title: Walk@Work: An automated intervention to increase walking in university employees not achieving 10,000 daily steps.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed the workday step counts of lower active (<10,000 daily steps) university employees using an automated, web-based walking intervention (Walk@Work).
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic and administrative staff (n=390; 45.6±10.8years; BMI 27.2±5.5kg/m(2); 290 women) at five campuses (Australia [x2], Canada, Northern Ireland and the United States), were given a pedometer, access to the website program (2010-11) and tasked with increasing workday walking by 1000 daily steps above baseline, every two weeks, over a six week period. Step count changes at four weeks post intervention were evaluated relative to campus and baseline walking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Across the sample, step counts significantly increased from baseline to post-intervention (1477 daily steps; p=0.001). Variations in increases were evident between campuses (largest difference of 870 daily steps; p=0.04) and for baseline activity status. Those least active at baseline (<5000 daily steps; n=125) increased step counts the most (1837 daily steps; p=0.001), whereas those most active (7500-9999 daily steps; n=79) increased the least (929 daily steps; p=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Walk@Work increased workday walking by 25% in this sample overall. Increases occurred through an automated program, at campuses in different countries, and were most evident for those most in need of intervention.
authors: School of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland, Australia. n.gilson1@uq.edu.au
authors: Nicholas D
authors: ND
authors: Gilson
authors: Guy
authors: G
authors: Faulkner
authors: Marie H
authors: MH
authors: Murphy
authors: M Renee Umstattd
authors: MR
authors: Meyer
authors: Tracy
authors: T
authors: Washington
authors: Gemma C
authors: GC
authors: Ryde
authors: Kelly P
authors: KP
authors: Arbour-Nicitopoulos
authors: Kimber A
authors: KA
authors: Dillon
mesh_terms: D000288:Administrative Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D001331:Automation; D005080:Exercise Test; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods*; D009786:Occupational Health Services; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017132:Workplace