A Move-A-Thon Event: A Workplace Demonstration of a Proposed Alternative Strategy to Incentivize Workers to Engage in Physical Activity

• Published in: AAOHN journal 2019-04, Vol.67 (4), p.153-158
• Main Authors: Reutman, Susan, Lewis, Renee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Donations; Exercise; Health promotion; Nursing; Occupational health; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Physical training; Sedentary behavior; Staff participation; Walking
• ISSN: 2165-0799; 2165-0969
• DOI: 10.1177/2165079918823211

Motivating employees to increase their physical activity is a health promotion challenge. A Move-A-Thon (MAT) event approach was implemented as an alternative incentive to help workers to optimize their physical activity levels. We implemented a demonstration project in which workers were incentivized for their participation through monetized donations to charity. Their steps were monitored over the 2-week demonstration period. The MAT goal was for participants to achieve a minimum of 3,000 daily steps for 2 weeks, for which they could earn a total donation of up to US$20. Participants walking at least once with up to five different “exercise buddies” could earn up to US$2 more per buddy for donation. Of 10 workers invited, nine enrolled and eight completed participation by logging their monitored steps across an average of 13.75 full MAT participation days. Participants averaged 9,330.8 steps per day—more than triple the lower threshold required for a maximum US$20 charitable donation. The eight participants walked with a total of 21 “exercise buddies.” They were receptive to future MAT events of longer duration. In total, the monetized donation to charity made by those eight participants was US$202. The MAT event participants were successful at promoting physical activity among a small group of workers for 2 weeks. Future worksite health promotion projects with this type of incentive strategy are indicated.