Feasibility of a minimal contact intervention to promote walking among insufficiently active women.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the impact of a 6-week minimal contact intervention on walking behavior, the 10 processes of change of the transtheoretical model (TTM), and self-efficacy among insufficiently active women.


METHODS
This study used a pre-experimental design. Of the 43 women who began the study, 36 (84%) completed questionnaires at baseline and postintervention. They were given brochures and pedometers and were sent e-mails that contained messages designed to positively affect TTM constructs. Changes in time spent walking, use of the 10 processes of change, and self-efficacy were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed rank tests and paired t-tests.


RESULTS
Participants significantly increased their total walking minutes (p = .001) and use of counterconditioning, dramatic relief reinforcement management, self-liberation, stimulus control, and social liberation (p < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this feasibility study provide preliminary evidence that this theoretically based, minimal contact lifestyle intervention may be an effective, low-cost approach to increase walking among insufficiently active women.
Dinger
Mary K
MK
Department of Health and Exercise Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-6081, USA. mkdinger@ou.edu
Heesch
Kristiann C
KC
McClary
Kristi R
KR
D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009043:Motor Activity; D016730:Program Development; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking