Barriers associated with the public use of sports facilities in China: a qualitative study
Abstract Background Sports and recreational facilities provide an important community resource where physical activity can be promoted among local residents. However, in China, many sports facilities are not fully open to the public and are often underutilized as essential public services. The purpo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14441-w |
| _version_ | 1811319574837067776 |
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| author | Wei Gao Weisheng Feng Qianli Xu Shihui Lu Keqiang Cao |
| author_facet | Wei Gao Weisheng Feng Qianli Xu Shihui Lu Keqiang Cao |
| author_sort | Wei Gao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Sports and recreational facilities provide an important community resource where physical activity can be promoted among local residents. However, in China, many sports facilities are not fully open to the public and are often underutilized as essential public services. The purpose of this study was to examine the barriers to public entry from the facility management point of view. Methods A qualitative study informed by constructivist grounded theory. Individual interviews were conducted with executive managers, marketing staff, and facilities management personnel (n = 15). We took an inductive approach to data synthesis utilizing procedural three-level coding, and used the electronic data management program (NVivo12) to organize the data analysis process. Results The 15 participants discussed factors that impacted the sports facilities’ capacity to serve the public. Four key themes emerged from data synthesis: (a) Policy-related restrictions, (b) Management-related factors, (c) Service-related factors, and (d) Supervision factors. Specific barriers affecting facilities’ availability and accessibility involved policies and regulations, administrative pressure, institutional mechanisms, ideas, a professional team, practical ways, content development, schedule setting, spirit building, assessment and supervision, crisis management, and public evaluation. Conclusion Findings from this qualitative study provided theoretical ground and empirical support for future research aimed at making sports facilities more accessible to the public in order to maximize physical activity and meet the objectives of the national fitness blueprint in China. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:45:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3d6d62e62b084470af9324bf7b720223 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:45:21Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-3d6d62e62b084470af9324bf7b7202232022-12-22T02:46:23ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582022-11-012211910.1186/s12889-022-14441-wBarriers associated with the public use of sports facilities in China: a qualitative studyWei Gao0Weisheng Feng1Qianli Xu2Shihui Lu3Keqiang Cao4School of Economics and Management, Shanghai University of SportDepartment of Physical Education, Shanghai Dian Ji UniversitySchool of Economics and Management, Shanghai University of SportSchool of Economics and Management, Shanghai University of SportSchool of Economics and Management, Shanghai University of SportAbstract Background Sports and recreational facilities provide an important community resource where physical activity can be promoted among local residents. However, in China, many sports facilities are not fully open to the public and are often underutilized as essential public services. The purpose of this study was to examine the barriers to public entry from the facility management point of view. Methods A qualitative study informed by constructivist grounded theory. Individual interviews were conducted with executive managers, marketing staff, and facilities management personnel (n = 15). We took an inductive approach to data synthesis utilizing procedural three-level coding, and used the electronic data management program (NVivo12) to organize the data analysis process. Results The 15 participants discussed factors that impacted the sports facilities’ capacity to serve the public. Four key themes emerged from data synthesis: (a) Policy-related restrictions, (b) Management-related factors, (c) Service-related factors, and (d) Supervision factors. Specific barriers affecting facilities’ availability and accessibility involved policies and regulations, administrative pressure, institutional mechanisms, ideas, a professional team, practical ways, content development, schedule setting, spirit building, assessment and supervision, crisis management, and public evaluation. Conclusion Findings from this qualitative study provided theoretical ground and empirical support for future research aimed at making sports facilities more accessible to the public in order to maximize physical activity and meet the objectives of the national fitness blueprint in China.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14441-wGrounded theoryIn-depth interviewsNational fitnessPhysical activity |
| spellingShingle | Wei Gao Weisheng Feng Qianli Xu Shihui Lu Keqiang Cao Barriers associated with the public use of sports facilities in China: a qualitative study BMC Public Health Grounded theory In-depth interviews National fitness Physical activity |
| title | Barriers associated with the public use of sports facilities in China: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Barriers associated with the public use of sports facilities in China: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Barriers associated with the public use of sports facilities in China: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Barriers associated with the public use of sports facilities in China: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Barriers associated with the public use of sports facilities in China: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | barriers associated with the public use of sports facilities in china a qualitative study |
| topic | Grounded theory In-depth interviews National fitness Physical activity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14441-w |
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