Date Available

4-23-2025

Year of Publication

2025

Document Type

Graduate Capstone Project

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)

College

Public Health

Department/School/Program

Public Health

Faculty

Dr. Richard Ingram

Committee Member

Dr. Vos

Faculty

Dr. Crotisch

Abstract

In Bourbon County, Kentucky, where rural health challenges and chronic disease burdens persist, a coalition of public health partners set out to improve population-level physical activity through an innovative, community-centered initiative. The Bourbon County Physical Activity Program emerged through collaboration between the Bourbon County Health Department, the University of Kentucky College of Public Health, and UK HealthCare. Together, these partners designed a six-month intervention that combined discounted YMCA memberships, partnerships with employers, a physical activity tracking app with behavioral incentives, and community-wide events to promote accessible and sustained engagement.

Guided by the CDC’s framework for program evaluation in public health, the program was evaluated using a population health lens, with particular attention to implementation fidelity, user engagement, and geographic equity. Data were collected through app analytics, surveys, and stakeholder interviews and were triangulated to enhance validity. Findings revealed measurable improvements in physical activity levels among residents, alongside persistent disparities in participation between urban and rural communities.

This report provides an overview of how multisector collaboration, data-informed strategies, and community outreach converged to address physical inactivity in a rural context. The evaluation results provide critical insights for sustaining the program, refining outreach to underserved populations, and scaling similar models across other counties.

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