Should all steps count when using a pedometer as a measure of physical activity in older adults?
Marshall, Alison L. (2007) Should all steps count when using a pedometer as a measure of physical activity in older adults? Journal of Physical Activity and Health (JPAH), 4(3), pp. 305-314.
AIM: Does feedback on step counts from a pedometer encourage participants to increase walking?
METHODS: Randomly recruited older adults (n=105) were asked to wear a pedometer for 2-weeks. Half the participants were asked to monitor and record daily step counts during week one (feedback), then seal the pedometer shut during week two (no-feedback). Half completed the study in reverse order. Self-reported walking was assessed via telephone interviews.
RESULTS: Significantly more steps were recorded per day (approximately 400 steps per day) when participants (n=103, 63% women; mean BMI 25±4) monitored their daily step count (t (102) = -2.30, p=0.02) compared to the no-feedback condition. There was no statistically significant difference in self-reported walking (p=0.31) between feedback conditions.
CONCLUSION: The difference in daily step counts observed between conditions, whilst statistically significant, may not be considered clinically significant. Further, the non-significant difference in self-reported walking between conditions suggests that feedback on daily step counts from a pedometer does not encourage participants to increase their walking.
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|Item Type:||Journal Article|
|Keywords:||randomized trial, measurement, walking, mailed materials|
|Subjects:||Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification > MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES (110000) > PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES (111700) > Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified (111799)|
|Divisions:||Current > Research Centres > Centre for Health Research
Current > QUT Faculties and Divisions > Faculty of Health
Current > Institutes > Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation
|Copyright Owner:||Copyright 2007 Human Kinetics|
|Copyright Statement:||Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.|
|Deposited On:||01 Jul 2008|
|Last Modified:||29 Feb 2012 13:38|
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