Although two studies [ 49, 53] reported significant increases in the number of steps after the intervention, they failed to report baseline and post-intervention step counts for the control group which precludes further evaluation and comparison of groups.
Of the cluster studies, three [ 14, 17, 18] are cohort designs (with the same individuals in each cluster in the pre and post intervention steps) and the remainder are repeated cross-section designs (with different individuals in each cluster in the pre and post intervention steps).
However, such increases will confer health benefits to these older adults, and the mean post-intervention and week 24 step counts (all over 9000 steps/day) were within the range of daily steps recommended for health benefits for older adults in a recent review.
A change in level between the pre- and the post-intervention segments indicates a step-change, and a change in slope indicates a change in trend.
A change in level between the pre- and post-intervention segments indicates a step-change, and a change in slope indicates a change in trend.
These results are similar to findings from a text message-based intervention to improve physical activity among adolescents with type 1 diabetes, where no improvements were observed for mean daily step count at post-intervention [ 34].
Figure 2 illustrates pre- and post-intervention descriptive data for the number of steps per day as counted by pedometer.
In the home-based interventions, methods of monitoring adherence included telephone interviews and activity logs 27, measurement via accelerometers 8, 34, text messages and daily step count charts 33, post-intervention interviews 19 and an online log 35.
Paired t-tests showed that participants significantly increased their total daily average steps from baseline (M = 4520, SD = 309) to post-intervention (M = 6013, SD = 443), for an average increase of 1493 steps (t 36) = 4.13, p < 0.01) (Table 3).
Post-intervention ratings of clinicians' general knowledge of SDM, knowledge of specific SDM steps, confidence in and intention to perform SDM steps were also collected online.
Prior to the rapid step test, the maximal step length was determined and standardized across pre- and post-intervention conditions.
