Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Judith McDevitt, PhD¹, JoEllen Wilbur, PhD¹, Edward Wang, PhD², Diana L. M. Ingram, BS, MPH¹, Hyeonkyeong Lee, PhD¹, and SuKyung Ju, MS¹. (1) Department of Public Health, Mental Health, and Administrative Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 South Damen Avenue, M/C 802, Chicago, IL 60612, 312-996-9175, jmcdev1@uic.edu, (2) Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1640 West Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, IL 60608-6904

Reducing health disparities in African American (AA) women in part depends on the successful maintenance of newly adopted health behaviors such as regular walking. However, maintenance is not a straightforward process. The purpose of this paper is to examine relationships of 6 adherence patterns identified during adoption of a home-based walking program (the first 24 weeks) to maintenance of walking during weeks 25-48 in 156 midlife AA women. 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. Prior to beginning the program, participants received a baseline health assessment, maximal aerobic fitness testing, and an individualized prescription for walking using a progression of physical activity consistent with current guidelines. During adoption (weeks 1-24), 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. At the end of adoption, participants had a follow-up health assessment and maximal aerobic fitness testing, and they received an updated individualized prescription for walking based on their fitness at 24 weeks and consistent with current guidelines. During maintenance (weeks 25-48), participants were supported with tapered phone calls only, and adherence to the walking prescription was measured with exercise-log data entered via the automated telephone reporting system. Eighty-four women returned for fitness tests at 48 weeks. Overall, women with consistent and irregular adherence patterns during adoption yielded lower BMI (p=0.02), more time on treadmill (p=0.01), and better fitness classification (p<.001) at 48 weeks compared to women with recycle, middle relapse, sporadic and early relapse patterns. This suggests that positive adherence patterns observed during the adoption phase could continue to result in affirmative fitness status outcomes in the maintenance phase.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Describe patterns of adherence to regular, moderate-intensity walking during the maintenance phase (weeks 25-4
• of a walking program for midlife African American women.
• Identify common barriers to regular, moderate-intensity walking in midlife African American women during the maintenance phase.
• Discuss implications of the study's findings for patient education and community interventions to increase regular, moderate physical activity in African American women.

Keywords: Physical Activity, African American

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation