Investigating the effect of a 3-month workplace-based pedometer-driven walking programme on health-related quality of life in meat processing workers: a feasibility study within a randomized controlled trial

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Paul Hendrick¹  Suliman Mansi²  Chris Higgs²  Steve Tumilty²  David G Baxter²  Stephan Milosavljevic³ 

[1] Division of Physiotherapy Education, The University of Nottingham, NG5, Nottingham, UK;School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand;School of Physiotherapy, University of Saskatchewan, 1121 College Drive, S7N 0W3, Saskatoon, SK, Canada;

关键词: Physical activity;    Pedometers;    Walking intervention;    Quality of life;    Step count;    Workplace;    Ambulatory activity;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-015-1736-z

 received in 2014-10-09, accepted in 2015-04-07,  发布年份 2015

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundIn New Zealand, meat processing populations face many health problems as a result of the nature of work in meat processing industries. The primary aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of using a pedometer-based intervention to increase physical activity and improve health-related outcomes in a population of meat processing workers.MethodsA single-blinded randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted. A convenience sample of meat workers (n = 58; mean age 41.0 years; range: 18-65) participated in the trial. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups. Intervention participants (n = 29) utilized a pedometer to self monitor their activity, whilst undertaking a brief intervention, and educational material. Control participants (n = 29) received educational material only. The primary outcomes of ambulatory activity, and health-related quality of life, were evaluated at baseline, immediately following the 12-week intervention and three months post-intervention.ResultsFifty three participants completed the program (91.3% adherence). Adherence with the intervention group was high, 93% (n = 27/29), and this group increased their mean daily step count from 5993 to 9792 steps per day, while the control group steps changed from 5788 to 6551 steps per day from baseline. This increase in step counts remained significant within the intervention group p < 0.005; at three months post-intervention representing a 59% increase over baseline scores. There were significant group changes with large effect sizes for step count change (d = 1.94) and self-reported physical activity (p < 0.005; d = 2.59) at 12 weeks intervention. Further, results showed non-significant between-group differences in physical component (PCS) and mental component (MCS) scores (PCS: p = 0.44; MGD = 0.99, 95% CI, -1.6 to 3.6; ES = 0.14, and MCS: p = 0.90, MGD = 0.15; 95% CI, -2.3 to 2.6, ES = 0.022) at 12 weeks intervention.ConclusionsThis research provides important information for a larger (RCT) in the future: results demonstrated that a pedometer-driven walking intervention in combination with goal setting, and self-monitoring supported by weekly e-mails are feasible and potentially effective in increasing step count within the workplace setting over the short term.Trial registration numberAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12613000087752.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Mansi et al.; licensee BioMed Central. 2015