Self-reported Walking Activity Research Articles

Effect of Group Contingency Type on Walking: Comparisons of Effectiveness and Cost Efficiency.

Group contingency (GC) is an effective and cost-efficient strategy that can be successfully applied to technology-based interventions. This study examined the relative effectiveness and cost efficiency of three types of technology-based group contingencies on walking among adults. Seventy two students were divided into teams of three. Each team was randomly assigned to one of three GC conditions (independent, interdependent, or dependent) and underwent 66 days of technology-based group contingency intervention. Sixty five participants completed the intervention and 61 completed the follow-up assessment 2 months later. Step counts and self-reported walking activity increased after the intervention under all three conditions. The proportion of participants that met the target step counts was significantly higher under the dependent group contingency condition. However, 2 months later, intervention effects were not maintained under any condition. For cost efficiency, the increase in step count per point was significantly higher under the interdependent group contingency condition. Group cohesion and social validity (point satisfaction and point utility) were significantly higher under the dependent group contingency condition. Finally, the clinical implications and limitations of this study are discussed.

Effect of physical activity measurement type on the association between walking activity and glucose regulation in a high-risk population recruited from primary care

We investigate associations of self-reported and objectively assessed walking activity with measures of glucose regulation in a multi-ethnic population at high risk of type 2 diabetes. This study reports data from a 2009-2011 screening programme for impaired glucose regulation (IGR) within a high-risk primary care population in Leicestershire, UK; 2532 participants (38% women, 8% South Asian) with a mean age of 64 ± 8 years and an average BMI of 32.1 ± 5.6 kg/m(2) were included. Walking activity was measured by self-report (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) and objectively (pedometer). Glucose regulation assessments included 2h post-challenge glucose, fasting glucose and HbA1c. Higher levels of self-reported walking activity and pedometer steps were associated with lower 2h post-challenge glucose after controlling for several known confounding variables, including BMI. Similarly, when categorized in tertiles, both measures were associated with a lower odds of having any form of IGR; odds ratio for lowest vs highest tertile was 0.64 (0.51-0.80) for self-report and 0.69 (0.55-0.87) for pedometer steps. There was no significant difference between self-reported and objective measures in the strength of associations with glucose regulation; associations with self-report were maintained when further adjusted for pedometer steps. Stronger associations between self-reported walking activity and glucose regulation were observed in South Asians compared with White Europeans. Self-reported and objectively measured walking activity were equally associated with indices of glucose regulation. Associations with self-reported walking activity were maintained when further adjusted for pedometer steps, suggesting that self-reported walking activity may measure facets of physical activity that are beyond total volume.

High Point Walking for Health: Creating Built and Social Environments That Support Walking in a Public Housing Community

We implemented and evaluated multiple interventions to increase walking activity at a multicultural public housing site. A community-based participatory research partnership and community action teams assessed assets and barriers related to walking and developed multiple interventions to promote walking activity. Interventions included sponsoring walking groups, improving walking routes, providing information about walking options, and advocating for pedestrian safety. A pre-post study design was used to assess the changes in walking activity. Self-reported walking activity increased among walking group participants from 65 to 109 minutes per day (P = .001). The proportion that reported being at least moderately active for at least 150 minutes per week increased from 62% to 81% (P = .018). A multicomponent intervention developed through participatory research methods that emphasized walking groups and included additional strategies to change the built and social environments increased walking activity at a public housing site in Seattle.

Pedometers and Brief Physician Counseling

1680 Due to their frequent encounters with sedentary patients, primary care physicians are poised to be on the forefront of the medical community's response to the physical inactivity epidemic. To date, however, physician counseling interventions have found mixed success. PURPOSE: To examine whether the addition of a pedometer to brief physician counseling could help patients increase their physical activity. METHODS: Ninety-four participants were randomly assigned to two groups. Both groups received a brief, physician delivered message and a one-page handout discussing the benefits of physical activity along with three follow-up phone calls from a health educator. In addition, intervention participants received a pedometer and were instructed to record their steps every day over the nine-week study period. Measurements were taken for self-reported walking activity, walking stage-of-change, walking self-efficacy, and pedometer steps (pedometer group only). RESULTS: Between baseline and post-study, both groups saw significant increases in blocks walked per day, stairs would climb versus elevator, days per week walking >30 min, and fun/leisure walking. By poststudy, participants in the pedometer group reported walking significantly more blocks per day compared to controls (19.29 ± 14.41 vs. 11.74 ± 9.17, p = 0.043). Participants in the pedometer group significantly increased their average daily step count between week 1 and week 9 (t = 3.172, P = 0.005). Average daily step count improved by 30% over the nine weeks (6779.50 ± 4079.20 week 1 vs. 8855.50 ± 4690.30 week 9). CONCLUSION: Brief counseling is moderately effective for increasing physical activity among patients seen at a family practice clinic. Supplying a pedometer in addition to counseling helps to enhance physician delivered interventions.