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Title: Feasibility of utilizing pedometer diaries in a rural African American community-based walking intervention for health promotion

Author
item ZOELLNER, JAMIE - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
item POWERS, ALICIA - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
item BOUNDS, WENDY - DELTA NIRI
item AVIS-WILLIAMS, AMANDA - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
item CONNELL, CAROL - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
item YADRICK, KATHY - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
item LOFTON, KRISTI - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
item ROWSER, MARJUYA - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI

Submitted to: International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/13/2007
Publication Date: 6/23/2007
Citation: Zoellner, J., Powers, A., Bounds, W., Avis-Williams, A., Connell, C., Yadrick, K., Lofton, K., Rowser, M. 2007. Feasibility of utilizing pedometer diaries in a rural African American community-based walking intervention for health promotion [abstract]. Proceedings of the International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. p. 120.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Purpose: Limited research is available on the feasibility or effectiveness of utilizing pedometer diaries in community-based interventions targeting rural, low socioeconomic, African American populations. The objectives of this walking intervention study were to assess participant adherence to maintaining a 6-month pedometer diary and to test intervention effectiveness by describing changes in steps/day and activity classification. Methods: Of the 83 enrolled intervention participants, the 77 participants who submitted diaries were primarily African American (99%) women (95%) with an average age of 42 (SD=13) years. Pedometer diaries were evaluated using descriptive statistics and repeated measures ANOVA. Results/findings: The adherence rate was 91% for weekly diary submission and 79% for daily step data recorded. The average number of steps was 6,665 (SD=3,396) steps/day during month one and increased steadily each month to 9,233 (SD=3,766) steps/day during month six (p<.002). During month one 60% of participants were classified as sedentary or inactive/low active compared to 37% during month six, and 10% of participants were classified as active or highly active during month one compared to 38% during month six. Overall, 47% of participants demonstrated a positive improvement in activity classification, 48% showed no change, and 7% regressed in activity classification. Conclusions: This study reveals excellent adherence rates for maintaining 6-month pedometer diaries and demonstrates intervention effectiveness with a desirable shift in steps/day and activity classification. Despite limitation of self-reported measures of physical activity, this research suggests that pedometer diaries are a viable intervention tool and research method in rural African American, community-based interventions.