Effects of a Pedometer-Based Telephone Coaching Intervention on Physical Activity Among People with Cardiac Disease in Urban, Rural and Semi-Rural Settings: A Replication Study.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to determine the replicability of a pedometer-based telephone coaching intervention by comparing the outcomes of a study conducted in rural and urban settings to a study that previously found the same intervention effective in a semi-rural setting.


METHODS
Replication studies are conducted to assess whether an efficacious intervention is effective in multiple different settings. This study compared the outcomes of a pedometer-based coaching intervention implemented in urban and rural settings (replication study) with the same intervention implemented in a semi-rural setting (reference study) on physical activity levels.


RESULTS
Improvements in total weekly physical activity time in the replication study were significant from baseline to six weeks (p<0.001 urban, p=0.006 rural) and remained significant at six months (p=0.029 urban, p=0.005 rural). These increases were comparable to those achieved in the original efficacy trial conducted in a semi-rural setting.


CONCLUSIONS
The pedometer-based telephone coaching intervention increases physical activity levels of people with cardiac disease referred to a CR program in diverse settings. This replication study indicates the suitability of this minimal contact, low-cost intervention for further scaling-up to address unmet need in community-dwelling cardiac patients.
School of Dentistry and Health Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: jsangster@csu.edu.au.
Janice
J
Sangster
Health Promotion Service, Illawarra and Shoalhaven Local Health District, Warrawong, NSW, Australia; School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Susan
S
Furber
School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Philayrath
P
Phongsavan
The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Julie
J
Redfern
National Heart Foundation of Australia (Illawarra Shoalhaven Region NSW).
Andrew
A
Mark
School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Adrian
A
Bauman
D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000071252:Mentoring; D008875:Middle Aged; D012939:Social Planning; D013689:Telephone; D014506:Urban Renewal
Cardiac rehabilitation; Pedometer; Physical activity; Replication study; Telephone coaching