A stage-targeted physical activity intervention among a predominantly African-American low-income primary care population.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the efficacy of a stage-targeted physical activity intervention among low-income African-Americans.


METHODS
207 participants were randomly assigned to groups and administered baseline measures. Intervention participants were mailed stage-targeted physical activity information, whereas control participants received low-sodium diet brochures. Measures were readministered by phone 1 and 6 months later, with response rates of 69% and 46%, respectively.


RESULTS
69% of participants were African-American and 64% had a monthly household income of < $1000. A doubly-multivariate analysis of variance indicated that intervention participants reported more physical activity than control participants at 1 month (F(1, 204) = 4.03, p < .05). Unlike control participants, intervention participants reported significant stage progression at 1 month, according to a McNemar chi2 test. Gains attenuated by 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The current study supports the use of this intervention among low-income African-Americans. Limitations include use of self-report measures and small sample size.
Whitehead
Dori
D
Department of Primary Care Research, Earl K. Long Medical Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. doriwhitehead@hotmail.com
Bodenlos
Jamie S
JS
Cowles
Margaret L
ML
Jones
Glenn N
GN
Brantley
Phillip J
PJ
D001741:Black or African American; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008145:Louisiana; D008297:Male; D011203:Poverty; D015397:Program Evaluation