Advancing Translation and Dissemination Research and Practice Through the Physical Activity Policy Research Network Plus

In the United States (U.S.), physical inactivity is the fourth leading cause of death, with an estimated 200,000 deaths annually (Danaei et al., 2009). The lack of activity across the life span is important because it is a well-documented risk factor for leading non-communicable diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancers, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, as well as impaired quality of life (U.S. Burden of Disease Collaborators, 2013; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2008). The need for policies and environments that promote population-wide increases in physical activity is important, given that only half of U.S. adults meet the recommended 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity weekly, 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity, or an equivalent combination (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). In addition, approximately 25% of adults report no leisure time physical activity (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). Despite the availability of evidence-based interventions targeting the various factors that influence participation in, and opportunities for, physical activity, there is little indication that many of these interventions are being widely disseminated or implemented in the U.S. (King & Sallis, 2009; Owen, Glanz, Sallis, & Kelder, 2006). Eyler, Brownson, and Schmid (2013) recently noted slow progress in the evolution of physical activity interventions that targeted individual behavior change to ones that focus on multilevel policy and environmental changes. Moreover, the authors noted the persistence of health disparities in physical activity and a need for more work on translation, dissemination, and implementation (TDI) research, specifically to reduce physical activity disparities (Eyler et al., 2013). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created the Physical Activity Policy Research Network (PAPRN) in October 2004 to study the effectiveness of policies related to increasing physical activity in communities and build the research base on physical activity policy. This national thematic network was led by investigators at St. Louis University and consisted of university researchers, physical activity practitioners, and local partners. Between 2004 and 2014, PAPRN grew from the five original sites to include 18 additional non-funded sites, including 13 Prevention Research Centers (PRCs). To organize and rationalize a research agenda, PAPRN established a policy framework along three axes, including the sector (e.g., health, transportation, parks, worksite, school), scale (e.g., local, regional, state, national, international), and policy status (e.g., policies, determinants, outcomes; Schmid, Pratt, & Witmer, 2006). Recognizing the importance of practitioner participation, a concept mapping process was used to establish a research agenda; 238 practitioners and researchers identified and prioritized policy research. To ensure a wide range of policy research, PAPRN then mapped its ongoing and future research projects across sectors and stage of policy development (Brownson et al., 2008). An evaluation concluded that PAPRN did increase the quality and quantity of physical activity policy research over the last decade. Consensus of those interviewed was that PAPRN had increased the quality and quantity of physical activity policy research and personal connections and networking were one of the greatest benefits of PAPRN (Eyler, Manteiga, Valko, Brownson, & Schmid, in review). Beginning in October 2014, the Network became known as PAPRN Plus (PAPRN+) to illustrate an increased emphasis on translation and dissemination (i.e., “plus”). The 5-year Network format for PAPRN+ is the same as for PAPRN—one Coordinating Center, several funded Collaborating Centers, and numerous unfunded sites (often at PRCs). The Coordinating Center for PAPRN+ is located at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH) and is jointly led with a team from Active Living Research (ALR) at the University of California, San Diego. To bridge the gap between research and practice, PAPRN+ also includes several partners from the practice community representing health departments, non-profits from various sectors including parks and recreation and transportation, as well as government agencies. Currently, there are five funded Collaborating Centers, and at the 2016 ALR Conference, each Center will describe how they are advancing the physical activity policy research as part of a special session highlighting PAPRN+. The mission, vision, and functions of PAPRN+ are described in the following sections.