Understanding Policy-Influencer Perspectives on the Adoption and Spread of Provincial Daily Physical Activity Policies across Canada: A Multiple Case Study Open Access

[摘要] Physical activity is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and contributes to improved physical and mental health. In Canada, children are becoming more inactive and are at risk of poor health outcomes and chronic disease. School physical activity policies represent one intervention strategy to address childhood physical inactivity. These policies may set guidelines and requirements for students to achieve a minimum standard of daily physical activity (DPA). The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore: 1) key facilitators and challenges to DPA policy development, adoption and implementation; and 2) the role of policy diffusion in the adoption and spread of DPA policies across Canada. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen policy-influencers from five case provinces: British Columbia; Alberta; Saskatchewan; Manitoba; and Ontario. Findings from policy-influencer interviews revealed that facilitators and challenges to DPA policy development, adoption, and implementation aligned with four key themes: provincial context; connection between policy expectations and realities; political influence; and ideology and policy change. An analysis of whether diffusion played a role in the adoption and spread of DPA revealed evidence to support policy diffusion through the mechanism of learning. Alternative explanations, such as independent provincial action to address a common issue, also contributed to policy adoption. Overall, research on the factors involved with policy development and diffusion can better inform why and how healthy public policy like DPA can help to address complex public health issues.

[发布机构] University of Alberta

[效力级别] Canada