UWALK: the development of a multi-strategy, community-wide physical activity program.
UWALK is a multi-strategy, multi-sector, theory-informed, community-wide approach using e and mHealth to promote physical activity in Alberta, Canada. The aim of UWALK is to promote physical activity, primarily via the accumulation of steps and flights of stairs, through a single over-arching brand. This paper describes the development of the UWALK program. A social ecological model and the social cognitive theory guided the development of key strategies, including the marketing and communication activities, establishing partnerships with key stakeholders, and e and mHealth programs. The program promotes the use of physical activity monitoring devices to self-monitor physical activity. This includes pedometers, electronic devices, and smartphone applications. In addition to entering physical activity data manually, the e and mHealth program provides the function for objective data to be automatically uploaded from select electronic devices (Fitbit®, Garmin and the smartphone application Moves) The RE-AIM framework is used to guide the evaluation of UWALK. Funding for the program commenced in February 2013. The UWALK brand was introduced on April 12, 2013 with the official launch, including the UWALK website on September 20, 2013. This paper describes the development and evaluation framework of a physical activity promotion program. This program has the potential for population level dissemination and uptake of an ecologically valid physical activity promotion program that is evidence-based and theoretically framed.
Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2J9, Canada. cally1@ualberta.ca.
Cally A
CA
Jennings
Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2J9, Canada.
Tanya R
TR
Berry
Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2J9, Canada.
Valerie
V
Carson
Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada.
S Nicole
SN
Culos-Reed
School of Medicine and Public Health; Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
Mitch J
MJ
Duncan
Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2J9, Canada.
Christina C
CC
Loitz
Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Gavin R
GR
McCormack
Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2J9, Canada.
Tara-Leigh F
TF
McHugh
Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2J9, Canada.
John C
JC
Spence
Faculty of Health Disciplines, Athabasca University, Athabasca, AB, T9S-3A3, Canada.
Jeff K
JK
Vallance
Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2J9, Canada.
W Kerry
WK
Mummery
D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D001364:Awareness; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*
Community; Evaluation; Health promotion; Internet; Physical activity; Theory