Pedometers in the curriculum

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of a pedometer-based intervention on physical activity and self-efficacy among community college students in wellness classes (N = 154). The intervention included a pretest/posttest physical activity questionnaire, pedometer use, weekly goal setting and self-report of step data via the web. The experimental group wore pedometers daily for ten weeks; the control group wore pedometers for one week at baseline and week ten. Average weekday physical activity increased 29% for the experimental group and decreased 16% for the control group. Data analysis demonstrated a statistically significant difference due to the treatment regarding step count, differences in mean scores for self-efficacy, and a main effect for treatment for BMI. These results support the effectiveness of pedometer use to increase physical activity and self-efficacy in conjunction with a community college health curriculum.