title: Environmental modifications and 2-year measured and self-reported stair-use: a worksite randomized trial.
abstract: Environmental modifications have been shown to increase short-term stair use, longer-term success is unclear. This study assessed the 2-year effectiveness of an environmental intervention promoting worksite stair use. We assessed stair use at work by means of self-reports and infrared beam counters (which send a safe and invisible beam of infrared light from one side of a stairwell to a reflector on the other side; when an individual uses the stairs, the infrared beam is disrupted and an instance of stair use is recorded) at six worksites (three intervention, three control) in a group randomized, controlled worksite weight-gain prevention trial in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. Intervention modifications were signs encouraging stair use, music, and art posters in stairwells. We collected data before environmental modifications (2006-2007) and at the end of the 2-year intervention (2008-2009). The intervention had a significant positive effect on stair use measured both objectively and via self-report, with greatest increases reported among those participants who used the stairs least at baseline. Following 2-years of continuously-maintained stairwell modifications, increases in both objectively-measured and self-reported stair use were significantly larger at intervention than control worksites. Study findings suggest that the positive impact of environmental modifications on stair use persist over a longer time period than has been previously demonstrated. Results also indicate that infrequent stair users may be most amenable to the behavior changes encouraged by these environmental enhancements.
authors: Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA, djgraham@umn.edu.
authors: Dan J
authors: DJ
authors: Graham
authors: Jennifer A
authors: JA
authors: Linde
authors: Julie M
authors: JM
authors: Cousins
authors: Robert W
authors: RW
authors: Jeffery
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005160:Facility Design and Construction / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology
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