The effect of a primary care exercise intervention for rural women.
OBJECTIVE
Rural women have limited exercise opportunities and significant barriers to engaging in physical activity. This study assessed the effect of a brief primary care based walking intervention in rural women.


METHODS
The participants were recruited in March, 2003 by a primary care nurse at three locations in rural Missouri. The enrolled subjects were given a pedometer, exercise videotape and provided exercise counseling at intake and four time points over 6 months. The week 1 pedometer step counts were compared with step counts at 6-month follow-up.


RESULTS
Of the initial 75 participants, 61 completed at least one follow up encounter. The participant's mean age was 42.5 years. At intake, the majority of women (90%) exhibited one or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease; 78% were obese or overweight. Although most (62%) women reported being physically active, the mean pedometer reading was low at 6337 steps per day at week 1. Over the follow-up period, participants increased their step counts by a mean of 2573 steps per day (p<.001). Increases in step counts were seen in normal weight, overweight and obese participants.


CONCLUSIONS
A simple walking intervention through a primary care practice was effective in increasing the short term walking rates of rural women.
Sherman
Bonnie J
BJ
The Women's Health Unit, Evans Department of Medicine, and the Women's Health Interdisciplinary Research Center, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA. bsherman@bu.edu
Gilliland
Gina
G
Speckman
Jeanne L
JL
Freund
Karen M
KM
D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D008923:Missouri; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012423:Rural Health; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D016387:Women's Health