1. WV Walks: replication with expanded reach.
- Author
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Reger-Nash B, Bauman A, Cooper L, Chey T, Simon KJ, Brann M, and Leyden KM
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Community Participation, Exercise, Female, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Male, Mass Media, Middle Aged, Social Marketing, West Virginia, Health Promotion organization & administration, Walking
- Abstract
Background: WV Walks replicated the Wheeling Walks community-wide campaign methodology to promote physical activity., Methods: A social marketing intervention promoted walking among insufficiently active 40- to 65-year-olds throughout the television media market in north-central West Virginia. The intervention included participatory planning, an 8-week mass media-based campaign, and policy and environmental activities. Pre and post random-digit-dial cohort telephone surveys were conducted at baseline and immediately postcampaign in intervention and comparison regions., Results: The campaign resulted in maximal message awareness in north-central WV and demonstrated a significant increase in walking behavior represented by an absolute shift of 12% of the target population from insufficiently active to active (> or = 30 minutes, 5 days per week), versus the comparison community (adjusted odds ratio 1.82, CI: 1.05-3.17). Policy and environmental changes were also evident., Conclusions: This replication study increases our confidence that the initial effects observed in the Wheeling Walks intervention are generalizable to other similar rural communities.
- Published
- 2008
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