Changes in Men’s Physical Activity and Healthy Eating Knowledge and Behavior as a Result of Program Exposure: Findings From the Workplace POWERPLAY Program
in Journal of Physical Activity and HealthClick name to view affiliation
Background:
The purpose of this study was to examine changes in physical activity and healthy eating knowledge and behaviors associated with the level of exposure to POWERPLAY, a men-centered workplace health promotion program.
Methods:
This study is based on a quasi-experimental prepost design. Using a computer assisted telephone interview survey, data regarding program exposure and physical activity and health eating knowledge and behaviors were collected from men (N = 103) in 4 workplaces.
Results:
Exposure scores were calculated and participants were categorized as having low (n = 54) or high exposure (n = 49) to POWERPLAY. Compared with the low exposure group, those reporting high exposure scored significantly higher on physical activity knowledge (F (1, 99) =14.17, P < .001, eta2 = .125) and health eating knowledge (F (1, 99) =14.37, P = .001, eta2 = .111). The high exposure group also reported significantly more minutes walked place to place (F (2, 206) = 3.91, P = .022, eta2 = .037) and on minutes walked for leisure (F (2, 230) = 3.08, P = .048, eta2 = .026).
Conclusions:
POWERPLAY shows significant promise as a workplace health promotion approach and may have an even greater impact when program exposure is augmented with environmental and policy changes.
Caperchione is with the Dept of Health and Exercise Sciences; Stolp, Seaton, and Sharp are with the Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention; Bottorff is with the Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention and School of Nursing; Oliffe is with the School of Nursing; University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada. Johnson is with the Dept of Health Disciplines, Athabasca University, Athabasca, Alberta, Canada. Jones-Bricker and Klitch are with the British Columbia and Yukon Division, Canadian Cancer Society, Prince George, BC, Canada. Lamont and Errey are with the Prevention Program, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Healy and Christian are with the Population Health Dept, Northern Health, Prince George, BC, Canada. Medhurst is with the Provincial Health Services Authority, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Prince George, BC, Canada.
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