Effects of Climbing Choice, Demographic, and Climate on Walking Behavior

Walking is a public health recommendation to increase physical activity. Although walking for transport is associated with health benefits, it is frequently avoided when a mechanized alternative is available and when the weather or individuals’ available resources are unfavorable. The present quasi-experimental study used chosen walking speed to estimate the use of resources by pedestrians and investigated 730 pedestrians’ behavior when approaching a choice point between a short stair and a ramp at an exit from a university campus toward the local train station on six separate days. Results revealed that individuals who climbed the stairs walked faster than those who chose the ramp. In addition, females and those who were overweight walked slower than their comparator groups. Temperature was associated with walking behavior; as temperature increased, the walking speed of pedestrians decreased. Moreover, the purpose of walking is an important determinant of walking speed. Minimization of time to arrive at the train station as quickly as possible is a plausible alternative explanation for the effects of resource allocation on walking speed.

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Comparing the perception with the reality of walking in a hilly environment: an accessibility method applied to a University campus in Hong Kong

Geospatial health ◽

10.4081/gh.2015.340 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Guibo Sun ◽

Robert Haining ◽

Hui Lin ◽

Nicolas M. Oreskovic ◽

Jie He

Keyword(s):

Hong Kong ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

University Campus ◽

Network Modelling ◽

Walking Behavior ◽

Individual Perception ◽

Pedestrian Network ◽

Present Context ◽

Public Health Practitioners ◽

People’S Perceptions

The influence of hilliness on walking behavior could be a consequence of the real effect of the local topography, but individual perception of the difficulties associated with walking in a hilly environment may also be important. Previous studies have found that people’s perceptions do not necessarily match well with the realities of walking in hilly environments. There are a few methods that can be used to visualize the geography of that difference for use by urban planners and public health practitioners. A walking accessibility measure that allows comparison of perception and reality is proposed and implemented in this study. We note that difficulties in calculating accessibility measures in the present context arise primarily from problems with data quality, three-dimensional pedestrian network modelling and the adequacy of accessibility methods for describing and predicting walking behavior. We present practical strategies for addressing these issues using geographic information systems. Our method is illustrated by calculating accessibility for a hilly university campus in Hong Kong. Walking behaviors on, and people’s perceptions of, this hilly environment were obtained through walking diaries and a survey. The article concludes with suggested directions for the future development of walking accessibility measures along with some ideas about their applicability to the practice of planning and designing a walkable environment.

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Benefits and costs of illegal grazing and hunting in the Serengeti ecosystem

Environmental Conservation ◽

10.1017/s0376892906002566 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 326-332 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

J.W. NYAHONGO ◽

M.L. EAST ◽

F.A. MTURI ◽

H. HOFER

Keyword(s):

Natural Resources ◽

Protected Areas ◽

High Potential ◽

Livestock Grazing ◽

Potential Cost ◽

Travel Costs ◽

Serengeti Ecosystem ◽

Use Of Resources ◽

Herbivore Density ◽

Quasi Experimental

Two forms of natural resource use (meat hunting and livestock grazing) were investigated at three sites in the western region of the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania. Statutory management of natural resources in this region was designated as National Park, Game Reserve or village council. A quasi-experimental design examined factors likely to alter the cost and benefit of illegal use by ranking areas within sites in relation to these factors. Factors likely to alter costs were the chance of arrest, determined by the presence or absence of guard posts, and the distance travelled to the site of exploitation. As all sites experienced large fluctuations in the density of migratory herbivores, it was assumed that the benefit acquired from hunting increased with wild herbivore density. Marked seasonal changes in precipitation were considered likely to alter the value of forage and water to livestock owners. Hunting effort (density of snares) increased as the density of wild herbivores increased. The distribution of hunting effort across sites was more consistent with the prediction that high travel costs were more likely to curtail hunting than a high potential cost of arrest. Unlike hunters, livestock owners mostly avoided the use of resources in protected areas probably because of the high potential cost of arrest and confiscation of stock. Natural resources within protected areas were exploited when benefits outweighed likely costs.

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The physiological cost index of walking with a powered knee–ankle–foot orthosis in subjects with poliomyelitis: A pilot study

Prosthetics and Orthotics International ◽

10.1177/0309364615592697 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

pp. 454-459 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mokhtar Arazpour ◽

Monireh Ahmadi Bani ◽

Mohammad Samadian ◽

Mohammad E Mousavi ◽

Stephen W Hutchins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Walking Speed ◽

Knee Joints ◽

Cost Index ◽

Ankle Foot Orthosis ◽

Physiological Cost ◽

Active Flexion ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

Locked Knee ◽

Foot Orthosis ◽

Flexion And Extension

Background: A powered knee–ankle–foot orthosis was developed to provide restriction of knee flexion during stance phase and active flexion and extension of the knee during swing phase of gait. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine its effect on the physiological cost index, walking speed and the distance walked in people with poliomyelitis compared to when walking with a knee–ankle–foot orthosis with drop lock knee joints. Study design: Quasi experimental study. Methods: Seven subjects with poliomyelitis volunteered for the study and undertook gait analysis with both types of knee–ankle–foot orthosis. Results: Walking with the powered knee–ankle–foot orthosis significantly reduced walking speed ( p = 0.015) and the distance walked ( p = 0.004), and also, it did not improve physiological cost index values ( p = 0.009) compared to walking with the locked knee–ankle–foot orthosis. Conclusion: Using a powered knee–ankle–foot orthosis did not significantly improve any of the primary outcome measures during walking for poliomyelitis subjects. Clinical relevance This powered knee–ankle–foot orthosis design did not improve the physiological cost index of walking for people with poliomyelitis when compared to walking with a knee–ankle–foot orthosis with drop lock knee joints. This may have been due to the short training period used or the bulky design and additional weight of the powered orthosis. Further research is therefore warranted.

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Using Signage to Promote Stair Use on a University Campus in Hidden and Visible Stairwells

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.7.2.232 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 232-238 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Megan E. Grimstvedt ◽

Jacqueline Kerr ◽

Sara B. Oswalt ◽

Donovan L. Fogt ◽

Tiffanye M. Vargas-Tonsing ◽

...

Keyword(s):

San Antonio ◽

University Campus ◽

Intervention Period ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Promotion Strategy ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

University Buildings ◽

Stair Use ◽

Experimental Study Design

Background:This study tested the effectiveness of a stair use promotion strategy in visible and hidden stairwells during intervention and post intervention follow up.Methods:A quasi-experimental study design was used with a 1 week baseline, a 3 week intervention, and post intervention at 2 and 4 weeks in 4 university buildings in San Antonio, Texas with stairwells varying in visibility. Participants were students, faculty, staff, and visitors to the 4 buildings. A total of 8431 observations were made. The intervention incorporated motivational signs with direction to nearby stairwells placed by elevators to promote stair use. Stair and elevator use was directly observed and recorded. Logistic regression analyses were used to test whether stair versus elevator use varied by intervention phase and stairwell visibility.Results:Stair use increased significantly (12% units) during the intervention period and remained above baseline levels during post intervention follow-up. At baseline, visible stairs were 4 times more likely to be used than hidden stairs; however, the increase in stair use during intervention was similar in both types of stairwells.Conclusions:Motivational and directional signage can significantly increase stair use on a university campus. Furthermore, stairwell visibility is an important aspect of stair use promotion.

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Validation of a Speed-Based Classification System Using Quantitative Measures of Walking Performance Poststroke

Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair ◽

10.1177/1545968308318837 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. 672-675 ◽

Cited By ~ 137

Author(s):

Mark G. Bowden ◽

Chitralakshmi K. Balasubramanian ◽

Andrea L. Behrman ◽

Steven A. Kautz

Keyword(s):

Classification System ◽

Walking Speed ◽

Step Length ◽

Self Report ◽

Group Differences ◽

Community Based ◽

Walking Behavior ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Walking Performance ◽

Post Hoc

Background. For clinical trials in stroke rehabilitation, self-selected walking speed has been used to stratify persons to predict functional walking status and to define clinical meaningfulness of changes. However, this stratification was validated primarily using self-report questionnaires. Objective. This study aims to validate the speed-based classification system with quantitative measures of walking performance. Methods. A total of 59 individuals who had hemiparesis for more than 6 months after stroke participated in this study. Spatiotemporal and kinetic measures included the percentage of total propulsion generated by the paretic leg (Pp), the percentage of the stride length accounted for by the paretic leg step length (PSR), and the percentage of the gait cycle spent in paretic preswing (PPS). Additional measures included the synergy portion of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment and the average number of steps/day in the home and community measured with a step activity monitor. Participants were stratified by self-selected gait speed into 3 groups: household (<0.4 m/s), limited community (0.4-0.8 m/s), and community (>0.8 m/s) ambulators. Group differences were analyzed using a Kruskal—Wallis H test with rank sums test post hoc analyses. Results. Analyses demonstrated a main effect in all measures, but only steps/day and PPS demonstrated a significant difference between all 3 groups. Conclusions. Classifying individuals poststroke by self-selected walking speed is associated with home and community-based walking behavior as quantified by daily step counts. In addition, PPS distinguishes all 3 groups. Pp differentiates the moderate from the fast groups and may represent a contribution to mechanisms of increasing walking speed. Speed classification presents a useful yet simple mechanism to stratify subjects poststroke and may be mechanically linked to changes in PPS.

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Promoting the adoption of behaviors to prevent osteoporosis using the health belief model integrated with health literacy: quasi-experimental intervention study

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-12300-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rahman Panahi ◽

Fatemeh Samiei Siboni ◽

Mansoure Kheiri ◽

Khadije Jahangasht Ghoozlu ◽

Mahya Shafaei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Standard Deviation ◽

Educational Intervention ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Health Belief ◽

Control Group ◽

Walking Behavior ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

The Mean ◽

Belief Model ◽

The Health Belief Model

Abstract Background The health belief model (HBM) is effective in preventing osteoporosis and promoting health literacy (HL). In this regard, there are some critical points such as the role of HL in preventing osteoporosis, adoption of preventive behaviors, adoption of behaviors, including physical activity, and the role of health volunteers in transmitting health messages to the community. Considering the aforesaid points this study was performed among the health volunteers aimed to determine the effect of educational intervention based on integrated HBM with HL on walking and nutrition behaviors to prevent osteoporosis. Materials and methods In this quasi-experimental intervention study, 140 health volunteers (70 people in each of the two intervention and control groups) were enrolled in the study using multi-stage random sampling, in 2020. The members of the intervention group received e-learning through social media software, 4 times during 4 weeks (once a week) and were provided with educational booklets and pamphlets. Data collection tools included demographic and background questionnaires; standard questionnaire based on the HBM, awareness, and walking and nutrition behaviors to prevent osteoporosis; and HELIA questionnaire to measure HL. These questionnaires were completed in two stages, before and 3 months after the intervention. The educational intervention in this study was sent to the intervention group in 4 stages. The collected data were analyzed using proportional tests (paired t-test, Wilcoxon test, independent t-test, Mann-Whitney test) and SPSS software version 23. Results The mean and standard deviation related to the score of adoption of nutrition behaviors at the beginning of the study in the intervention group was 5.398 ± 1.447, which changed to 8.446 ± 1.244 after 3 months, indicating a significant increase in the adoption of such behaviors (P = 0.009). In the control group, the mean and standard deviation of the scores of adoption of nutrition behaviors changed from 5.451 ± 1.222 to 6.003 ± 1.005, which was not statistically significant (P = 0.351). Also, the mean and standard deviation related to the scores of adoption of walking behavior at the beginning of the study in the intervention group was 8.956 ± 0.261, which changed to 13.457 ± 0.587 after 3 months, indicating a significant increase in the adoption of such behaviors (P < 0.001). In the control group, the mean and standard deviation related to the scores of the adoption of walking behavior changed from 8.848 ± 0.353 to 9.025 ± 0.545, which was not statistically significant (P = 0.211). Prior to the intervention, there was no significant difference between two groups regarding the variables of demographic and background, knowledge, all constructs of the model, HL, and adoption of walking and nutrition behaviors (P > 0.05). After the intervention, the comparison of the two groups showed that there was a significant change in the mean scores of awareness, all constructs of the model, HL, and adoption of preventive behaviors in the intervention group than the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion The educational intervention based on an HBM integrated with HL was effective and acceptable in correcting and promoting walking and nutrition behaviors to prevent osteoporosis among health volunteers. Therefore, it can be said that the intervention implemented was in line with the developed model used.

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The Effectiveness of Group Counseling to Improve Students’ Social Skill in Telkom University Bandung

MIMBAR Jurnal Sosial dan Pembangunan ◽

10.29313/mimbar.v34i2.3675 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 389-396

Author(s):

Mutia Qana'a ◽

Endah Nawangsih

Keyword(s):

Social Skills ◽

Group Counseling ◽

Social Skill ◽

Social Problems ◽

Peer Groups ◽

University Student ◽

University Campus ◽

Significance Level ◽

Psychological Conditions ◽

Quasi Experimental

This study aims to see the effectiveness of group counseling in improving student social skills. Many students complain about social problems such as the difficulty to get along with and be accepted in the campus which is a new environment for them. These problems will impact on students' psychological conditions such as the decline of learning motivation, inferior feeling and even intention to resign. One of the campuses that were examined in this study was Telkom University Campus. Based on student unit data, the rate of student resign is increasing which it is a challenge for the institution. One of ways to handle student problems on psychosocial aspects such as unsociable and having no social skill is by establishing and consulting to group counseling. The group can be one of media in dealing with adolescent social problems because the task of adolescents’ development is to have peer groups. This research used Quasi Experimental method with One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design, and the research subject was Telkom University student. Based on the Wilcoxon Statistics test, it showed that the Z value is -2.023 with a significance level of ᾳ = 0.05, which means the group counseling improved social skills of Telkom University students.

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College-Based Transition Services' Impact on Self-Determination for Youth With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities ◽

10.1352/1934-9556-59.4.269 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 59 (4) ◽

pp. 269-282

Author(s):

Rebecca S. Schillaci ◽

Caroline E. Parker ◽

Meg Grigal ◽

Maria Paiewonsky

Keyword(s):

Developmental Disabilities ◽

College Transition ◽

Transition Services ◽

Self Determination ◽

Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽

College Courses ◽

University Campus ◽

Alternative Approach ◽

Post Test ◽

Quasi Experimental

Abstract Most youth in transition services with labels of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have poorer employment outcomes than their peers with other or without disabilities. One alternative approach to address this challenge provides youth with IDD access to transition services in the context of a college or university campus. College-based transition services (CBTS) provide students with IDD access to college courses, internships, and employment during their final 2 to 3 years of secondary education. A quasi-experimental design evaluation of one college-based transition services model, Think College Transition, found that, after controlling for student baseline scores, the college-based transition services had a significant effect on students' scores of self-determination at post-test. Implications for further refining the model are discussed.

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