The Effectiveness of a Physical Activity Educational Campaign in a Rural Obstetrics and Gynecology Office
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-2016
Publication Title
Maternal and Child Health Journal
DOI
10.1007/s10995-016-2039-4
Abstract
Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an early intervention health education campaign to positively influence physical activity (PA) knowledge, intention, and performance among prenatal women and women of reproductive age.
Methods: This study employed a quantitative, quasi-experimental, control-group comparison design with nonprobability sampling methodology. Implemented in rural healthcare settings located in the Southeastern portion of the United States, participants included prenatal patients and patients of reproductive age (n = 325) from two separate obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) offices. While the intervention group was solicited from an OB/GYN office where the information-based health education campaign was implemented, the comparison group was solicited from a comparable OB/GYN office that did not implement the health education campaign.
Results: The women exposed to the PA health education campaign were significantly more likely to report that PA information was provided at their physician’s office, scored higher on PA knowledge, and were more likely to meet the guidelines for vigorous PA and strength training (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Physical activity educational campaigns are a cost effective intervention that can be implemented in healthcare settings to promote maternal and child health.
Recommended Citation
Melton, Bridget F., Helen W. Bland, Elaine S. Marshall, Lauren Bigham.
2016.
"The Effectiveness of a Physical Activity Educational Campaign in a Rural Obstetrics and Gynecology Office."
Maternal and Child Health Journal, 20 (10): 2112-2120.
doi: 10.1007/s10995-016-2039-4
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/commhealth-facpubs/144
