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If you would like a copy of the complete publication, contact the senior author via the Who We Are section. Pickering, K., and Eakin, E. (2003). Using pedometers to increase physical activity in a family planning clinic: a feasibility study. Health Promotion Journal of Australia. 14: 165-170. Issues addressed: This study examined the use of pedometers to promote physical activity (PA) in low-income groups and issues related to the implementation of a home-based pedometer intervention by existing clinical (i.e. non-research) staff in a health-care setting. Methods: A pre/post design pedometer intervention trial was conducted with a sample of 35 women attending the Rockhampton Family Planning Clinic (FPC). Participants received brief PA counselling from the nurse practitioner, a pedometer, a record log and a PA booklet. The primary outcomes focused on reach and implementation, while secondary outcomes investigated changes in PA (i.e. efficacy). Results: Of the 50 women approached, 35 (70%) agreed to participate. Following the two-week pedometer trial, 31 women (89%) returned their pedometer record log sheets as requested, with 29 (84%) wearing the pedometer and filling in the log for 13-14 days of the trial. There was a statistically significant increase in the per cent meeting moderate PA guidelines from baseline to the two-week follow-up (43% to 63%, p<0.05); these results were not sustained at the eight-week follow-up. Conclusion: A pedometer intervention appears to be feasible to implement with a typically difficult-to-reach sample in a FPC setting. Changes in PA are difficult to interpret in the absence of a control group. Key words: Pedometers, physical activity interventions, primary health-care setting, low-income populations. So what? Results of this study add to the growing literature supporting the use of pedometers as a PA intervention tool and extend this body of work by demonstrating the feasibility of implementing a pedometer intervention in a busy family planning clinic with a representative sample of largely low-income women. |
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