Development and Validation of the Policies, Opportunities, Initiatives and Notable Topics (POINTS) Audit for Campuses and Worksites

Authors

• Tanya M. Horacek, Syracuse UniversityFollow
• Marlei Simon, Augusta University Medical CenterFollow
• Elif Dede Yildirim, Auburn UniversityFollow
• Adrienne A. White, University of MaineFollow
• Karla P. Shelnutt, University of FloridaFollow
• Kristin Riggsbee, University of Tennessee, KnoxvilleFollow
• Melissa D. Olfert, West Virginia UniversityFollow
• Jesse Stabile Morrell, University of New Hampshire, DurhamFollow
• Anne E. Matthews, University of FloridaFollow
• Wenjun Zhou, University of Tennessee, KnoxvilleFollow
• Tandalayo Kidd, Kansas State UniversityFollow
• Kendra Kattelmann, South Dakota State UniversityFollow
• Geoffrey Greene, University of Rhode IslandFollow
• Lisa Franzen-Castle, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
• Sarah E. Colby, University of TennesseeFollow
• Carol Byrd-Bredbenner, Rutgers UniversityFollow
• Onikia Brown, Auburn UniversityFollow

ORCID IDs

0000-0002-6069-9939

0000-0002-3818-4920

0000-0002-9576-5692

0000-0002-3799-9212

0000-0002-5384-5504

0000-0002-6686-3891

0000-0002-0758-8519

0000-0003-3504-5826

0000-0003-2346-8151

0000-0002-6186-2822

0000-0003-0352-1314

0000-0002-8298-3690

0000-0002-8010-3987

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2019

Citation

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 778

Comments

© 2019 by the authors.

Open access

doi:10.3390/ijerph16050778

Abstract

Background: Workplace or campus wellness/obesity-prevention policies and initiatives can improve health. Research tools to assess worksite or campus policies/initiatives are scarce. Thus, the aim of this research is to develop and validate the policies, opportunities, initiatives, and notable topics (POINTS) audit. Methods: POINTS was developed and refined via expert review, pilot-testing, and field testing. Trained researchers completed a web-based review from a student-focus or employee-focus regarding 34 health-promoting topics for colleges. Each topic was evaluated on a 0–2 scale: 0 = no policy/initiative, 1 = initiatives, 2 = written policy. When a written policy was detected, additional policy support questions (administered, monitored, reviewed) were completed. Results: Cronbach’s Alpha for the student-focused POINTS audit was α = 0.787 (34 items, possible points = 65), and for the employee-focused POINTS audit was α = 0.807 (26 items, possible points = 50). A total of 115 student-focused and 33 employee-focused audits were completed. Although there was little evidence of policy presence beyond stimulant standards (smoking and alcohol), there were extensive examples of health initiatives. The student-focused POINTS audit was validated using the Healthier Campus Initiative’s survey. Conclusions: POINTS is a web-based audit tool that is valid and useful for pre-assessment, advocacy, benchmarking, and tracking policies for health and well-being for students (campus) and employees (worksite).