Small Steps Are Easier Together: a goal-based ecological intervention to increase walking by women in rural worksites.
OBJECTIVE
Small Steps Are Easier Together (SmStep) was a locally-instituted, ecologically based intervention to increase walking by women.


METHODS
Participants were recruited from 10 worksites in rural New York State in collaboration with worksite leaders and Cooperative Extension educators. Worksite leaders were oriented and chose site specific strategies. Participants used pedometers and personalized daily and weekly step goals. Participants reported steps on web logs and received weekly e-mail reports over 10 weeks in the spring of 2008.


RESULTS
Of 188 enrollees, 114 (61%) reported steps. Weekly goals were met by 53% of reporters. Intention to treat analysis revealed a mean increase of 1503 daily steps. Movement to a higher step zone over their baseline zone was found for: 52% of the sedentary (n=80); 29% of the low active (n=65); 13% of the somewhat active (n=28); and 18% of the active participants (n=10). This placed 36% of enrollees at the somewhat active or higher zones (23% at baseline, p<0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Workers increased walking steps through a goal-based intervention in rural worksites. The SmStep intervention provides a model for a group-based, locally determined, ecological strategy to increase worksite walking supported by local community educators and remote messaging using email and a web site.
Warren
Barbour S
BS
Program on Breast Cancer & Environmental Risk Factors, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-6401, USA. bsw23@cornell.edu
Maley
Mary
M
Sugarwala
Laura J
LJ
Wells
Martin T
MT
Devine
Carol M
CM
D000328:Adult; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006040:Goals; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D020407:Internet / Q000458:organization & administration; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D016138:Walking / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration