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

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).