Real-world evaluation of a community-based pedometer intervention.
BACKGROUND
We evaluated a pedometer-based community intervention under real-world conditions.


METHODS
Participants (n=559) provided demographic and health information using surveys and steps/d at baseline and during the last week the participants were in the program. A 1-year follow-up was conducted, but in keeping with real-world conditions, no incentives were offered to participate.


RESULTS
Participants (89% female, age 48.1 [SD=12] years) took 7864 (3114) steps/d at baseline. Postprogram voluntary response rates to mailed surveys were 41.3% at 12 weeks and 22.8% at 1 year. Program completers reported significantly higher steps/d at 12 weeks (approximately 12,000 steps/d) and 1 year (approximately 11,000 steps/d) compared with baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
The improvement in steps/d in this real-world implementation was consistent with more controlled studies of pedometer-based interventions. Low response to voluntary follow-up is a study limitation but is expected of real-world evaluations.
Chan
Catherine B
CB
Department of Physiology and the Alberta Institute of Human Nutrition, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Tudor-Locke
Catrine
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019058:Community Networks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011325:Prince Edward Island; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult