Alternative placements for women wearing pedometers.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if pedometer placement sites in women, other than the waist, provide the same results.


METHODS
Three pedometers were given to 12 women to wear on a bra strap, waist, and shoe for a week and then rotated through each site. The participants recorded their daily step counts in a log, turned in weekly, and were instructed not to change their daily routine. Body mass index (BMI), placement preference, and waist and hip measures were collected at enrollment and the concluding sessions.


CONCLUSIONS
Women's adiposity distribution patterns and clothing provide potential barriers to pedometer use at the waist. Daily walking is an affordable option for physical activity counseling by nurse practitioners (NPs). The bra and shoe placements were not found to be equitable alternative sites compared with waist placement of pedometers. However, 75% of participants had improvement in BMI and waist-to-hip measures with no lifestyle intervention. The participants preferred a placement perceived as comfortable and consistent.


CONCLUSIONS
The results inform NPs that women need to consistently wear pedometers in a daily walking program, which can lead to beneficial changes in BMI. NPs should encourage walking as a form of daily physical activity, which may be monitored by a pedometer worn consistently.
Ling
Catherine G
CG
College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA. lingcg@musc.edu
Smith
Sheila O
SO
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003256:Community Participation; D037001:Directive Counseling; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006615:Hip; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory; D009043:Motor Activity; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D016138:Walking; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult