Promoting Stair Climbing: Intervention Effects Generalize to a Subsequent Stair Ascent

Abstract

PurposeStudies report a significant increase in stair use when message prompts are introduced at the 'point-of-choice' between stairs and escalators. Climbing one set of stairs, however, will not confer meaningful health dividends. Therefore, this study examined whether exposure to point-of-choice prompts also encourages individuals to climb the next set of stairs that they encounter. DesignInterrupted time-series design. SettingsTwo separate stair/escalator pairings within a UK shopping mall (the 'intervention' site and the 'generalization' site), separated by a 25m-long atrium. SubjectsAscending pedestrians (intervention site n=29,713; generalization site n=47,553). InterventionsTwo weeks of baseline monitoring were followed by a 13-week intervention in which banners carrying health promotion messages were introduced at the intervention site only. MeasuresAt both sites observers inconspicuously recorded pedestrians' method of ascent, along with their gender, age, ethnicity and baggage. ResultsBanners increased stair climbing at the intervention site by 161%. Results also suggest a simultaneous increase of up to 143% at the generalization site, where no prompt was in place.At both sites stair use remained significantly elevated five weeks after the banners were removed. ConclusionsIt appears that exposure to point-of-choice prompts can encourage pedestrians to climb stairs when encountered in a subsequent setting. Consequently, stair climbing interventions are likely to engage the public in more physical activity than previously realised. PurposeA sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of morbidity and mortality. [1][2][3] In industrialised nations, however, up to 75% of people remain insufficiently active. 4,5 Alongside health consequences for the individual, sedentariness bears a significant financial burden on society. In the U.S., for example, the annual cost of physical inactivity has been estimated at over $76 billion in direct medical expenses alone. 6 Increasing population activity levels is, therefore, a public health priority. Engaging individuals in exercise has proven difficult, however, as evidenced by persistently low participation rates. 7 In addition, evidence has emerged that significant health benefits can be derived by accruing moderate intensity activity throughout the day. 8 Therefore, guidelines from the early 1990s, which emphasised sustained vigorous exercise, have been broadened. Latest recommendations advise a minimum of 30 mins of moderate intensity activity per day, which may be accumulated in 10 minute bouts. 9 Alongside the change in exercise guidelines a Socio-Ecological model of physical activity promotion has emerged. [10][11][12][13] This approach recognises that the environment and policy decisions can have an important impact on physical activity, in addition to intrapersonal factors (e.g., psychological and biological variables) and interpersonal processes (e.g., social support). Within this framework, interventions to promote stair climbing exemplify how the enviro...

Increasing stair climbing in a train station: The effects of contextual variables and visibility

“…"; line 2, "Stair climbing burns more"; line 3, "calories per minute than jogging. ", line 4, "Burn some today", a message used successfully in a previous study in a shopping mall (Webb & Eves, 2007). The study was approved by the Ethics Subcommittee of the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences.…”

Promoting stair climbing in public-access settings: An audit of intervention opportunities in England

“…They include demographics (Andersen et al, 1999;Blamey et al, 1995;Brownell et al, 1980;Bungum et al, 2007;Eves et al, 2006;Grimstvedt et al, 2010;Lewis and Eves, 2011;Webb and Eves, 2007); spatial characteristics (e.g. stairwell height [Webb and Eves, 2007]); 'pedestrian volume' (Lewis and Eves, 2011;Webb and Eves, 2007); 'behavioural' context (e.g. leisure/commuter) and presence of stair climbing 'models' (Adams et al, 2006).…”

“…Public-access interventions featuring follow-up phases also add little certainty regarding residual effects. Three months after prompts were removed Blamey et al (1995) and Webb and Eves (2007) observed a decline in stair choice, whilst Brownell et al (1980) observed complete reversion to baseline levels. These interventions may have been too short (≤13 weeks) to establish lasting effects.…”

“…home/workplace). Nonetheless, in the solitary paper showing generalisation for stair climbing, POCs were just 25 m apart (Webb and Eves, 2007). Without knowing how well generalisation effects endure after exposure, and if they operate between different types of venue, benefits are theoretical.…”

“…Mall-goers who saw prompts at one POC chose stairs, unprompted, at a second 'unadorned' POC (Webb and Eves, 2007). Thus, prompts at one well-patronised public-access POC (e.g.…”