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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Mark Wilson, HSD¹, Tania B. Basta, MPH¹, David M. DeJoy, PhD¹, Stephanie D. Walsh, MPA¹, Robert J. Vandenberg, PhD², and Rod K. Dishman, PhD³. (1) Health Promotion and Behavior, University of Georgia, 300 River Road, Athens, GA 30602, 706-542-4364, mwilson@uga.edu, (2) Terry School of Business, University of Georgia, Brooks Hall 410, Athens, GA 30602, (3) Department of Kinesiology, University of Georgia, 300 River Road, Athens, GA 30602

Workplace health interventions have traditionally focused on individual behavior change. However, there is an increasing interest in developing multi-level interventions based on a social-ecological approach to health promotion. This presentation will discuss a physical activity intervention that uses a multi-level approach including organizational actions and goal-based cognitive behavioral modification strategies. Specifically, we will present the theoretical and conceptual framework for the intervention, details of the development and implementation of a 12-week intervention aimed to increase physical activity among employees in a large organization, and lessons learned from an academic-corporate partnership and program implementation. The components of this 12-week intervention included 1) use of environmental prompts to raise awareness for physical activity, 2) individual and team goal setting, and 3) organizational action aimed to increase managerial support for the intervention. In order to promote participation at multiple levels of the organization, a Site Coordinator at each site was responsible for involving management in the intervention process as well as overseeing the peer leaders and the participants. At the beginning of the intervention, participants were given pedometers to measure their daily physical activity. Based on their initial activity level, participants set goals that were evaluated and adjusted bi-weekly, while team goals were based on physical activity guidelines established by the CDC. Participants were rewarded for meeting their individual and team goals. Lessons learned emphasize the importance of involving the organization in development and implementation of the intervention and the importance of adapting the implementation to meet the needs of the intervention sites.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to
• describe the theoretical and conceptual framework for the intervention,
• describe the components of the intervention, and
• outline the lessons learned from an academic-worksite partnership.

Keywords: Worksite, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation