Use of pedometer-driven walking to promote physical activity and improve health-related quality of life among meat processing workers: a feasibility trial

• Published in: Health and quality of life outcomes 2013-11, Vol.11 (1), p.185-185
• Main Authors: Mansi, Suliman, Milosavljevic, Stephan, Tumilty, Steve, Hendrick, Paul, Baxter, G David
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Actigraphy - instrumentation; Equipment and supplies; Feasibility Studies; Female; Health Promotion - methods; Health Status; Humans; Male; Meat; Motor Activity; New Zealand; Occupational Health; Quality of Life; Study Protocol; Teaching; Walking
• ISSN: 1477-7525; 1477-7525
• DOI: 10.1186/1477-7525-11-185

Current evidence supports the use of pedometers as effective motivational tools to promote physical activity and improve health-related quality of life in the general population. The aims of this study are to examine whether a pedometer-driven walking programme can improve health-related quality of life, and increase ambulatory activity in a population of meat processing workers when compared to a control group receiving educational material alone. A feasibility study employing a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design will collect data at three time points. A sample of up to 60 meat workers will be recruited and randomly assigned to either an intervention group N = 30 (12-week pedometer-driven walking program, brief intervention, and educational material), or control group N = 30 (educational material only). The primary outcomes of ambulatory activity, health-related quality of life, and functional capacity, will be evaluated at baseline, immediately following the 12-week intervention and then at three month post-intervention. This paper describes the design of a feasibility randomized controlled trial, which aims to assess the effectiveness of the introduction of a workplace pedometer-driven walking program compared to normal lifestyle advice in meat processing workers. 12613000087752.