Rapid Consensus on the Prioritization of Strategies to Improve Physical Activity Among Iranian Women: A Focus Group Study Using Nominal Group Technique

Abstract

Background: Despite the notorious effects of inadequate physical activity (PA), adopting appropriate interventions to increase PA is still problematic. This study identifies and prioritizes evidence-based strategies to increase PA in Iranian women. Methods: This is a mixed-method study. A systematic review of clinical interventions was used to stimulate academic and focus group discussions (FGDs), where the participants identified the most salient strategies to promote PA in Iranian women. Then a nominal group technique (NGT) was used to reach a consensus on the prioritization of the strategies. This mixed methods study (systematic review and FGD) was conducted in 2014. The participants (n=13) included Iranian women, the research team, health sciences experts, managers, and policymakers. They rated the strategies’ importance and applicability (from 3 to 13); higher scores indicated higher prioritization. The prioritized plans were then categorized under a socioecological model of intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, and community factors. Results: Overall, 26 strategies were identified and coded as items. The challenging of inaccurate beliefs about PA, along with the increasing self-confidence and self-prioritization, creation of sports groups, the use of sports coaches, and increase of awareness via text messaging and informative multimedia placed in local mosques and schools got the highest scores both in terms of importance and applicability in this model. Conclusion: In promoting PA, collaboration with key stakeholders is paramount. The strategies identified and prioritized in this study could be used to design future PA programs for increasing PA in Iranian women.