Background
Although studies have demonstrated that stair prompts are associated with increased
physical activity, many were conducted in low-rise buildings over a period of weeks
and did not differentiate between stair climbing and descent.
Purpose
This study evaluated the impact of a prompt across different building types, and on
stair climbing versus descent over several months.
Methods
In 2008–2009, stair and elevator trips were observed and analyzed at three buildings
in New York City before and after the posting of a prompt stating “Burn Calories,
Not Electricity” (total observations=18,462). Sites included a three-story health
clinic (observations=4987); an eight-story academic building (observations=5151);
and a ten-story affordable housing site (observations=8324). Stair and elevator trips
up and down were recorded separately at the health clinic to isolate the impact on
climbing and descent. Follow-up was conducted at the health clinic and affordable
housing site to assess long-term impact.
Results
Increased stair use was seen at all sites immediately after posting of the prompt
(range=9.2%–34.7% relative increase, p<0.001). Relative increases in stair climbing (20.2% increase, p<0.001) and descent (4.4% increase, p<0.05) were seen at the health clinic. At both sites with long-term follow-up, relative
increases were maintained at 9 months after posting compared to baseline: 42.7% (p<0.001) increase in stair use at the affordable housing site and 20.3% (p<0.001) increase in stair climbing at the health clinic.
Conclusions
Findings suggest that the prompt was effective in increasing physical activity in
diverse settings, and increases were maintained at 9 months.
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to American Journal of Preventive MedicineAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Effects of stairclimbing on VO2max and quadriceps strength in middle-aged females.Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1994; 26: 241-247
- Training effects of accumulated daily stair-climbing exercise in previously sedentary young women.Prev Med. 2000; 30: 277-281
- Heart rate, oxygen uptake, and energy cost of ascending and descending the stairs.Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002; 34: 695-699
- Physical activity and stroke incidence: the Harvard alumni health study.Stroke. 1998; 29: 2049-2054
- Influences of building design and site design on physical activity: research and intervention opportunities.Am J Prev Med. 2005; 28: 186-193
- Worksite interventions to increase stair climbing: Reasons for caution.Prev Med. 2006; 43: 4-7
- The effectiveness of interventions to increase physical activity.Am J Prev Med. 2002; 22: 73-107
- Point-of-decision prompts to increase stair use.Am J Prev Med. 2010; 38: S292-S300
- Environmental and policy approaches to physical activity: point-of-decision prompts to encourage use of stairs.
- A workplace intervention to promote stair climbing: greater effects in the overweight.Obesity. 2006; 14: 2210-2216
- Increasing stair use in a worksite through environmental changes.Am J Health Promot. 2004; 18: 312-315
- Promoting stair use among female employees: the effects of a health sign followed by an e-mail.J Sports Exerc Phys. 2005; 27: 188-196
- Using signs, artwork, and music to promote stair use in a public building.Am J Public Health. 2001; 91: 2004-2006
- Promoting stair use in a U.S.–Mexico border community.Am J Public Health. 2001; 91: 2007-2009
- Can motivational signs prompt increases in incidental physical activity in an Australian health-care facility?.Health Educ Res. 2002; 17: 743-749
- Energy cost of stair climbing and descending on the college alumnus questionnaire.Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997; 29: 1250-1254
- Can posters prompt stair use in a worksite environment?.J Occup Health. 2001; 43: 205-207
- Spatial measures associated with stair use.Am J Health Promot. 2007; 21: 346-352
- Stair safety: a review of the literature and data concerning stair geometry and other characteristics.Office of Policy Development and Research, Washington DC1992
- Active design guidelines: promoting physical activity and health in design.The City of New York, New York NY2010
Article Info
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
ScienceDirect
Access this article on ScienceDirectLinked Article
- CorrectionsAmerican Journal of Preventive MedicineVol. 42Issue 4
