Real-world evaluation of a community-based pedometer intervention

Abstract

Background: We evaluated a pedometer-based community intervention under real-world conditions.

Methods: Participants (n=559) provided demographic and health information using surveys and steps/d at baseline and during the last week the participants were in the program. A 1-year follow-up was conducted, but in keeping with real-world conditions, no incentives were offered to participate.

Results: Participants (89% female, age 48.1 [SD=12] years) took 7864 (3114) steps/d at baseline. Postprogram voluntary response rates to mailed surveys were 41.3% at 12 weeks and 22.8% at 1 year. Program completers reported significantly higher steps/d at 12 weeks (approximately 12,000 steps/d) and 1 year (approximately 11,000 steps/d) compared with baseline.

Conclusions: The improvement in steps/d in this real-world implementation was consistent with more controlled studies of pedometer-based interventions. Low response to voluntary follow-up is a study limitation but is expected of real-world evaluations.