title: The Effectiveness of a Physical Activity Educational Campaign in a Rural Obstetrics and Gynecology Office.
abstract: Objectives The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an early intervention health education campaign to positively influence physical activity (PA) knowledge, intention, and performance among prenatal women and women of reproductive age. Methods This study employed a quantitative, quasi-experimental, control-group comparison design with nonprobability sampling methodology. Implemented in rural healthcare settings located in the Southeastern portion of the United States, participants included prenatal patients and patients of reproductive age (n = 325) from two separate obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) offices. While the intervention group was solicited from an OB/GYN office where the information-based health education campaign was implemented, the comparison group was solicited from a comparable OB/GYN office that did not implement the health education campaign. Results The women exposed to the PA health education campaign were significantly more likely to report that PA information was provided at their physician's office, scored higher on PA knowledge, and were more likely to meet the guidelines for vigorous PA and strength training (p < 0.05). Conclusions Physical activity educational campaigns are a cost effective intervention that can be implemented in healthcare settings to promote maternal and child health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Sciences, Georgia Southern University, PO Box 8076, Statesboro, GA, 30460, USA. bmelton@georgiasouthern.edu.
authors.forename: Bridget F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Melton
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Helen W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Bland
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Restoration and Care Systems Management, Health Science Center, University of Texas, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Elaine S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling and Human Development Services, College of Education, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Bigham
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009774:Obstetrics; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D012424:Rural Population; D015144:Southeastern United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Education campaign intervention; Physical activity; Pregnancy