@article{ref1,
title="Understanding neighborhood environment related to Hong Kong children's physical activity: a qualitative study using nominal group technique",
journal="PLoS one",
year="2014",
author="He, Gang and Cerin, Ester and Huang, Wendy Y. and Wong, Stephen H.",
volume="9",
number="9",
pages="e106578-e106578",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Relationships between the neighborhood environment and children's physical activity have been well documented in Western countries but are less investigated in ultra-dense Asian cities. The aim of this study was to identify the environmental facilitators and barriers of physical activity behaviors among Hong Kong Chinese children using nominal group technique. <br><br>METHODS: Five nominal groups were conducted among 34 children aged 10-11 years from four types of neighborhoods varying in socio-economic status and walkability in Hong Kong. Environmental factors were generated by children in response to the question &quot;What neighborhood environments do you think would increase or decrease your willingness to do physical activity?&quot; Factors were prioritized in order of their importance to children's physical activity. <br><br>RESULTS: Sixteen unique environmental factors, which were perceived as the most important to children's physical activity, were identified. Factors perceived as physical activity-facilitators included &quot;Sufficient lighting&quot;, &quot;Bridge or tunnel&quot;, &quot;Few cars on roads&quot;, &quot;Convenient transportation&quot;, &quot;Subway station&quot;, &quot;Recreation grounds&quot;, &quot;Shopping malls with air conditioning&quot;, &quot;Fresh air&quot;, &quot;Interesting animals&quot;, and &quot;Perfume shop&quot;. Factors perceived as physical activity-barriers included &quot;People who make me feel unsafe&quot;, &quot;Crimes nearby&quot;, &quot;Afraid of being taken or hurt at night&quot;, &quot;Hard to find toilet in shopping mall&quot;, &quot;Too much noise&quot;, and &quot;Too many people in recreation grounds&quot;. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Specific physical activity-related environmental facilitators and barriers, which are unique in an ultra-dense city, were identified by Hong Kong children. These initial findings can inform future examinations of the physical activity-environment relationship among children in Hong Kong and similar Asian cities.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1932-6203",
doi="10.1371/journal.pone.0106578",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0106578"
}