Count Your Steps
…To Better Health
Library Pedometer Lending Program
Rationale
• “Pedometers have been successfully utilized
to motivate, to self-monitor, and to increase
walking behaviours.”
• Pedometers are a simple, objective
measurement tool.
• “Increasing the accessibility of pedometers to
community members has the potential to
increase the amount of walking at the
population level.” (e.g., via public libraries)
Source: Ryder, H. et al. (2008, March 18) Partnering With Libraries to Promote Walking Among Community-Dwelling Adults: A Kingston Gets Active
Pilot Pedometer-Lending Project. Health Promotion Practice Online First.
2
Project Goal
• To improve the health of Halton residents
by encouraging them to be more
physically active by walking with a
pedometer.
3
Where is Halton?
• 1,000 square kilometers stretching north from
Lake Ontario.
• Between Peel Region (Mississauga) and
Hamilton
• Comprises four municipalities: Oakville,
Burlington, Milton, Halton Hills
• One of the fastest growing population in
Canada, an ethnically diverse population of
almost 500,000.
• Most people live in suburban type areas.
• Overall socio-economic status is above the
Canadian average.
• Rates of obesity are lower than the Canadian
average, but still a concern.
4
Halton Region Health Department
• The Halton Region Health Department (HRHD) works
with its partners and the community to achieve the best
possible health for all
– Provide professional service based on changing community
needs, best practice, current research and evaluation.
– Develop and deliver high quality programs and services that
are accessible, relevant, timely and cost effective.
– Strengthen individual and community supports to reduce or
eliminate health risk.
– Promote and support local & global healthy public policy.
– Assist or partner with individuals and groups to develop and
use their community resources.
– Respect diversity, promote and practice inclusion.
– Advocate for vulnerable individuals and groups.
5
Project Objectives
• Increase Halton residents’ use of pedometers by
making 358 available for loan through the public
library.
• Increase walking behaviour of residents over the
age of 20 by promoting the use of pedometers.
• Raise awareness of the benefits of moderate
physical activity, with emphasis on walking.
• Encourage residents to walk 10,000 steps per
day including 2,000 to 4,000 steps at a brisk
pace.
6
Key Messages
• Walk 10,000 steps each day
• Of those 10,000 steps 2,000
– 4,000 steps should be at a
brisk pace to improve
cardiovascular health.
• Accumulate at least 30 to 60
minutes of moderate
physical activity most days
of the week.
• Pedometers are available
for loan from your local
library.
7
Timeline
Sept. 2007
July 2008
Oct. 2008
June 2009
Started with 25
pedometers,
increased to 58
in 2009 with
opening of new
branch
(2 branches)
100 pedometers
(6 branches)
50 pedometers
(2 branches)
150 pedometers
(6 branches)
8
Partnerships and Collaboration
• Spring of 2007 Milton Public
Library calls HRHD about
pedometer lending programs
• After a library staff training and
competition “Count Your
Steps…To Better Health” library
pedometer lending program was
launched as a pilot in the Fall
2007
• Patrons received pedometer
enclosed in VHS cases, and an
envelope of resources from
HRHD (see display)
9
Oakville Public Library
• HRHD partners with Oakville Public
Library and links with the Town’s Parks
and Recreation physical activity campaign,
“Make Your Move Oakville”
• Launch includes one week challenge
between Mayor, Library CEO, MoH and
Chief Editor of local paper
• MoH wins the competition
10
Halton Hills Public Library
• HRHD partners with Halton Hills Public
Library and links with Town’s “Have fun,
get into it” physical activity campaign and
with “Make a Splash” older adult physical
activity campaign
• Launch Challenge between
Town Departments
11
Burlington Public Library
• HRHD partners with Burlington Public
Library and links with city’s physical
activity campaign, “Walk It”
• Launched in June to tie in with Recreation
Month - included public walk from the
library to City Hall
• Final Challenge held
between all library CEOs
12
Promotion and Media Coverage*
• Media Advisory and Release issued for
each launch; good coverage including
local cable TV
• Used “free space” in local newspapers
• Contributed article to Health Notes for
Professionals – distributed to all Halton
health professionals
• Large display boards and posters in
libraries, community centres
• Web
• Bookmarks in libraries, at Fall Fairs
• Active Halton ongoing promotions about
walking with pedometers
*See binder on display
13
Fall 2007- Process Evaluation with
Library Staff
• 90% of staff indicated that it was worthwhile to
partner with HRHD to implement
• 79% said the staff step challenge encouraged them
to promote the program to patrons
• Majority of staff felt the HRHD training session was
very useful
• 84% staff thought the large poster display was very
useful
• Majority of library staff agreed that many methods of
promotion were needed to keep interest up
14
Evaluation (I)
• 114 paper and web responses
• During evaluation period July 2008-Sept. 2010, there
were 3225 circulations
• Web responses were better than paper and phase 2
web response tripled that of phase 1
• 25% respondents were over age 65
• 74% were females, 11% males
• Over 90% of respondents indicated that the
resources in the kits were somewhat or very useful
• 75% filled in the tracking chart daily
15
Evaluation (II)
• 55% of individuals increased the amount of
steps the walked per day from the first week of
borrowing to the last week of borrowing the
pedometer
• 66% reported that they were either somewhat or
much more active than before
• By promoting the use of pedometers, the
program increased the walking behaviour of
Halton residents
16
Lessons Learned (I)
• Train library staff to assist with
•
•
•
•
maintenance of pedometers
and program promotion
Communicate regularly with
library staff
Tie pedometer lending
program to municipal physical
activity strategies and
campaign
Promote, promote, promote!
E.g., Use large display poster
in library, web, media,
bookmarks, staff stickers
Be flexible
17
Lessons Learned (II)
• Clearly communicate expectations of all partners
– replacements, batteries, kit distribution, circulation
data collection, promotion
• Higher valued prizes and more direct marketing
of a survey is necessary for good response rate
• Tracking chart is a great motivational tool for
increasing steps
18
In Residents’ Own Words:
• “Thanks to Milton Public Library for co-
sponsoring the “Count Your Steps”
program with Halton Region. The
pedometer you provide is
a great motivation for me
in my endeavors to
walk more around town!”
19