A community-wide walking initiative, Walk El Paso, was implemented in El Paso, TX using an extensive media campaign targeted towards middle-aged Hispanic women. People received a walking "kit" which described how to walk for exercise at least three days a week, 20 minutes each time, using a Social Learning Theory approach to changing behavior. Observations were made every three months at randomly selected parks, high schools, and at all city malls. During the 1999 media campaign, walking significantly increased by 27% in men and 31% in women as compared to walking before the 1999 campaign. This translates to a possible 48,400 men and 55,571 women who walked in 1999 in response to Walk El Paso. A random survey of people walking in March 2000 revealed that people felt Walk El Paso helped them start or continue a regular walking program and that the campaign had a large impact on the health of people in El Paso. Very few people were in a walking group or had been contacted to join a walking group and 30% of the people who called for a walking "kit" had not received one. Based upon these limited findings, Walk El Paso is impacting 1/4 to 1/3 of the sedentary population of El Paso, TX. For program improvements, the survey of walkers indicated that delivery of walking "kits" to all people who call for one and that building the connection of walkers to walking groups should receive special attention. See www.pdnhf.org
Learning Objectives: 1. Learn about a model for successful physical activity promotion in underserved communities. 2. Learn about using observation and survey tools to assess behavioral change in response to community interventions.
Keywords: Behavioral Research, Hispanic
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