Steps that count!: The development of a pedometer-based health promotion intervention in an employed, health insured South African population

Background Physical activity (PA) has been identified as a central component in the promotion of health. PA programs can provide a low cost intervention opportunity, encouraging PA behavioral change while worksites have been shown to be an appropriate setting for implementing such health promotion p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC public health Vol. 12; no. 1; p. 880
Main Authors: Pillay, Julian D, Kolbe-Alexander, Tracy L, Proper, Karin I, van Mechelen, Willem, Lambert, Estelle V
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: London BioMed Central 17.10.2012
BioMed Central Ltd
Springer Nature B.V
BMC
Subjects:
Adult
Behavior
Biostatistics
Clinical trials
Computer-based feedback
Electronic Mail
Environmental Health
Epidemiology
Exercise
Feasibility studies
Feedback
Feedback, Psychological
Female
Health aspects
Health behavior
Health Benefit Plans, Employee
Health promotion
Health Promotion - methods
Health Promotion - organization & administration
health promotion and society
Health risk appraisal
Health risk assessment
Health risks
Health sciences
Humans
Intervention
Male
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Middle Aged
Monitoring, Ambulatory - instrumentation
Occupational Health Services - organization & administration
Pedometer
Pedometers
Physical activity
Physical fitness
Population
Program Development
Program Evaluation
Public Health
South Africa
Study Protocol
T cells
Technological change
Vaccine
Walking
Wear
Working conditions
Young Adult
South Africa
Health risk appraisal
Pedometer
Physical activity
Computer-based feedback
ISSN:1471-2458, 1471-2458
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Background Physical activity (PA) has been identified as a central component in the promotion of health. PA programs can provide a low cost intervention opportunity, encouraging PA behavioral change while worksites have been shown to be an appropriate setting for implementing such health promotion programs. Along with these trends, there has been an emergence of the use of pedometers as a self-monitoring and motivational aid for PA. This study determines the effectiveness of a worksite health promotion program comprising of a 10-week, pedometer-based intervention (“ Steps that Count! ”), and individualized email-based feedback to effect PA behavioral change. Methods The study is a randomized controlled trial in a worksite setting, using pedometers and individualized email-based feedback to increase steps per day (steps/d). Participant selection will be based on attendance at a corporate wellness event and information obtained, following the completion of a Health Risk Appraisal (HRA), in keeping with inclusion criteria for the study. All participants will, at week 1 (pre-intervention), be provided with a blinded pedometer to assess baseline levels of PA. Participants will be provided with feedback on pedometer data and identify strategies to improve daily PA towards current PA recommendations. Participants will thereafter be randomly assigned to the intervention group (INT) or control group (CTL). The INT will subsequently wear an un-blinded pedometer for 10 consecutive weeks. Individualized feedback messages based on average steps per day, derived from pedometer data (INT) and general supportive/motivational messages (INT+CTL), will be provided via bi-weekly e-mails; blinded pedometer-wear will be conducted at week 12 (post-intervention: INT+CTL). Discussion The purpose of this paper is to outline the rationale behind, and the development of, an intervention aimed at improving ambulatory PA through pedometer use, combined with regular, individualized, email-based feedback. Pedometer-measured PA and individualized feedback may be a practical and easily applied intervention. Trial registration Number: DOH-27-0112-3951
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ISSN:1471-2458
1471-2458
DOI:10.1186/1471-2458-12-880