Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #110544

Janis McWayne, PhD, MPH, CHES, School of Education, Francis Marion University, Box 100547, Florence, SC 29501, (843) 661-1467, jmcwayne@fmarion.edu, Peter King, PhD, Department of Biology, Francis Marion University, Box 100547, Florence, SC 29501, and Diane Santiago, MS, RN, School of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Box 250203, Charleston, SC 29425.

Student focus groups were conducted to learn about student physical activity (PA) attitudes and behaviors at a small southern university. As a result of the focus groups findings two student organizations and three faculty members developed a walking program for students. The aim of the walking program was to promote student awareness of daily activity and to increase PA. The purpose of this research was to examine the effect of the student walking program. Behavioral strategies used in this program were self-checks, goal setting for behavioral changes, and self-monitoring. The 8-week program provided incentives in the form of educational sessions and motivational e-mail. The participants were 174 university students, 57% were European American and 39% African American; 24% were overweight, and 26% obese. Participants selected weight control (67%) as their primary health concern. Baseline measurements were weight and height for BMI, blood pressure, and resting heart rate. Participants completed questionnaires about their perceptions of personal physical activity and demographics. They received a pedometer, monitoring log, educational pamphlets, a tee-shirt, and instructions for the protocol of the study. Next, they monitored and recorded their steps for 8 weeks. The primary outcome measures were changes in perception, weight, and BMI at the end of the intervention period. Generally, participants were unaware of their daily physical activity and through goal-setting and the pedometer log, educational sessions and motivational e-mail participants learned to incorporate physical activity into their daily schedule. The intervention appeared to prompt and motivate participants to practice improved physical activity behavior.

Learning Objectives:

• •Identify intervention components designed to meet needs and interests of students.
• •Describe goal-setting and self-monitoring using pedometer as a tool.
• •Identify the components of the intervention that co-existed well with the university environment to promote improved physical activity behavior.

Keywords: College Students, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.