Outcomes of a Home-Based Walking Program for African-American Women

Abstract

As compared with minimal treatment (MT), to determine the effectiveness of a home-based walking intervention enhanced by behavioral strategies targeted and tailored to African-American women (enhanced treatment [ET]) on adherence, physical activity, fitness, and body composition at 24 and 48 weeks. Using a quasi-experimental design, treatments were randomly assigned to one of two community health centers. The centers were in predominately African-American communities. Sedentary women (156 ET, 125 MT) 40 to 65 years were recruited within a 3-mile radius of each center. Both treatments had the same orientation. The ET group had four targeted workshops followed by weekly tailored telephone calls over 24 weeks. Generalized linear mixed models were used to test effects of treatments on adherence, physical activity, aerobic fitness, and body composition. Adherence was significantly higher in the ET than the MT group and was related to the number of workshops attended (r = .58) and tailored calls (r = .25) received. On-treatment analysis showed significant postintervention improvement in waist circumference and fitness in the ET group; however, these improvements were not statistically different between the two groups. Intent to treat analysis showed a significant increase in fitness, decrease in waist circumference, and no change in body mass index in both treatments. Findings suggest the potential impact of workshop group support on adherence in African-American women.