Author(s): HO, R.1, WONG, P.1, HUANG, W.2, WONG, S.1, Institution: THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, Country: HONG KONG, Abstract-ID: 1601

Qualitative analysis of feedback from a family-based fitness program ("F.I.T. Family") for primary school children and their families in local Hong Kong communities

Ho, R.S.,1 Wong, P.S.,1 Huang, W.H.,2,3 Wong, S.H.,1
1 Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong
Kong

2 Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University
3 Dr Stephen Hui Research Centre for Physical Recreation and Wellness, Hong Kong Baptist University


INTRODUCTION
Results of the Active Healthy Kids Hong Kong Report Cards have demonstrated that Hong Kong children have low physical activity (PA) levels, low physical fitness levels and high sedentary behaviours, with almost a quarter being overweight or obese. Of particular concern was our finding that family support for PA for children was poor in Hong Kong. Parental factors have been shown to play important roles in promoting PA among children. A qualitative study embedded in a community-based healthy lifestyle program ("F.I.T. Family") was conducted in 2022-2023 with Hong Kong local families with primary school children as our target audience. The objective of this study was to explore the feedback of the family members who took part in the F.I.T. Family program.

METHODS:

To obtain feedback from participants, a qualitative study was conducted among parents upon completion of all counselling and practical sessions of the F.I.T. Family program. Parents were invited to participate in a focus group interview via Zoom meetings. During the focus group interviews, the participants discussed about their experience and comments for the F.I.T. family based on a set of pre-designed semi-open questions. Participants were informed of the purpose of the interview, and their right to refuse to participate beforehand. Each focus group interview was conducted for approximately 30 minutes. Interviews were moderated by trained investigators of the F.I.T. Family program who had experience in conducting qualitative research. No other individuals were present in the focus group interviews. The focus group interviews were recorded and then transcribed verbatim for subsequent coding and analyzed using Microsoft Word.


RESULTS:
A total of five focus group interviews were conducted (5 to 6 parents each group). Themes about the experience and comments from parents who took part in the F.I.T. Family program emerged from focus group interviews. Parents expressed that “parents’ education and self-motivation”, “PA video clips tutorials”, and “reward mechanism” are important emerging main themes in helping them and their children to perform more PA. Subthemes within the main themes such as “the incorporation of competition in the PA session” and “role modelling” were also expressed to be helpful in promoting family PA as well.


CONCLUSION:
Findings of the qualitative study indicated that parents could positively initiate family PA. The level of family PA could be maximized