Pedometers in health care settings

Primary care pedometer pack - PCPP

With physical activity so high on the healthcare agenda, Paths to Health created a tool that can be used by health professionals to promote walking through the use of pedometers. The Primary Care Pedometer Pack (PCPP) aims to give health professionals a tangible product to help engage inactive patients in physical activity while providing patients with a way to monitor their activity levels through the use of pedometers.The pack can be complemented by encouraging patients to attend local Paths to Health walking groups. Contact information for health walk groups across Scotland can be seen on the 'find a health walk' pages.

The pack comprises:

A briefcase-style container.
Pill boxes each holding a pedometer and lanyard, so the patient can attach the pedometer to their waistband. The pill boxes come with a light-hearted health message stating ‘Side effects include mood improvement, increased energy levels, stress reduction and maintenance of healthy weight. Do not swallow’.
Pack guidance detailing how to administer the pack including information on who to target, promoting the pack, handing out pedometers and following up patients.
A sign-out pad for health professionals to record who they have given pedometers to and why, and when to follow up patients.
Plastic wallet for patients, each containing 12 week step count card, a leaflet giving advice about walking for health, and pedometer instructions. The step count card includes instructions on how to set personal, progressive step goals which are calculated from each individual’s starting step counts.
Promotional materials, including posters, a point of prompt display and spare leaflets giving advice about walking for health.
Training is a key part of the pack and is provided to give health professionals enough knowledge and information to feel confident about using the pack with patients. The pack is user-friendly and aims to enhance the work of health professionals.

Evaluation

As with all health ‘treatments’, the PCPP was evaluated to tests its effectiveness. The PCPP has been piloted in over 40 primary care settings by health professionals including GPs, practice nurses and physiotherapists, and has been used at both a group and individual level.

The pack was well received by both health professionals and patients. The pilots demonstrated the pack to be a simple and effective tool for promoting walking in the primary care setting. Health professionals felt that it was a useful resource for communicating the health benefits of physical activity and patients found it made them aware of their activity levels and allowed them to monitor their physical activity goals. It has also been shown to be effective in increasing individuals’ step count and physical activity levels over a longer term period. The PCPP was seen as a tool to help people make positive lifestyle changes and gain invaluable social and psychological benefits.

Full phase 1 report
Full phase 2 report

Pack status

We are hoping to distribute 50 packs from phase 2 of the evaluation and are currently inviting applications for this. Click here for further details and to download an application form.