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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Mary Jane Williams, MS¹, Amanda Wilson, BA², and H. Denise Dodds, MCRP, MEd, PhD². (1) Community Initiatives, Boston Public Health Commission, 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02136, 617-534-5685, mwilliams@bphc.org, (2) Research Office, Boston Public Health Commission, 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02118

CDC-funded Boston Steps is working to reduce diabetes, asthma, and obesity in Boston. The Boston Steps Workplace Wellness team plans and implements strategies to improve employees' health in a building housing four City Agencies. Based upon ideas from the CDC, the team developed two campaigns to increase stairway usage in the six-story building. In the first campaign, twelve “Take the Stairs” messages were developed and posted next to the two elevators on all six landings. Posters were rotated to provide exposure to all messages. Surveillance done before and after the campaign showed a 2% increase in stair usage. The second campaign, “Mountain Challenge” used a more intensive approach. In preparation for the challenge, flights of stair were converted to mountain heights. Employees were challenged to compete with each other to “climb mountains” by taking the stairs. Individuals and groups were eligible to participate. For six weeks, teams tracked the number of flights taken. Each week, small incentive prizes were awarded for “mountains” climbed— winning teams received grand prizes. Seventy-two employees signed up for the campaign, and most (88%) climbed at least one mountain. The average flights climbed per person, per week was 107. Initial long-term outcomes look promising: surveillance done after the campaign showed a 4% increase in stair usage from baseline. This presentation will describe each campaign including planning, steps taken to involve building managers, recruitment techniques, resources needed, and intended and unintended outcomes. The presentation will also compare the relative benefits and costs of each campaign.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will become familiar with two types of workplace campaigns designed to increase stairway use.
• Participants will learn the specific details of designing the two types of campaigns, including the resources needed.
• Participants will learn the relative benefits and costs of each approach.

Keywords: Worksite, Exercise

Related Web page: www.bphc.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered