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Title: Compliance and acceptability of maintaining a 6-month pedometer diary in a rural, African American community-based walking intervention

Author
item ZOELLNER, JAMIE - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
item POWERS, ALICIA - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
item AVIS-WILLIAMS, AMANDA - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
item NDIRANGU, MURUGI - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
item STRICKLAND, EARLINE - DELTA NIRI CONSULTANT
item YADRICK, KATHY - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI

Submitted to: Journal of Physical Activity and Health
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/5/2008
Publication Date: 7/3/2009
Citation: Zoellner, J., Powers, A., Avis-Williams, A., Ndirangu, M., Strickland, E., Yadrick, K. 2009. Compliance and acceptability of maintaining a 6-month pedometer diary in a rural, African American community-based walking intervention. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 6:475-482.

Interpretive Summary: The purpose of this study was to examine if participants enrolled in a walking intervention were compliant with keeping a 6-month pedometer diary and to explore participants' opinions regarding pedometers and pedometer diaries. The community-based walking intervention targeted a vulnerable Lower Mississippi Delta community. The Participants were primarily African American women. Findings indicated that participants submitted 85% of all possible pedometer diaries and recorded 73% of all possible daily steps counts. Walking group members were more compliant with submitting their pedometer diaries if the coach who led their walking group was also compliant. Participants were enthusiastic about wearing the pedometers and indicated the weekly diaries provided a source of motivation. The reported benefits of wearing pedometers and maintaining diaries far outnumbered the barriers. These findings are important because limited research is available regarding the compliance and acceptability of maintaining pedometer diaries for an extensive timeframe in community-based interventions targeting minority populations. This research suggests pedometer diaries are a feasible intervention tool and research method for community-based physical activity interventions targeting African Americans, and highlights the need for social support to promote pedometer diary compliance.

Technical Abstract: Limited research has been done on the compliance and acceptability of maintaining the pedometer diaries for an extensive time frame in community-based interventions targeting minority populations. Community "coaches" led participants in a 6-month community-based walking intervention that included wearing pedometers and maintaining pedometer diaries for the study duration. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA tests were used to evaluate compliance rates for maintaining diaries and daily step counts. After the intervention, focus groups were used to explore opinions regarding pedometers. Audiotapes were transcribed and evaluated using systematic content analysis. The 8 coaches and 75 enrolled walking participants were primarily African American (98%) women (94%). Overall, the group (N=83) submitted 85% of all possible pedometer diaries and recorded 73% of all possible daily step counts. Walking-group members were significantly (P<.01) more compliant if their coach was also compliant. Identified benefits of wearing pedometers and maintaining diaries outnumbered the barriers. Participants were enthusiastic about wearing the pedometers and indicated that the weekly diaries provided a source of motivation. This research suggests pedometer diaries are a viable intervention tool and research method for community-based physical activity interventions targeting African Americans and highlights the need for social support to promote pedometer diary compliance.