Walking on prescription : The utility of a pedometer pack for increasing physical activity in primary care

McKay, Jane and Wright, Annemarie and Lowry, Ruth and Steele, Kenny and Ryde, Gemma and Mutrie, Nanette (2009) Walking on prescription : The utility of a pedometer pack for increasing physical activity in primary care. Patient Education and Counseling, 76 (1). pp. 71-76. ISSN 0738-3991

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Abstract

Objective: This study used a multi-method approach to examine the effectiveness of a pedometer-based intervention delivered by health professionals for increasing walking. Methods: Pedometer packs were distributed to 374 patients who undertook a 12-week walking programme. Changes in walking were assessed at three months (using self-reported step-counts [n = 139] and questionnaire data [n = 104]) and at six months (using patient questionnaire data [n = 112]). Qualitative data were collected at both time points to identify underlying mechanisms. Results: After 12 weeks patients had increased their step-counts by 4532 steps/day (p < .001) and at six months were achieving 2977 more steps/day (equivalent to around 30 min/day) than at baseline. Over half the patients reported achieving this target on at least 5 days/week. Qualitative data indicated that the pedometer pack was perceived to be most effective when patients were ready to change and when ongoing support was made available. Conclusion: These findings support the use of pedometer-based interventions in primary care and suggest that the pedometer pack Could lead to sustainable changes in walking. Further investigation, using a randomised controlled trial design, is warranted. Practice implications: Provision of social support and accurate identification of patient readiness to change are important considerations in future implementation of the intervention. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Creators(s): McKay, Jane, Wright, Annemarie, Lowry, Ruth, Steele, Kenny, Ryde, Gemma and Mutrie, Nanette;
Item type:Article
ID code:35770
Keywords:pedometer, primary care, walking, physical activity, exercise, randomized controlled-trial, activity intervention, transtheoretical model, general practitioners, activity promotion, practice nurses, improve health, public health, adults, Personal health and hygiene, including exercise, nutrition , Medicine(all)
Subjects:Medicine > Public aspects of medicine > Personal health and hygiene, including exercise, nutrition
Department:Faculty of Education > Sport, Culture and The Arts
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) > School of Psychological Science and Health > Physical Activity for Health
Depositing user: Pure Administrator
Date deposited:11 Nov 2011 14:50
Last modified:01 Jan 2021 04:56
URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/35770
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