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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

NeighborWalk: A Boston Steps program

Angie LI Cradock, ScD1, Amanda Wilson, BA2, Alison El-Ayadi, MPH3, Mary Jane Williams, MS4, Anne McHugh, MS5, Steve Gortmaker, PhD6, and Roger Swartz, MPH4. (1) Harvard Prevention Research Center, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, 617-432-3874, acradock@hsph.harvard.edu, (2) Research Office, Boston Public Health Commission, 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02118, (3) Department of Society Human Development and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, boston, MA 02115, (4) Community Initiatives, Boston Public Health Commission, 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02136, (5) Boston Steps, Boston Public Health Commission, 1010 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02118, (6) Prevention Research center, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02115-6096

Purpose: To describe implementation and evaluation of NeighborWalk, a Boston Steps program promoting walking through community organizations.

Method: The NeighborWalk program supported 54 community-based organizations with mini-grants to organize weekly walks. Funded organizations assigned leaders to lead walks, recruit walkers, collect evaluation materials, and assist in educational sessions. Some leaders participated in walkability assessment training, using walkability checklists to assess walk routes. NeighborWalk participants answered surveys upon completing the 20-week program detailing walking behaviors and health-related information. Walk leaders kept logs of participation, distance/time spent walking, and pedometer steps traveled. Upon program completion, leaders filed reports describing the groups' experiences to inform future programming efforts.

Results: Over 1200 individuals walked in 1501 walks averaging 2.2 miles (4265 steps). Participants lived in a range of neighborhoods and were from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds (17% Asian, 49% Black/African American, 9% Hispanic). About 17% of NeighborWalk participants had asthma, 14% had diabetes and 52% were overweight or obese. Participants reported a median combined total of 42.9 minutes/day walking, including minutes/day walking at work (25.7), place-to-place (51.4), and for leisure (34.3). Participants reported walking more at work (57%), place-to-place (73%) and in leisure time (57%) since joining the program. Identified walkability concerns were directed to city officials.

Conclusion: Boston STEPS has documented success in engaging over 1000 residents in community-based walking programs.

Learning Objectives: Objectives