title: The POWERPLAY workplace physical activity and nutrition intervention for men: Study protocol and baseline characteristics.
abstract: Many health promotion programs hold little "manly" appeal and as a consequence fail to influence men's self-health practices. That said, the workplace can provide an important delivery point for targeted health promotion programs by supporting positive aspects of masculinity. The purpose of this article is to, a) describe the intervention design and study protocol examining the feasibility of a gender-sensitive workplace health promotion intervention focusing on physical activity and healthy eating in male-dominated rural and remote worksites, and b) report baseline findings. This study is a non-randomized quasi-experimental intervention trial examining feasibility and acceptability, and estimated intervention effectiveness. The POWERPLAY program was developed through consultations with men and key workplace personnel, and by drawing on a growing body of men's health promotion research. The program includes masculine print-based messaging, face-to-face education sessions, friendly competition, and self-monitoring concerning physical activity and healthy eating. Male participants (N=139) were recruited from four worksites in northern British Columbia, Canada. Baseline data were collected via computer assisted telephone interview (CATI) survey which assessed physical activity, dietary behavior and workplace environment. This protocol will also be used to collect follow-up data at 6months. A process evaluation, using semi-structured interviews, will be undertaken to assess feasibility and acceptability among participants and worksites. Study outcomes will guide intervention refinement and further testing in a sufficiently powered randomized control trial.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, Canada; Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, Canada. Electronic address: cristina.caperchione@ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Cristina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Caperchione
authors.affiliation: Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, Canada.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.affiliation: Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, Canada.
authors.forename: Joan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bottorff
authors.affiliation: Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, Canada.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stolp
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Oliffe
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nursing and Health Studies, Athabasca University, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: Steven T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Canadian Cancer Society, British Columbia & Yukon Division, Prince George, Canada.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jones-Bricker
authors.affiliation: Prevention Programs, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Williams Lake, Canada.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Errey
authors.affiliation: Population Health Department, Northern Health, Fort St. John, Canada.
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Christian
authors.affiliation: Population Health Department, Northern Health, Prince George, Canada.
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Healy
authors.affiliation: Canadian Cancer Society, British Columbia & Yukon Division, Prince George, Canada.
authors.forename: Kerensa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Medhurst
authors.affiliation: Prevention Programs, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lamont
keywords: Feasibility; Gender-sensitive workplace intervention; Healthy eating; Men; Physical activity; Rural and remote