Do interventions to promote walking in groups increase physical activity? A meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Walking groups are increasingly being set up but little is known about their efficacy in promoting physical activity. The present study aims to assess the efficacy of interventions to promote walking in groups to promoting physical activity within adults, and to explore potential moderators of this efficacy.

Method

Systematic literature review searches were conducted using multiple databases. A random effect model was used for the meta-analysis, with sensitivity analysis.

Results

The effect of the interventions (19 studies, 4 572 participants) on physical activity was of medium size (d = 0.52), statistically significant (95%CI 0.32 to 0.71, p < 0.0001), and with large fail-safe of N = 753. Moderator analyses showed that lower quality studies had larger effec

SUBMITTER: Kassavou A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3585890 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature