Rural Libraries Promoting Walking and Walkability in Their Rural Communities
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
The investigators will randomize 20 rural libraries to implement either a group-based walking (standard approach) or a group-based walking combined with a civic engagement program (combined approach). Each rural library will enroll between 15-20 participants. The investigators will compare the change in physical activity between participants in each group.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Detailed Description
The goals of this study are:
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Increase the capacity of rural libraries to deliver evidence-based health promotion programs
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Compare the effects of a group-based walking program with a combined group-based plus civic engagement program on physical activity, cardiovascular fitness and collective efficacy among rural residents.
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Evaluate program implementation
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Active Comparator: Walking only (Step It Up!) A group-based, weekly walking program (Step It Up) where participants walk for up to 45 minutes. |
Other: Walking only (Step It Up!)
Participants will meet weekly for 60 minutes and walk together as a group. Participants will progressively build up to walking for 45 minutes at a brisk pace. Walks will start with a check-in and end with stretching as a group.
|
| Experimental: Combined (Step It Up! plus Change Club) A group-based, weekly walking program (Step It Up) where participants walk for up to 45 minutes. Participants also spend 30 minutes each week in a civic engagement program (the Change Club) improving walkability in the community |
Other: Walking only (Step It Up!)
Participants will meet weekly for 60 minutes and walk together as a group. Participants will progressively build up to walking for 45 minutes at a brisk pace. Walks will start with a check-in and end with stretching as a group.
Other: Combined (Step It Up! plus Civic Engagement)
Participants in the combined groups will meet weekly for 90 minutes with group members. They will participate in a group walk for 60 minutes followed by 30 minutes of civic engagement aimed at improving walkability in the community
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Physical activity [Change from baseline physical activity at 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months.]
Participants will be asked to wear an accelerometer for >10 hours/day for seven days at the wrist to measure physical activity. An accelerometer is a small device worn at the wrist that records acceleration, the change in velocity of a participant over time.
- Cardio respiratory fitness [Change from baseline cardio respiratory fitness at 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months.]
Participants will be asked to complete a six-minute walk test to measure cardiorespiratory fitness. The distance walked in 6 minutes will be recorded.
- Collective Efficacy [Change from baseline collective efficacy at 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months]
Participants will be asked to complete a survey regarding collective-efficacy, the Collective Efficacy Scale (Sampson and colleagues, 1997), which measures how well communities work together to make things happen.
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Height [Baseline]
Researchers will measure the height of participants in inches.
- Hip circumference [Change from baseline hip circumference at 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months.]
Researchers will measure the hip circumference of participants in inches.
- Resting heart rate [Change from baseline resting heart rate at 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months.]
Researchers will measure resting heart rate of participants by using heart rate monitor.
- Weight [Change from baseline weight at 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months.]
Researchers will measure the weight of participants in pounds.
- Blood pressure [Change from baseline blood pressure at 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months.]
Researchers will measure the both diastolic and systolic blood pressure of participants using a sphygmomanometer.
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
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Age 18 or older
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Inactive (defined as engaging in physical activity <3 days per week)
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Ability to walk for at least 20 minutes
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Living within the rural community served by the local library
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Ability to travel to the local library/location of walking group.
Exclusion criteria:
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Participation/intention to participate in other lifestyle modification pro-gram(s)
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Cognitive impairment
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Inability to communicate due to severe uncorrected hearing loss or speech disorder or severe visual impairment (if precludes completion of assessments and/or intervention)
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon Health & Science University | Portland | Oregon | United States | 97239 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Oregon Health and Science University
- Texas A&M University
- University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Cynthia K Perry, PhD, Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
- Lenstra N. The role of public librarians in supporting physical activity: challenging the "Jacks of All Trades but Masters of None" librarian syndrome. Advances in Library Administration and Organization. 2018;39:185-205.
- Perry CK, Campbell LP, Currier J, Farris PE, Wenzel ES, Medysky ME, Zell A, McDonell M, Shannon J, Winters-Stone K. An Evidence-Based Walking Program in Oregon Communities: Step It Up! Survivors. Prev Chronic Dis. 2020 Dec 10;17:E156. doi: 10.5888/pcd17.200231.
- Seguin RA, Sriram U, Connor LM, Silver AE, Niu B, Bartholomew AN. A Civic Engagement Approach to Encourage Healthy Eating and Active Living in Rural Towns: The HEART Club Pilot Project. Am J Health Promot. 2018 Sep;32(7):1591-1601. doi: 10.1177/0890117117748122. Epub 2018 Feb 1.
- STUDY00024665