A preliminary study on the impact of a pedometer-based intervention on daily steps.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of an 8-week, pedometer-based lifestyle physical activity intervention on physical activity levels.


METHODS
Participants were 37 college employees who volunteered to participate in the study. The intervention consisted of goal setting, pedometer use, self-monitoring, and weekly e-mail reminders. Physical activity measures (pedometer, survey) were taken at baseline and immediately following the intervention. A t-test for paired samples was used to determine significant changes in measures.


RESULTS
Results indicate a significant increase in average daily steps (p < .01), from 8565 (+/- 3121) steps at baseline to 10,538 (+/- 3681) steps after the program. Participants who averaged fewer than 6000 steps and obese participants experienced the greatest increase.


CONCLUSIONS
Although preliminary, this study indicates that the minimal contact, self-managed, pedometer-based lifestyle intervention was effective in increasing the daily physical activity of participants. Given the combination of behavioral techniques used, a recommendation for future studies would be to examine the impact of individual behavioral techniques on daily physical activity.
Croteau
Karen A
KA
213 Costello Complex, University of Southern Maine, Gorham, ME 04038, USA.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012107:Research Design; D014481:United States; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*