BC Walks: A Communitywide Physical Activity Campaign
Author Information
Author(s): Reger-Nash Bill, Fell Patricia, Spicer Deborah, Fisher Brian D, Cooper Linda, Chey Tien, Bauman Adrian
Primary Institution: West Virginia University
Hypothesis
Can the results of a previous communitywide physical activity campaign be replicated in a larger community?
Conclusion
The BC Walks campaign replicated the earlier Wheeling Walks initiative, although increases in walking were smaller in the BC Walks campaign.
Supporting Evidence
- 16% of Broome County participants changed from nonactive to active walkers.
- 47% of Broome County respondents reported any increase in total weekly walking time.
- 78% of Broome County survey respondents reported exposure to the campaign.
Takeaway
The BC Walks campaign tried to get more people in Broome County to walk more, and it worked a little, but not as well as a similar campaign in Wheeling.
Methodology
A quasi-experimental design with preintervention and postintervention random-digit–dial cohort telephone surveys.
Potential Biases
The campaign's messaging may have created ambiguity, affecting participant engagement.
Limitations
The study had only one intervention community and no random assignment, limiting generalizability.
Participant Demographics
Insufficiently active adults aged 40 to 65 years in Broome County, New York.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Confidence Interval
1.14–2.44
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
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