Evaluation of an employer-sponsored pedometer-based physical activity program.
This study evaluated a competition-based employer-sponsored physical activity program using pedometers. City employees (N approximately 2,600) formed teams in groups of 10 persons (N = 640). The groups competed against each other over a 12-wk. period with the goal of attaining 10,000 steps per day, per person. Only teams with complete data were included in the formal evaluation. A repeated-measures analysis of variance indicated significant differences in team steps by week of the program, with post hoc comparisons indicating significant differences from baseline step counts evident during Weeks 6-8 but not at the end of the program. These data confirm that competition-based physical activity programs using pedometers may not be an effective means of increasing the long-term physical activity of employees.
Behrens
Timothy K
TK
Department of Kinesiology, Kansas State University, 1A Natatorium, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA. tbehrens@k-state.edu
Domina
Lorie
L
Fletcher
Gena M
GM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D016272:Occupational Health; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration