title: Promoting routine stair use: evaluating the impact of a stair prompt across buildings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although studies have demonstrated that stair prompts are associated with increased physical activity, many were conducted in low-rise buildings over a period of weeks and did not differentiate between stair climbing and descent.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the impact of a prompt across different building types, and on stair climbing versus descent over several months.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2008-2009, stair and elevator trips were observed and analyzed at three buildings in New York City before and after the posting of a prompt stating "Burn Calories, Not Electricity" (total observations=18,462). Sites included a three-story health clinic (observations=4987); an eight-story academic building (observations=5151); and a ten-story affordable housing site (observations=8324). Stair and elevator trips up and down were recorded separately at the health clinic to isolate the impact on climbing and descent. Follow-up was conducted at the health clinic and affordable housing site to assess long-term impact.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increased stair use was seen at all sites immediately after posting of the prompt (range=9.2%-34.7% relative increase, p<0.001). Relative increases in stair climbing (20.2% increase, p<0.001) and descent (4.4% increase, p<0.05) were seen at the health clinic. At both sites with long-term follow-up, relative increases were maintained at 9 months after posting compared to baseline: 42.7% (p<0.001) increase in stair use at the affordable housing site and 20.3% (p<0.001) increase in stair climbing at the health clinic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that the prompt was effective in increasing physical activity in diverse settings, and increases were maintained at 9 months.
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York 11101, USA. klee3@health.nyc.gov
authors.forename: Karen K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ashley S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Reena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Randi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosenblum
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Victoria E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Grimshaw
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Wener
authors.forename: Lynn D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Silver
mesh_terms: D004607:Elevators and Escalators; D015444:Exercise; D006268:Health Facilities; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D009519:New York City; D017010:Reminder Systems