A population-based randomized controlled trial of the effect of combining a pedometer with an intervention toolkit on physical activity among individuals with low levels of physical activity or fitness

Abstract Objectives To examine if receiving a pedometer along with an intervention toolkit is associated with increased physical activity, aerobic fitness and better self-rated health among individuals with low levels of physical activity or fitness. Methods The intervention was nested in the Danish...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Preventive medicine 2012-02, Vol.54 (2), p.125-130
Main Authors: Petersen, Christina Bjørk, Severin, Maria, Hansen, Andreas Wolff, Curtis, Tine, Grønbæk, Morten, Tolstrup, Janne Schurmann
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aerobic exercise
Aerobic fitness
Aged
Chi-Square Distribution
Denmark
Exercise
Exercise - physiology
Exercise - psychology
Female
Health promotion
Health status
Humans
Internal Medicine
Intervention studies
Male
Middle Aged
Motor Activity - physiology
Older people
Physical activity
Physical Fitness - physiology
Psychological Theory
Randomized controlled trial
Self Report
Statistics as Topic
Statistics, Nonparametric
Surveys and Questionnaires
Time Factors
Walking
Walking - physiology
Walking - psychology
Young Adult
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Summary:Abstract Objectives To examine if receiving a pedometer along with an intervention toolkit is associated with increased physical activity, aerobic fitness and better self-rated health among individuals with low levels of physical activity or fitness. Methods The intervention was nested in the Danish Health Examination Survey (DANHES) and carried out in 2008. Participants were randomly assigned to either a pedometer group (n = 326) or a control group (n = 329). Physical activity, aerobic fitness, and self-rated health were measured at baseline and at 3-month follow-up, and differences were tested by Wilcoxons signed rank tests and Chi-squared tests. Results At follow-up, no significant differences in physical activity, aerobic fitness and self-rated health were found between the groups. However, the oldest participants in the pedometer group reported significantly more walking time compared to the controls (controls = 368 min/week, pedometer group = 680 min/week, P = 0.05). Among participants who completed the intervention, a significant effect on total walking time was observed (median difference = 225 min/week, P = 0.04). Conclusions The results suggest that receiving a pedometer and along with an intervention toolkit can increase walking time in older individuals, but not in younger individuals. Thus, this type of intervention offers great potential for promoting physical activity in older individuals. Trial registration number : NCT01071811
ISSN:0091-7435
1096-0260
DOI:10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.12.012