Health Promotion Priorities Research Articles

An examination of the sexual health behaviors and cognitions of young U.S. community college students with respect to the intersection of gender and sexual identity

Objective: To assess the sexual health of young community college students so that health promotion priorities can be identified and tailored programming can be implemented for this understudied population. Participants: A national sample of 1,678 community college students. Methods: Survey data was analyzed to understand trends in sexual health – including differences by gender and sexual identity. Results: While 54% of the sample have had vaginal sex and 16% have had anal sex, rates of condom use for these behaviors are low (respectively 51% and 42%). Only 52% of students have communicated with a medical professional about sexual health and 42% have been tested for STIs. Young men have the lowest odds of communicating with a medical professional about sexual health. Heterosexual men have particularly low odds of getting tested for STIs. Conclusions: Community college students need additional resources – eg, education, accessible health care – to promote their sexual health.

‘I’d be willing to take that risk for the enjoyment of the time that I have’: a COM-B influenced analysis of older people’s perspectives on their alcohol consumption

Objectives: To explore how older people understand, perceive, and evaluate the various factors which drive their alcohol consumption behaviours. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 33 Australian community-dwelling older adults (aged 65+ years) who drank alcohol at least once a month. Thematic analyses identified common themes which were then mapped onto the COM-B theoretical framework. Results: Drinking behaviours were driven by a lack of capability in the form of poor knowledge regarding safe drinking behaviours and guidelines; high opportunity for consumption due to ease of accessing alcohol and its prominence in social routines; and high motivation to drink due to perceived benefits outweighing perceived risks. Conclusion: Increasing older peoples’ knowledge of the risks associated with consumption and safe drinking behaviours represents a key health promotion priority in order to reduce the burden of alcohol-related harms among this group.

Mapping provision and evaluation practices in local community health and wellbeing programmes delivered by professional sports clubs in the United Kingdom: A practice-based targeted review

Abstract Professional sports clubs (PSCs) are potentially effective settings for health promotion, however, their role within policy is unclear. Potential reasons include lack of awareness about existing provision of health and wellbeing (H&W) programmes delivered, and adequacy of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) practices. This review aimed to: (i) map the provision of H&W programmes delivered by PSCs in the United Kingdom (UK); and (ii) explore current M&E practices of PSCs and consider the policy implications of this. To conduct this practice-based targeted review, websites from eight professional sport leagues were hand-searched for programmes and impact reports, amounting to the inclusion 116 PSCs. Suitable programmes were quantified, whilst impact reports were analysed via inductive documentary content analysis. Results identified 127 H&W programmes that met our inclusive criteria. A total of 36 impact reports were retrieved, presenting engagement figures and anecdotal case studies as the most common evaluation methods. Additionally, 43 H&W impact statements were identified within the impact reports, but only 14 were aligned to specific H&W outcomes. None were supported by measurement-tool-driven data, and reporting of data collection timeframes and participant numbers were also rare. Findings illuminate the provision of H&W programmes delivered by UK-based PSCs and their health promotion priorities. However, the H&W aims of programmes are typically vague, measurement tools are rarely used, and evaluations are usually anecdotal which may limit the potential uptake of these programmes and PSCs generally in relevant public health policy. Further research is thus needed on the challenges faced when seeking to monitor and evaluate programmes effectively and to build a stronger evidence base for the use of PSCs as vehicles of health promotion.

Determining priority areas for health promotion amongst Australian professional sporting organisations

ObjectivesProfessional sporting organisations (PSOs) are well-positioned to promote health through their reach and standing within communities. However, the health promotion (HP) priority areas of interest of PSOs are unknown. The objectives of this study were to: identify HP priority areas amongst Australian PSOs and explore the development, implementation, and evaluation of HP programming within the identified priority areas. DesignDelphi procedure with qualitative interviews. MethodsParticipants were community-focussed employees from PSOs across Australia. To identify HP priory areas, three rounds of surveys were used in a Delphi procedure. Participants were then invited to participate in semi-structured interviews focussed on the development, implementation, and evaluation of HP programmes. ResultsOf the 103 community employees invited to participate in the Delphi, 28 participated in at least one round and 16 completed all rounds. Overall, HP priorities fell under five main areas: access/participation in sport; general HP; physical activity promotion; community, culture, and inclusion; and support for HP initiatives. Eleven interviews were conducted, and central themes included needing support with programme design and evaluation, and the need to build employee capacity and greater inter-organisational collaboration. ConclusionsThis study determined HP priority areas amongst PSOs using a consensus-generating approach. Interview findings demonstrated that community-focussed employees are committed to delivering HP programmes, but encounter difficulty with funding, employee capacity, and programme design and evaluation expertise. The findings from these interviews reveal potential avenues of collaboration between organisations that can provide expertise in design and evaluation and sporting organisations for HP programming.

Novel plant-based meat alternatives: future opportunities and health considerations.

Present food systems threaten population and environmental health. Evidence suggests reduced meat and increased plant-based food consumption would align with climate change and health promotion priorities. Accelerating this transition requires greater understanding of determinants of plant-based food choice. A thriving plant-based food industry has emerged to meet consumer demand and support dietary shift towards plant-based eating. 'Traditional' plant-based diets are low-energy density, nutrient dense, low in saturated fat and purportedly associated with health benefits. However, fast-paced contemporary lifestyles continue to fuel growing demand for meat-mimicking plant-based convenience foods which are typically ultra-processed. Processing can improve product safety and palatability and enable fortification and enrichment. However, deleterious health consequences have been associated with ultra-processing, though there is a paucity of equivocal evidence regarding the health value of novel plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs) and their capacity to replicate the nutritional profile of meat-equivalents. Thus, despite the health halo often associated with plant-based eating, there is a strong rationale to improve consumer literacy of PBMAs. Understanding the impact of extensive processing on health effects may help to justify the use of innovative methods designed to maintain health benefits associated with particular foods and ingredients. Furthering knowledge regarding the nutritional value of novel PBMAs will increase consumer awareness and thus support informed choice. Finally, knowledge of factors influencing engagement of target consumer subgroups with such products may facilitate production of desirable, healthier PBMAs. Such evidence-based food manufacturing practice has the potential to positively influence future individual and planetary health.

The Health Experiences of Young Internal Migrants in Ghana-Identifying Priorities for Sustainable Health Promotion.

The Sustainable Development Goals underscore the importance of migration to the achievement of health, and global migration presents both opportunities and challenges for the development of health promotion. Despite such recognition, very little work has focused on health promotion with young migrants, including how migration shapes opportunities for positive health. This paper reports findings from a qualitative study that sought to advance knowledge of the health experiences of young internal migrants in Ghana (n = 14) and considers ways to harness these perspectives in the development of sustainable health promotion solutions. Methods included community consultations, participatory workshops and interviews with young migrants aged 14-21 years. Findings highlighted how the social determinants of health affected young migrants' opportunities to support their health. Our analysis highlights how a lack of access to adequate food, shelter and health services often resulted in the adoption of alternative health practices, including the use of herbal remedies. Supporting positive livelihoods as part of tackling the social determinants of health is crucial to mitigate the impacts of poverty and inequalities on young migrants' health practices and outcomes. We conclude by considering how to advance relevant health promotion with young migrants living in contexts of vulnerability.

General practitioners’ experiences of being involved in local public health work in Norway. A qualitative study

Aim The aim was to explore how general practitioners experienced being involved in local public health work and how they worked with prevention and health promotion clinically after the introduction of the Public Health Act in 2012. Design, setting and subjects Qualitative study with focus groups interviews with 18 GPs from different municipalities in Norway. Results The GPs said that they either had not at all or only to a limited extent been involved in local public health work in their municipalities. They reported finding it hard to prioritize individual disease prevention and health promotion in their clinical work. GPs thought of health promotion as something that mainly concerned healthy people at a group level. Conclusions Based on the experiences of the GPs in this study, there is a gap between governmental expectations to the role of GPs in public health, and how it works in practice. KEY POINTS With the Norwegian Public Health Act launched in 2012, GPs were expected to contribute to better population health in their clinical work and as data providers to local public health surveillance. The GPs interviewed in this study said they had not been involved in local public health work, and they found it hard to give disease prevention and health promotion priority in their clinical work. GPs expressed various perceptions of what prevention and health promotion entails.

The role of organisational resources for integrating health surveillance data into municipal action in Norway

ABSTRACT Making sure that health surveillance data are integrated into public health planning and decision-making is demanding. Politicians and their administration may lack knowledge, interest, or will to take it into account. Politics is at its core solution-driven, and this need for imminent action may outweigh the importance of solid knowledge. This paper focuses on Norwegian municipalities and fleshes out two factors that may provide an enabling environment for educating relevant personnel in health surveillance data; i) the existence of a public health coordinator and ii) the set-up of inter-sectoral working groups. We have anticipated that those organisational resources play an important role in linking the bodies of information provided in the municipalities’ health surveillance document ; the municipal health profile ; and the health promotion priorities. The findings confirm the anticipated centrality of organisational resources. Having dedicated and inter-sectoral organizational resources working as boundary spanners – such as public health coordinators – is decisive to meeting the demands of current public health challenges. Moreover, dedication is useless unless there is a critical volume of the coordinator’s work. It is only when she/he is in a full position that the profile is fully integrated. The study further identifies other conducive conditions for integration. For example, does knowledge on health determinants resides not only in statistical data, but also in qualitative experiences of people and professional practitioners. Of interest for further research is to explore how to educate such organisations to integrate such experiences into health promotion action.

The Benefits of Crowdsourcing to Seed and Align an Algorithm in an mHealth Intervention for African American and Hispanic Adults: Survey Study.

BackgroundThe lack of publicly available and culturally relevant data sets on African American and bilingual/Spanish-speaking Hispanic adults’ disease prevention and health promotion priorities presents a major challenge for researchers and developers who want to create and test personalized tools built on and aligned with those priorities. Personalization depends on prediction and performance data. A recommender system (RecSys) could predict the most culturally and personally relevant preventative health information and serve it to African American and Hispanic users via a novel smartphone app. However, early in a user’s experience, a RecSys can face the “cold start problem” of serving untailored and irrelevant content before it learns user preferences. For underserved African American and Hispanic populations, who are consistently being served health content targeted toward the White majority, the cold start problem can become an example of algorithmic bias. To avoid this, a RecSys needs population-appropriate seed data aligned with the app’s purposes. Crowdsourcing provides a means to generate population-appropriate seed data.ObjectiveOur objective was to identify and test a method to address the lack of culturally specific preventative personal health data and sidestep the type of algorithmic bias inherent in a RecSys not trained in the population of focus. We did this by collecting a large amount of data quickly and at low cost from members of the population of focus, thereby generating a novel data set based on prevention-focused, population-relevant health goals. We seeded our RecSys with data collected anonymously from self-identified Hispanic and self-identified non-Hispanic African American/Black adult respondents, using Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk).MethodsMTurk provided the crowdsourcing platform for a web-based survey in which respondents completed a personal profile and a health information–seeking assessment, and provided data on family health history and personal health history. Respondents then selected their top 3 health goals related to preventable health conditions, and for each goal, reviewed and rated the top 3 information returns by importance, personal utility, whether the item should be added to their personal health library, and their satisfaction with the quality of the information returned. This paper reports the article ratings because our intent was to assess the benefits of crowdsourcing to seed a RecSys. The analysis of the data from health goals will be reported in future papers.ResultsThe MTurk crowdsourcing approach generated 985 valid responses from 485 (49%) self-identified Hispanic and 500 (51%) self-identified non-Hispanic African American adults over the course of only 64 days at a cost of US $6.74 per respondent. Respondents rated 92 unique articles to inform the RecSys.ConclusionsResearchers have options such as MTurk as a quick, low-cost means to avoid the cold start problem for algorithms and to sidestep bias and low relevance for an intended population of app users. Seeding a RecSys with responses from people like the intended users allows for the development of a digital health tool that can recommend information to users based on similar demography, health goals, and health history. This approach minimizes the potential, initial gaps in algorithm performance; allows for quicker algorithm refinement in use; and may deliver a better user experience to individuals seeking preventative health information to improve health and achieve health goals.

Medical licensing examinations in both Sweden and the US favor pharmacology over lifestyle.

Low priority of disease prevention and health promotion in medical education may contribute to lack of lifestyle-counseling in clinical practice. Pharmacology-related knowledge is valued 5 times higher compared to lifestyle-related knowledge in examinations on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in undergraduate medical education in Sweden. This study aims to establish (i) whether medical licensing examinations are biased to favor pharmacology- over lifestyle-related knowledge and (ii) whether such a bias is present in both Sweden and the US. We identified 204 NCD-related questions from previous Swedish licensing examinations, and 77 cases from a U.S. question bank commonly used to prepare for the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) Step 3. With the help of expected correct answers, we determined distribution of points attainable for knowledge in the respective category (lifestyle / pharmacology / other) for 5 major NCDs: coronary heart disease (CHD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, hypertension, and stroke. The percentage of points attainable for lifestyle-related knowledge was 6.7 (95% CI 4.1-9.3) in Sweden and 4.6 (95%CI 0.0-9.1) in the U.S. The respective percentages for pharmacology-related knowledge were 32.6 (95% CI 26.3-38.8) and 44.5 (95% CI 33.2-55.8) percent. The pharmacology vs. lifestyle-quotas were 4.9 in Sweden and 9.8 in the U.S. Likelihoods of equal emphasis on lifestyle and pharmacology in NCDs was<0.001 in both countries. There is a marked preference for pharmacology over lifestyle in medical licensing examinations in both Sweden and the U.S. Newly qualified doctors may be inadequately prepared to address preventable causes of NCDs.

Willingness to Pay for Health Improvements Using Stated Preferences: Prevention Versus Treatment.

This study aimed to investigate whether there was a difference in willingness to pay (WTP) between prevention and treatment for health benefits of equal magnitude. We used a web-based survey instrument in a sample of the Swedish general population to perform a contingent valuation study assessing the WTP for prevention and treatment. We analyzed the WTP as a continuous variable using a two-part regression model to adjust for a mass point around 0 and a skewed distribution among respondents with a positive WTP. The study found that people were less willing, on average, to pay at all for prevention than treatment, but those who were willing to pay for prevention had a higher WTP than for treatment. The latter effect was more substantial, and in total mean WTP for prevention was about 85% higher than for treatment. The findings from this study contribute to the ongoing discussion on the appropriate cost-effectiveness thresholds by adding prevention as a parameter affecting the demand-side value of health improvements. As such, it can provide support to decision makers in healthcare and in health promotion priority setting.

Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control and Related Factors of Hypertension in Multiethnic Agriculture, Stock-Raising, and Urban Xinjiang, Northwest China: A Cross-Sectional Screening for 47000 Adults.

Background Hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease. Distribution of hypertension and related factors among multiethnic population in Northwest China remains scarce. The aim was to determine prevalence, awareness, treatment, control, and risk factors associated with hypertension among multiethnic population in Northwest China. Methods We conducted a blood pressure (BP) screening project covering a third of adults in Emin Xinjiang, Northwest China, during 2014–2016. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg, diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg, and/or taking antihypertension drugs. We compared prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension and related factors by different regions (agriculture, stock-raising, or urban) and by ethnic groups. Results Totally 47,040 adults were screened with 48.5% women. Overall prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension were 26.5%, 64.6%, 44.5%, and 15.3%, respectively. Age-gender-adjusted hypertension prevalence was higher in urban (28.2%) than in other regions and in Kazakh (30.3%) than in others. The lowest awareness and treatment rates were observed in the agricultural region and in Kazakh subjects, while the lowest control was in the stock-raising region (13.8%) and in Kazakh subjects (12.6%). After adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, and regions, compared to normal weight, nonsmokers, and nondrinkers, obesity, smoking, and alcohol intake were significantly related to increased prevalence of hypertension by 94%, 1.5, and 3.9 folds, respectively. Conclusions Disparities in hypertension control among regions and ethnic groups suggested inadequate screening and treatment, especially in stock-raising regions and Kazakh populations. Control of alcohol intake, smoking, and obesity should be at high priority of health promotion.

What is the paramedic's role in smoking cessation?

Background: Both the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Public Health England have made smoking cessation a health promotion priority but the paramedic's potential impact in this important area has yet to be fully realised. Aim: This article proposes an evidence-based quality improvement intervention that can be adopted by paramedics at an individual, service-wide or national level to promote smoking cessation. Methodology: Building on a structured literature review and using the three fundamental questions and a Plan Do Study Act cycle, we propose a quality improvement strategy and evaluation methodology suited to the aims of the article. Discussion: Very Brief Advice is an evidence-based, effective and time-efficient way of reducing harm from smoking and improving quality of life for patients, saving NHS money as well as increasing paramedic job satisfaction.

Community health needs assessment for a child health promotion program in Kyrgyzstan

Despite over 10 years of support from government health programs and health organizations, children in migrant villages in Kyrgyzstan remain a public concern owing to high incidence rates of preventable diseases such as anemia. An effective community health promotion program is needed but there is a lack of knowledge of community barriers and health factors affecting children’s health in these migrant villages. The purpose of this study was to conduct a community health needs assessment to develop strategies for a child health promotion program in these migrant villages. This study conducted using a mixed method that included literature review, reginal statistics, focus group and key person interviews, and a community survey. The analysis method was descriptive statistics for the questionnaires, and content analysis for the interviews. Results showed the following priorities for child health promotion: strengthening health care provider capacity, overcoming resource shortages, managing child health and preventable diseases, improving public hygiene, promoting a healthy lifestyle, and empowering school health. The strategies were identified: capacity building of health workers, increasing community participation and raising child health awareness, and supporting child health promotion services. These findings will help guide the implementation of a child health promotion program.

A6550 Trends in Lipids and Lipoproteins among Adults in Northwestern Xinjiang, China, 1998–2015

Objectives: Socioeconomic, educational and health care conditions have improved in Xinjiang. However, updated data is unavailable on the prevalence of dyslipidemia and trends in lipid profiles. Therefore, aim was to explore trends in serum lipids during 1998–2015 and to provide clues for future prevention. Methods: We conducted surveys to adult residents in Hefeng, Fuhai and Fukang area using similar methods during 1998–2015. Data collected in 1998, 2000, 2007, 2008 and in 2015 were divided as 1998, 2007, and 2015 groups. Dyslipidemia was identified based on the prevention standard proposed of dyslipidemia in China in 2016 and related factors were analyzed. Results: A total of 5142 adults (57.3% women) were screened including 1059 in 1998, 2144 in 2007 and 1939 in 2015. Mean TC was the lowest in 2015 (4.59 ± 0.95 mmol/L), compared to 1998 (4.79 ± 1.15 mmol/L) and 2007 (5.17 ± 1.04 mmol/L). Mean LDL-C was the lowest in 2015 (2.67 ± 0.78 mmol/L), compared to 2007 (2.87 ± 1.05 mmol/L), and 1998 (3.53 ± 1.09 mmol/L). Mean TG in 2015 (1.11 ± 0.87 mmol/L) was lower than in 2007 (1.58 ± 1.28 mmol/L). Mean HDL-C in 2007 (1.50 ± 0.50 mmol/L) and in 2015 (1.44 ± 0.33 mmol/L) was higher than in 1998 (1.08 ± 0.36 mmol/L). Compared to 1998, the age-standardized prevalence of dyslipidemia, high TC, low HDL-C and high LDL-C in 2015 reduced by 68.5% (16.9% vs 53.6%), 45.7% (5.0% vs 9.2%), 82.1% (7.2% vs 40.3%), and by 82.1% (4.4% vs 24.6%), whereas that of high TG increased by 121.9% (7.1% vs 3.2%). Obesity (OR = 1.92), elevated fasting glucose (OR = 2.48), smoking (OR = 1.29), and drinking (OR = 1.32) were associated with higher prevalence of dyslipidemia. Conclusion: Favorable trends in lipid metabolism have occurred in Xinjiang over the past 17 years. Controlling weight, smoking and alcohol intake may be at high priority of future health promotion.

A7116 Preventing excessive alcohol intake, smoking and obesity may reduce blood pressure results from the screening of 47000 adults in Emin, China

Objectives: Prehypertenion (PHT) has a higher risk of developing hypertension (37.3–49.5% over 4 years) the leading preventable cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD).Therefore, to coordinate more efforts to control hypertension and CVD, we estimated PHT prevalence, related factors and clustered CVD risk factors in Emin Xinjiang, where control of hypertension is lower than national average (10% vs 15.9%) in China. Methods: From 2014 to 2016, we surveyed1/3 of adult residents of Emin (population 160000) for hypertension screening. PHT was defined as not on anti-hypertensive medications and SBP of 120–139mmHg and /or DBP of 80–89mmHg. We compared the PHT prevalence with different gender, age groups, and area (urban, agricultural, stock-raising), and related factors and clustered CVD risk factors in PTH. Modifiable clustered risk factors included overall and abdominal obesity, smoking and drinking. Results: 47040 adult residents were screened; 48.5% were women. The overall prevalence of PHT and hypertension was 31.2%and 26.6%, respectively. The age-adjusted PHT prevalence was higher in men (37.4%) than in women (24.4%). PHT prevalence is the highest (37.9%) in 30–39 age groups and highest in urban area (31.6%). Overweight (OR = 1.85), overall and abdominal obesity (OR = 2.45 and 1.45), smoking (OR = 1.12), and alcohol intake (OR = 1.16) were associated with higher PHT prevalence. Compared to normotensive subjects, the prevalence of clustering 1 (23.0% vs 22.2%), 2 (32.4% vs 24.8%), 3 (8.3% vs 6.1%) and 4 (5.2% vs 3.8%) CVD risk factors were significantly higher in PHT. Conclusion: PHT is highly prevalent in Xinjiang, particularly in men, younger population and in those from urban area. Control of alcohol drinking, smoking and body weight may be at high priority of health promotion.

GW29-e0812 Life style, not altitude per se, may be the main contributors for hypertension in different altitude and may be at high priority of health promotion

GW29-e0812 Life style, not altitude per se, may be the main contributors for hypertension in different altitude and may be at high priority of health promotion

A6635 Enhancing primary care service and preventing excessive alcohol intake to reduce regional disparity in hypertension control—results from the screening of 47000 adults in Emin, China

Objectives: Hypertension (HT) is the leading preventable cause of cardiovascular disease but poorly controlled in Xinjiang. More focused efforts could be deployed to accelerate the control rate with a better understanding local distribution of HT and related factors. Methods: We conducted a blood pressure (BP) screening project covered a third of adult population during 2014–2016 in Emin County, northern Xinjing, China. HT was defined as systolic BP ≥140 mmHg, and/or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg and/or taking anti-HT drugs. We compared the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates of HT and related factors among different regions (agricultural, stock-raising or urban) and by ethnic groups (Han, Kazakh, Uygur and Mongolian). Results: Totally 47040 adults completed screening process, 48.5% were women. The overall age-adjusted rates of prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of HT were 26.5%, 64.6%, 44.5%, and 15.3%, respectively. HT prevalence rate was higher in urban (28.2%) than in other regions, and in Kazakh (30.3%) than in other ethnic groups. The lowest awareness and treatment rates were observed in rural region or in Kazakh population, while the lowest control rate was presented in stock-raising region (13.8%) or in Kazakh ethnic group (12.6%). After adjusting for age, gender, ethnic group and regions, compared to normal weight, non-smoker and non-drinkers, obesity, smoking and alcohol drinking were significantly related to increased prevalence of HTN by 53%, 1.6 and 4.4 folds, respectively. Conclusion: The disparities in HTN control among regions and ethnic groups suggested inadequate screening and treatment by primary health care, especially in agricultural and stock-raising regions. Control of alcohol drinking, smoking and obesity should be at high priority of health promotion. Even though the curre

A9101 Life style, not altitude per se, may be the main contributors for hypertension in different altitude and may be at high priority of health promotion

A9101 Life style, not altitude per se, may be the main contributors for hypertension in different altitude and may be at high priority of health promotion

Effect of a 12-Week Online Walking Intervention on Health and Quality of Life in Cancer Survivors: A Quasi-Randomized Controlled Trial.

Cancer survivors are at an increased risk of experiencing physical and psychological ill-effects following cancer treatment. Rural cancer survivors are at a greater risk of future health problems following a cancer diagnosis compared to their urban counterparts. Physical activity has been targeted as a health promotion priority in cancer survivors. Research indicates that a large portion of cancer survivors do not meet physical activity recommendations. The purpose of this quasi-randomized controlled trial was to test the effectiveness of an online 12-week walking intervention designed for cancer survivors, and to explore its impact on physical health indicators and quality of life outcomes. Steps Toward Improving Diet and Exercise among cancer survivors (STRIDE) is an online resource designed according to Social Cognitive Theory and Self Determination Theory, based on individualized step goal setting. Measures of physiology, physical fitness, and quality of life were taken at the baseline, post-intervention, and three-month follow-up in an Intervention group (n = 46) and active Control group (n = 45). The Control group was provided with a pedometer but did not have access to the online program. Three-factor repeated measures ANOVAs indicated that there were improvements in physical fitness (p < 0.01), systolic blood pressure (p < 0.01), diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.01), waist girth (p < 0.01), mental health (p < 0.05), social functioning (p < 0.01), and general health (p < 0.01), but an increase in bodily pain (p < 0.01), from the baseline to week 12 and the three-month follow-up, irrespective of group allocation. Pedometer interventions, delivered with or without online support and step goal setting, show promise for improving the overall health of cancer survivors, at least in the short term.