A Multi-component Stair Climbing Promotional Campaign Targeting Calorific Expenditure for Worksites; a Quasi-experimental Study Testing Effects on Behaviour, Attitude and Intention

Overview

Journal BMC Public Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Public Health

Date 2012 Jun 13

PMID 22686243

Citations 9

Authors

Frank F Eves

Oliver J Webb

Carl Griffin

Jackie Chambers

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Accumulation of lifestyle physical activity is a current aim of health promotion, with increased stair climbing one public health target. While the workplace provides an opportunity for regular stair climbing, evidence for effectiveness of point-of-choice interventions is equivocal. This paper reports a new approach to worksite interventions, aimed at changing attitudes and, hence, behaviour.

Methods: Pre-testing of calorific expenditure messages used structured interviews with members of the public (n = 300). Effects of multi-component campaigns on stair climbing were tested with quasi-experimental, interrupted time-series designs. In one worksite, a main campaign poster outlining the amount of calorific expenditure obtainable from stair climbing and a conventional point-of-choice prompt were used (Poster alone site). In a second worksite, additional messages in the stairwell about calorific expenditure reinforced the main campaign (Poster + Stairwell messages site). The outcome variables were automated observations of stair and lift ascent (28,854) and descent (29,352) at baseline and for three weeks after the intervention was installed. Post-intervention questionnaires for employees at the worksites assessed responses to the campaign (n = 253). Analyses employed Analysis of Variance with follow-up Bonferroni t-tests (message pre-testing), logistic regression of stair ascent and descent (campaign testing), and Bonferroni t-tests and multiple regression (follow-up questionnaire).

Results: Pre-testing of messages based on calorific expenditure suggested they could motivate stair climbing if believed. The new campaign increased stair climbing, with greater effects at the Poster + Stairwell messages site (OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.40-1.66) than Posters alone (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.15-1.34). Follow-up revealed higher agreement with two statements about calorific outcomes of stair climbing in the site where they were installed in the stairwell, suggesting more positive attitudes resulted from the intervention. Future intentions for stair use were predicted by motivation by the campaign and beliefs that stair climbing would help weight control.

Conclusions: Multi-component campaigns that target attitudes and intentions may substantially increase stair climbing at work.

Citing Articles

Desk based prompts to replace workplace sitting with stair climbing; a pilot study of acceptability, effects on behaviour and disease risk factors.

Mat Azmi I, Wallis G, White M, Puig-Ribera A, Eves F BMC Public Health. 2022; 22(1):1985.

PMID: 36316656 PMC: 9620615. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14393-1.

The Power and Peril of Precise vs. Round Health Message Interventions to Increase Stair Use.

Krull S, Boecker L, Loschelder D Front Psychol. 2021; 12:624198.

PMID: 34489771 PMC: 8418072. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.624198.

Choice architecture interventions to change physical activity and sedentary behavior: a systematic review of effects on intention, behavior and health outcomes during and after intervention.

Landais L, Damman O, Schoonmade L, Timmermans D, Verhagen E, Jelsma J Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2020; 17(1):47.

PMID: 32264899 PMC: 7140383. DOI: 10.1186/s12966-020-00942-7.

Signage Interventions for Stair Climbing at Work: More than 700,000 Reasons for Caution.

Puig-Ribera A, Sene-Mir A, Taylor-Covill G, De Lara N, Carroll D, Daley A Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019; 16(19).

PMID: 31597383 PMC: 6801962. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16193782.

Learnt effects of environmental cues on transport-related walking; disrupting habits with health promotion?.

Eves F, Puig-Ribera A PLoS One. 2019; 14(8):e0220308.

PMID: 31369609 PMC: 6675111. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220308.

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