Multilevel, Faith-based Intervention to Promote Rural Physical Activity

/ABSTRACT The long-term objective of this K99/R00 application is to develop Dr. Kelsey Day’s ability to become a leader in community-based physical activity research and cancer prevention, particularly through the development of sustainable, multilevel, and participatory solutions. In the K99 phase of the project, Dr. Day will receive support in meeting four training objectives that will facilitate her transition to an independent investigator and expand her knowledge in key content areas that are highly relevant to her long-term career goals. First, she will expand her knowledge of text message and mHealth intervention approaches to increasing physical activity. Second, she will learn how to analyze objective device-measured physical activity data. Third, she will gain theoretical and practical knowledge of community based participatory research methodology. Finally, Dr. Day will obtain advanced training in qualitative research methods. In the K99 phase, Dr. Day will also initiate the research aims of a multilevel, faith-based project focused on physical activity. In Aim 1, she will use a participatory design process to convene focus groups of rural church members to adapt a rural physical activity text message intervention with spiritual content and tailored physical activity feedback. Concurrently, in Aim 2, she will conduct workshops with leaders from rural churches who are paired with a leader from their local Parks and Recreation departments to: 1) establish partnerships; 2) use a participatory approach to adapt evidence-based intervention strategies to increase physical activity; 3) determine barriers and facilitators to the selected strategies within the church/Parks partnership. In Aim 3 (R00 phase), Dr. Day will deliver the multilevel intervention (individual text message intervention, plus church/Parks strategies) to a pilot group of rural churches to evaluate feasibility indicators, including: limited efficacy (changes in Fitbit-measured physical activity among rural churchgoers); acceptability; implementation; and demand. The proposed research seeks to address critical rural health disparities and to promote rural cancer prevention by increasing physical activity opportunities and capacity through a sustainable, multilevel approach. The project is consistent with the NCI’s mission of conducting cancer research that helps individuals across the country live longer and healthier lives, as well as the NCI’s strategic focus on rural cancer disparities. Dr. Day proposes to pursue these training objectives and begin the proposed research aims with the support of the University of Virginia Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Department of Public Health Sciences in the University of Virginia School of Medicine. This environment offers an optimal setting, including research support and resources, to assist her in reaching her training and research objectives. Project Number: 1K99CA300506-01A1 | Fiscal Year: 2026 | NIH Institute/Center: National Cancer Institute (NCI) | Principal Investigator: Kelsey Day | Institution: UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | Award Amount: $115,420 | Activity Code: K99 | Study Section: Special Emphasis Panel[ZRG1 CDPT-N (55)] View on NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11283558