Effect of Australia's Walk to Work Day Campaign on Adults' Active Commuting and Physical Activity Behavior

Abstract

Purpose.

To determine whether Australia's Walk to Work Day media campaign resulted in behavioral change among targeted groups.

Methods.

Pre- and postcampaign telephone surveys of a cohort of adults aged 18 to 65 years (n = 1100, 55% response rate) were randomly sampled from Australian major metropolitan areas. Tests for dependent samples were applied (McNemar χ² or paired t-test).

Results.

Among participants who did not usually actively commute to work was a significant decrease in “car only” use and an increase in walking combined with public transport. Among those who were employed was a significant increase in total time walking (+16 min/wk; t [780] = 2.04, p < .05) and in other moderate physical activity (+l20 min/wk; t [1087] = 4.76, p < .005), resulting in a significant decrease in the proportion who were “inactive” (χ² (1) = 6.1, p < .05).

Conclusion.

Although nonexperimental, the Walk to Work Day initiative elicited short-term changes in targeted behaviors among target groups. Reinforcement by integrating worksite health promotion strategies may be required for sustained effects.