working out alone. Most participants were opposed to individual behavior change strategies, activities involving reading, and financial expenditure. These types of activities elicited the most barriers for implementation and were not appealing to participants.
Social support in community settings: Have a "buddy" who goes to exercise and to classes with you Join an exercise group Take part in small-group discussions with a counselor Join a group to reach a walking goal Compete with another team Receive lottery prizes for exercising	Perceived benefits	Most women preferred strategies that involve group activities with direct guidance, interpersonal contact, and social support, allowing participants to encourage and support one other and providing positive reinforcement for behavior change and/or maintenance. This strategy also provides a friendly environment for learning and for achievement of suitable goals.
	Perceived barriers	Lack of child care and need for having group participants with similar fitness levels, so women will not become discouraged.
Creating or enhancing access to places for physical activity: Use outdoor trails and gym facilities Go to gym at convenient hours Go to a free gym	Perceived benefits	In general, women were in favor of this strategy if they are in groups or involve the family. Benefits: the possibility of using the facilities free of charge and the flexible hours.
	Perceived barriers	Safety issues, lack of resources, transportation, and lack of appeal if they have to work out alone. Other barriers were cultural in nature, including beliefs such as modesty and machismo. Women would like to have a gym that is only for women, so they do not feel embarrassed by how they look in gym attire and spouses won't complain because of jealousy issues.
Point-of-decision prompts to encourage stair use: Use the stairs instead of the elevator Park further away to walk more	Perceived benefits	None
	Perceived barriers	There are no elevators or escalators in the community. Lack of time, safety and health issues, literacy level, and lack of appeal.

^aSixteen strategies drawn from the physical activity section of the Guide to Community Preventive Services (47).