To better understand how a community environment helps or hinders people’s healthy choices, we worked in collaboration with four communities in Alberta:
- Bonnyville
- North Central Edmonton
- Medicine Hat and Redcliff
- St. Paul
We used two different approaches in this project:
Approach 1
Geographic perspective (an ‘objective-outsider’ approach): Primary data was collected by observing each community’s built environment. Secondary data included responses to socio-demographic and health questions from national surveys and other research projects.
We used this data to identify associations between the features of the built environment, physical activity, healthy eating, and general health outcomes.
Using mapping technology, we were able to map patterns in the built environment, risk factor and health outcome data to inform community level health planning and decision-making.
Approach 2
Social perspective (a ‘subjective-insider’ approach): Using photovoice (pictures and story-telling), community members identified opportunities and barriers to physical activity and healthy eating from their perspective.
By working with the communities, we were able to develop community-specific interventions based on the information they shared with us.
We maintained our connection with these communities throughout the project (as a community-based participatory project) so that they were actively involved in helping to:
- Direct the project
- Share findings
- Check that the outcomes would have a meaningfully impact in each community
What were some key findings that could help to promote physical activity and healthy eating in other communities?
- Look at both the built and social environments for factors to target
- Engage the community
- Focus on small changes for big results
- Get everyone involved, including stakeholders at each level
- Collaborate for success
A full copy of the project results shared with community partners and decision-makers is available here.
- Dr. Candace Nykiforuk, School of Public Health, University of Alberta (Principal Investigator)
- Dr. Donald Schopflocher, School of Public Health, University of Alberta (Co-Investigator)
- Dr. Kim Raine, School of Public Health, University of Alberta (Co-Investigator)
- Dr. Helen Vallianatos, Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta (Co-Investigator)
- Dr. Ronald Plotnikoff, School of Education, University of Newcastle (Co-Investigator)
- Dr. John C. Spence, Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta (Co-Investigator)
- Nykiforuk, C.I.J., & Vallianatos, H. (2018). Reflections on photovoice as a method for revealing community perceptions of the built and social environment. International Journal of Qualitative Methods: Top 20 in 20 Special Edition, 17(1): 1609406918788236. EPub 2018.
- Nykiforuk, C.I.J., Coupland, K., Nieuwendyk, L.M., & McGetrick, J.A. (2018). Universal design for the rural walks of life: operationalizing walkability in Bonnyville, Alberta, Canada. Critical Public Health, 2:213-224. Epub 2017 Apr 10. DOI: 10.1080/09581596.2017.1311009
- Belon, A.P., Nieuwendyk, L.M., Vallianatos, H., & Nykiforuk, C.I.J. (2016). Perceived community environmental influences on eating behaviors: A Photovoice analysis. Social Science & Medicine, 171, 18-29. Full text available: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953616306037
- Nieuwendyk, L.M., Belon, A.P., Vallianatos, H., Raine, K.D., Schopflocher, D., Spence, J.C., Plotnikoff, R.C., Nykiforuk, C.I. (2016). How perceptions of community environment influence health behaviours: using the Analysis Grid for Environments Linked to Obesity Framework as a mechanism for exploration. Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada, 36(9), 175-184. Full text available: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/hpcdp-pspmc/36-9/ar-01-eng.php
- Nykiforuk, C.I.J., McGetrick, J.A., Crick, K., & Johnson, J.A. (2016). Check the score: Field validation of Street Smart Walk Score in Alberta, Canada. Preventive Medicine Reports, 4, 532-539. Full text available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2016.09.010
- Belon, A.P., Nieuwendyk, L.M., Vallianatos, H., & Nykiforuk, C.I.J. (2016). Community lenses revealing the role of sociocultural environment on physical activity, 30(3):92-100. DOI: 10.4278/ajhp.140428-QUAL-169. Full text available: http://ahp.sagepub.com/content/30/3/e92.full.pdf+html
- Hammer, B., Vallianatos, H., Nykiforuk, C.I.J., & Nieuwendyk, L. (2015). Perceptions of healthy eating in four Alberta communities: a photovoice project. Agriculture and Human Values, 32:1, DOI: 10.1007/s10460-015-9583-1. Epub ahead of print Jan 23 2015
- Schopflocher, D., VanSpronsen, E., Nykiforuk, C.I.J. (2014). Relating built environment to physical activity: two failures to replicate. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 11(2):1233-1249. doi: 10.3390/ijerph110201233.
- Belon, A.P., Nieuwendyk, L., Vallianatos, H., & Nykiforuk, C.I.J. (2014). How community environment shapes physical activity: perceptions revealed through the PhotoVoice method. Social Science & Medicine, 116 , 10-21. DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.06.027. Epub 2014 Jun 17.
- Nykiforuk C.I.J, Nieuwendyk LM, Humeniuk A, Klaver K. (2014/10/1). The ‘Community Action Dash’: resident and visitor perceptions of an inner city neighbourhood during a community-led event. In: Moufakkir, O., & Pernecky, T. (Eds.), Ideological, Social and Cultural Aspects of Events. Oxfordshire, UK: CABI.
- Nykiforuk, C.I.J., Schopflocher, D., Vallianatos, H., Spence, J.C., Raine, K.D., Plotnikoff, R.C., VanSpronsen, E., & Nieuwendyk, L.M. (2013). Community Health and the Built Environment: examining place in a Canadian chronic disease prevention project. Health Promotion International, 28(2):257-268. doi: 10.1093/heapro/dar093. Epub 2012 Jan 6.
- Nykiforuk, C.I.J., Nieuwendyk, L.M., Mitha, S., & Hosler, I. (2012). Examining aspects of the built environment: an evaluation of a community walking map project. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 103(9): Suppl 3 (Canadian Evidence on Built Environment and Health): eS67-eS72.
- Schopflocher, D., VanSpronsen, E., Spence, J.C., Vallianatos, H., Raine, K.D., Plotnikoff, R., & Nykiforuk, C.I.J. (2012). Creating neighbourhood groupings based on built environment features to facilitate health promotion activities. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 103(9): Suppl 3 (Canadian Evidence on Built Environment and Health): eS61-eS66.
- Nykiforuk, C.I.J., Vallianatos, H., & Flaman, L. (2011). Photovoice as a method for revealing community perceptions of the built and social environment. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 10(2):103-124.
- Community Health and the Built Environment Project Team (2011). Bonnyville Community Report. Edmonton, AB: Community Health and the Built Environment Project, School of Public Health, University of Alberta. Prepared for community circulation.
- Community Health and the Built Environment Project Team (2011). Medicine Hat and Redcliff Community Report. Edmonton, AB: Community Health and the Built Environment Project, School of Public Health, University of Alberta. Prepared for community circulation.
- Community Health and the Built Environment Project Team (2011). North Central Edmonton Community Report. Edmonton, AB: Community Health and the Built Environment Project, School of Public Health, University of Alberta. Prepared for community circulation.
- Community Health and the Built Environment Project Team (2011). St. Paul Community Report. Edmonton, AB: Community Health and the Built Environment Project, School of Public Health, University of Alberta. Prepared for community circulation.
- Community Health and the Built Environment Project Team (2011). Avenue communities walking map evaluation: Summary report. Edmonton, AB: Community Health and the Built Environment Project, School of Public Health, University of Alberta. Prepared for Walkable Edmonton – City of Edmonton and community circulation.
- Community Health and the Built Environment Project Team (2011). Medicine Hat and Redcliff bike rack evaluation: Summary report. Edmonton, AB: Community Health and the Built Environment Project, School of Public Health, University of Alberta. Prepared for the Coalition on Active and Alternate Transportation and community circulation.
- Community Health and the Built Environment Project Team (2011). Resident and non-resident perceptions of North Central Edmonton: Summary report. Edmonton, AB: Community Health and the Built Environment Project, School of Public Health, University of Alberta. Prepared for community circulation.
- Nykiforuk, C., Lai, J., & Flaman, L. (2010). Norwood School photovoice project: Sharing local knowledge through pictures and stories – final report. Prepared for: Faculty of Education, Associate Dean of Research and the Edmonton Public School Board.
- Nykiforuk, C., Vallianatos, H., Hammer, B., & Flaman, L. (2010). Bonnyville: Sharing local knowledge through pictures and stories. Edmonton, AB: Community Health and the Built Environment Project, School of Public Health, University of Alberta. Prepared for community circulation.
- Nykiforuk, C., Vallianatos, H., Rawson, D., & Flaman, L. (2010). Medicine Hat and Redcliff: Sharing local knowledge through pictures and stories. Edmonton, AB: Community Health and the Built Environment Project, School of Public Health, University of Alberta. Prepared for community circulation.
- Nykiforuk, C., Vallianatos, H., Rawson, D., & Flaman, L. (2010). North Central Edmonton: Sharing local knowledge through pictures and stories. Edmonton, AB: Community Health and the Built Environment Project, School of Public Health, University of Alberta. Prepared for community circulation.
- Nykiforuk, C., Vallianatos, H., Hammer, B., & Flaman, L. (2010). St. Paul: Sharing local knowledge through pictures and stories. Edmonton, AB: Community Health and the Built Environment Project, School of Public Health, University of Alberta. Prepared for community circulation.
- Community Health and the Built Environment Project Team (2011). Promoting unstructured free play in your community: A resource manual. Edmonton, AB: Community Health and the Built Environment Project, School of Public Health, University of Alberta. Prepared for community circulation.
- Community Health and the Built Environment Project Team (2011). Promoting unstructured free play in your community: Games manual. Edmonton, AB: Community Health and the Built Environment Project, School of Public Health, University of Alberta. Prepared for community circulation.
- Community Health and the Built Environment Project Team (2011). Promoting free play: A guide for parents. Edmonton, AB: Community Health and the Built Environment Project, School of Public Health, University of Alberta. Prepared for community circulation.
- Town of Bonnyville with the Community Health and the Built Environment Project Team (2011). Community Walking Map.
- City of Edmonton with the Community Health and the Built Environment Project Team (2010). Community Walking Map: The Avenue Communities (Alberta Avenue, Cromdale, Delton, Eastwood, Elmwood Park, Parkdale, Spruce Avenue, Westwood). Prepared as part of the ‘Communities on Foot Series’ led by Walkable Edmonton in partnership with local Community Leagues.
- 2010-2012 Canadian Institutes of Health Research: Operating Grant – Innovations in Health Research (Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Donald Schopflocher)
- 2007-2010 Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and Canadian Institutes of Health Research: Operating Grant – Built Environment, Obesity and Health Strategic Initiative
- 2009 Killam Research Fund: Cornerstone Operating Grant, University of Alberta
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