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

Abstract #115074

Judith McDevitt, PhD, APN¹, JoEllen Wilbur, PhD, RN, FAAN², Edward Wang, PhD³, Diana L. M. Ingram, MPH¹, Joi L. Green, BS¹, and Hyeonkyeong Lee, MS². (1) Public Health, Mental Health, and Administrative Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing, 845 S. Damen Ave (MC 802), Chicago, IL 60612, 312-996-9175, jmcdev1@uic.edu, (2) College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 S. Damen, Chicago, IL 60612, (3) Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1640 West Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, IL 60608

Reducing health disparities in African American (AA) women in part depends on the successful adoption of new health behaviors such as regular walking. However, adoption is not a straightforward process. The purpose of this paper is to examine patterns of adherence in 156 midlife AA women during the 24-week adoption phase of a home-based walking program. The study included sedentary community-based women aged 40-65 years (mean 48.5 years) with no major signs/symptoms of CV disease; no history of myocardial infarction, stroke, or Type 1 diabetes; and not on beta-blocker medication. After a baseline health assessment and maximal aerobic fitness testing, participants received an individualized prescription for walking using a progression of physical activity consistent with current guidelines. Workshops, personalized phone calls, and face-to-face visits provided information and support. Adherence to the walking prescription was measured with heart-rate monitors and exercise-log data entered via an automated telephone reporting system. The total number of walks and the sequence of walks will be examined to identify patterns of adherence to walking during the adoption phase. Differences in adherence patterns will be examined by changes in aerobic fitness as measured by time on treadmill and estimated VO_2max (pre to post). At baseline, over 70% of the women were obese/extremely obese (BMI > 30), and 88% had poor or fair fitness. Overall, the women adhered to 67 % of the prescribed walks.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the learner will be able to

• Describe patterns of exercise adherence during the adoption phase of regular walking in midlife African American women.
• Discuss the relationship of patterns of exercise adherence to changes in aerobic fitness during the adoption phase of regular walking.
• Identify the implications of typical patterns of exercise adherence during the adoption phase for health promotion program planning.

Keywords: Exercise, Ethnic Minorities

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.

Recorded presentation