Assessing and promoting physical activity in African American barbershops: results of the FITStop pilot study

Am J Mens Health. 2011 Jan;5(1):38-46. doi: 10.1177/1557988309360569. Epub 2010 Apr 21.

Abstract

This study assessed the feasibility of recruiting African American men in barbershops, assessing their physical activity, conducting physical measurements, and gauging their interest in barbershop-based health research. The authors recruited African American shop owners (n = 4), barbers (n = 6), and customers (n = 90) from four barbershops in Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina, during 2009. The participation levels were high among owners (100%), barbers (67%), and customers (81%). In addition to completing a self-administered survey, 57% (51/90) of the customers completed physical measurements. According to self-reported data, 34% (30/88) of the customers met national physical activity recommendations within the last week. Customers expressed moderately high interest in learning more about health at barbershops and joining a barbershop-based physical activity contest. The estimated recruiting cost per customer was $105.92. Barbershops offer an effective setting for recruiting African American men and conducting physical measurements as well as an interesting possible location for conducting future interventions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Barbering*
  • Black or African American*
  • Commerce
  • Exercise*
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Health Promotion / methods*
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • North Carolina
  • Pilot Projects
  • Young Adult