Promoting stair use in a US-Mexico border community.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to determine whether a culturally relevant health message would promote stair use in a predominantly Hispanic community.


METHODS
Observations of stair, elevator, and escalator use were collected over a 6-month period at 4 sites throughout the city of El Paso, Tex. The efficacy of individual and family health promotion signs was tested.


RESULTS
Stair use increased in response to both individual and family promotion health messages, and use varied widely by intervention site.


CONCLUSIONS
These results underscore the importance of considering the physical characteristics of the environments targeted for health promotion campaigns.
Coleman
K J
KJ
Psychology Department, University of Texas at El Paso, USA. kcoleman@utep.edu
Gonzalez
E C
EC
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008123:Location Directories and Signs; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans; D011633:Public Facilities; D013781:Texas