Just Walk It: enhancing community participation in physical activity

Abstract

Issue addressed: To meet the national health goal of increasing participation in regular physical activity, a public health approach is needed. Just Walk It was designed and implemented as an integrated approach to community-based walking programs incorporating both individual and public health strategies to increase physical activity within the community. Methods: Just Walk It is an accessible, convenient and free physical activity program designed to provide social support. Local interested individuals volunteered to act as walking guides. Guides were provided with educational resources and support. Numerous strategies were used to recruit members in their local community. Qualitative analysis provided information regarding the process, implementation and initial characteristics of participants. Results: Thirty-five groups were formed in various communities throughout south-east Queensland; three times more than expected. In addition, intersectoral collaboration and central coordination for the program was achieved and sustained. Recruitment strategies employed resulted in a predominance of walkers who were already active and healthy. Strategies for implementation of the program were successful, but alternative recruitment strategies for previously sedentary individuals are needed. Conclusions: Formation of community walking groups is possible through the cost-effective means of encouraging volunteers within the community to act as guides. Different recruitment strategies need to be considered to target previously sedentary individuals and those less likely to participate in physical activity. So what? Development and implementation of successful strategies to encourage previously sedentary individuals and other hard-to-reach populations to participate in regular physical activity continues to be a goal of health promotion. Results of the present study suggest that expansion of an individual model to a public health approach is possible, but tailoring strategies to recruit and maintain participation of sedentary individuals in physical activity remains a challenging task. The long-term impact of these programs is not known. However, in a few years time we may be able to quantify this impact, as the Just Walk It management committee has been expanded to include members from Queensland Health, the Queensland Office of Sport and Recreation, and the Queensland Local Government Association, and their brief is to sustain, deliver and evaluate Just Walk It on a statewide basis. (author abstract)