Feasibility of a minimal contact intervention to promote walking among insufficiently active women.

To examine the impact of a 6-week minimal contact intervention on walking behavior, the 10 processes of change of the transtheoretical model (TTM), and self-efficacy among insufficiently active women. This study used a pre-experimental design. Of the 43 women who began the study, 36 (84%) completed questionnaires at baseline and postintervention. They were given brochures and pedometers and were sent e-mails that contained messages designed to positively affect TTM constructs. Changes in time spent walking, use of the 10 processes of change, and self-efficacy were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed rank tests and paired t-tests. Participants significantly increased their total walking minutes (p = .001) and use of counterconditioning, dramatic relief reinforcement management, self-liberation, stimulus control, and social liberation (p < .05). The findings of this feasibility study provide preliminary evidence that this theoretically based, minimal contact lifestyle intervention may be an effective, low-cost approach to increase walking among insufficiently active women.