title: How Do Stages of Change for Physical Activity Relate to Employee Sign-Up for and Completion of a Worksite Physical Activity Competition?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study evaluated whether stages of change for physical activity (PA) predict sign-up, participation, and completion in a PA competition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Deidentified data were provided to evaluate a PA competition between 16 different institutions from a public university system. Employees who completed a health assessment (HA) prior to the start of the PA competition ( n = 6,333) were included in the study. Participants completed a self-report HA and logged their PA throughout the competition. Multivariable logistic regression models tested whether stages of change predicted PA competition sign-up and completion. An ordinal logistic regression model tested whether stages of change predicted number of weeks of PA competition participation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stages of change predicted PA competition sign-up and completion, but not weeks of participation. The odds for PA competition sign-up were 1.64 and 1.98 times higher for employees in preparation and action/maintenance (respectively) compared with employees in precontemplation/contemplation. The odds for PA competition completion were 4.17 times higher for employees in action/maintenance compared with employees in precontemplation/contemplation/preparation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PA competition was more likely to reach employees in preparation, action, or maintenance stages than precontemplation/contemplation. Most of the completers were likely participating in regular PA prior to the competition.
authors.affiliation: 1 The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: 1 The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tullar
authors.affiliation: 1 The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Wendell C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: 2 The University of Texas System, Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Rolando
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Román
authors.affiliation: 3 Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.|4 Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Benjamin C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Amick
keywords: behavior change; physical activity/exercise; worksite safety and health