title: Effect of online pedometer program on physical activity in Qatar.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of pedometers as motivation for individuals to walk 10,000 steps and more a day.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional longitudinal study conducted during for 12 weeks. The intervention consists of goal setting to reach 10,000 steps or more and to keep it as daily target. The pedometer was issued for every participant after they were registered at the website and given a self-monitoring on line account. Participants were informed to upload their data every week. An automated e-mail and text messages were sent to participant didn't upload the data. Average daily steps measured in the 1st week were taken as baseline, and the average weekly steps were measured at the 4, 8, and 12 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 970 adults, and showed a significant increase in average daily steps from 6.833±4.144 steps/day at baseline into 10.600±6,385 steps/week at the 12th week (P<0.001), 19.3% met the daily target of 10,000 steps or more at the baseline with considerable increase to 45.0% by the 12th week. However this increase is more obvious in females as only 11.7% of them met the daily target of 10,000 steps at start and reached to 38.5% at the 12th week. At the 12th week the age group ≥45 years became more active with pedometer than the younger age group (48.5% vs. 43.2%). Although adults from different races showed increasing physical activity however Arabs remain less active than other ethnic groups (39.0% and 53.3% respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pedometer program was found to be effective in promoting physical activity in Qatar. Daily steps goal is encouraging adults for achieving their recommended daily physical activity level. This intervention is more useful for adults and women in particular.
authors.affiliation: Aspetar Hospital, Doha, Qatar - mohamed.alkuwari@aspetar.com.
authors.forename: Mohamed G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Al-Kuwari
authors.forename: Abdulla S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Al-Mohannadi
authors.forename: Izzeldin I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: El-Jack
authors.forename: Fuad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Almudahka
mesh_terms: D056044:Actigraphy; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D011780:Qatar; D012737:Sex Factors