Comparison of Health Promotion and Deterrent Prompts in Increasing Use of Stairs over Escalators

TLDR

The study compared two point‑of‑decision prompts to determine which more effectively increased stair use. Researchers observed stair versus escalator use at a Midwest regional airport over five weeks, alternating between no sign, a health‑promotion sign, and a deterrent sign at the decision point. Stair use rose during both interventions, particularly among younger adults, and the analysis confirmed that the prompts effectively increased stair use, with age moderating the effect.

Abstract

This study compared the effectiveness of two point-of-decision prompts within the same environmental setting. The effects of a health promotion sign were compared with activity change resulting from a deterrent sign. Individuals were observed using the upward stairs or upward escalator at a midwest regional air port during a 5-week period in which intervention signs were compared with no sign conditions on activity choice. During Weeks 1, 3, and 5 behaviors were assessed without any prompts. During Week 2, a health promotion sign was posted at the behavioral choice point which read "Keep your heart healthy, use the stairs." During Week 4, a deterrent sign which read "Please limit escalator use to staff and those unable to use the stairs" was posted at the same behavioral choice point. Younger (<40) women (14.8%) and men (10.8%) used the stairs more frequently, followed by older women (9.3%) and older men (6.9%). A hierarchical log linear analysis showed that stair use increased during both interventions, which was significantly moderated by age. Point-of-decision prompts appear to be effective environmental interventions for promoting increases in physical activity.