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Table 2 Summary of characteristics of included studies with theoretically relevant variables for conducting moderator analyses

From: Do interventions to promote walking in groups increase physical activity? A meta-analysis

Studies by author and date order

Group characteristics

Setting

Design

Delivered mode

Duration and timing of walking in groups intervention

Assessment of physical activity

Measurements

Gender

Targeted age

Delivered by

[36] Kriska et al. 1986, [56] Pereira et al. 1998

Postmenopausal women (n = 229) Mean age: 57.5

Community

RCT

Training sessions Newsletter

Twice per week with goal to reach 60 minutes per session, for 8 weeks

Pedometers Paffenbarger questionnaire (blocks walked)* Monthly log sheets Multiple item scale

Baseline 1 year 2 years

Only women

Middle age adults

Lay people

[37] McAuley et al. 1994

Adults (n = 228) Mean age: 54.52

Community

RCT

Training sessions

Three times per week starting with 10-15 min and progressing to 40 min, for 5 months.

Diaries

Baseline 5 months

Both genders

Middle age adults

Experts with the research area and the population

[57] McAuley et al. 2003

[38] Rogers 1997

African American women (n = 35) Mean age: 51.6

Community

Non-RCTs

Training session Discussion groups

Once per week for 60 to 90 minutes, for 5 weeks

7-days recall physical activity questionnaire developed by Steinhardt and Dishman (1989 modified by Blair 1984) * Walking calendars

Baseline 5 weeks 7 weeks

Only women

Middle age adults

Researcher

[39] Sullivan et al. 1998

Older adults with chronic diseases (n = 52) Mean age: 71.2

Hospital

RCT

Discussion group Self help manual for participants

Three times per week for approximately 90 minutes, for 8 weeks

AIMS physical activity subscale* Diaries Self report questions

Baseline 8 weeks 1 year

Both genders

Older adults

Researcher

[40] Resnick 2002

Older adults (n = 34) Mean age:88

Retirement community

RCT

One-to-one visit

Three times per week for 20 minutes, for 6 months.

YPAS (interviewed administered questionnaire) Diaries *

Baseline, 2 months 6 months

Only women

Older adults

Experts with the research area and the population

[41] Coull et al. 2004

Older adults with ischemic heart disease (n = 289) Mean age: 67.5

Hospital

RCT

Training sessions

Once per month for approx 2 hour, for 1 year

Questions about previous week’s physical activity

Baseline 1 year

Both genders

Older adults

Lay volunteers

[13] Fisher et al. 2004, [58] Fisher et al. 2004a, [59] Fisher et al. 2002, [60] Michael et al. 2009, [61] Rowland et al. 2004

Older adults (n = 527) Mean age: 74.5

Community (Neighbourhood)

RCT

Training sessions (for leaders) Discussion group Self help manual Monthly newsletter

Three times per week for approximately 1 hour, for 6 months

Multiple item scale (3 items measuring the frequency of neighbourhood walking activity)

Baseline 3 months 6 months

Both genders

Older adults

Lay people

[42] Nguyen et al. 2002, [55] Nguyen et al. 2005

Adults (n = 575) Mean age: 54.6

Community

Pre post study

Newsletter for walkers Training session for walk leaders Guide for walk leaders Walking kit

Two to three times per week for 12 months (duration of sessions not given)

Multiple item scale (duration and frequency of physical activity)

Baseline 12 months

Both genders

Middle age adults

Lay volunteers

[43] Staten et al. 2005

Adults at risk for chronic diseases (n = 432) Mean age: 52.7

Community

Pre post study

Self help manuals for walk leaders Training session on preventing chronic diseases

Three times per week for 1 year (duration of sessions not given)

MLPAQ

Baseline 12 weeks

Both genders

Middle age adults

Lay people

[44] Banks-Wallace et al. 2007

African American women at risk for CVD (n = 36) Mean age: 50.3

Community (Neighbourhood)

Pre post study

Discussion groups Self help manuals (Stanford Walking Kit)

Twice per week for 1 year (duration of sessions not given)

Pedometers * CAPSPAQ Diaries/ walking calendars

Baseline 12 months 18 months

Only women

Middle age adults

Researcher/ professional story teller

[62] Banks-Wallace et al. 2005

[45] Hogue 2007

African American women (n = 46) Mean age: 46

Community (Church)

Non-RCTs

education meetings- sessions educational material remind calls

Daily for 10 weeks

Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA I & RAPA II) Pedometer Six minute walk test Physical Activity Minutes Log Sheet * Buddy Support Log: minutes spent exercising with buddy

Baseline 10 weeks

Only women

Middle age adults

Research assistant (faculty members and graduate students) – did not participated as subjects

[46] Estabrooks et al. 2008

Adults (n = 380) Mean age: 46

Community

Non-RCTs

Not stated

8 weeks intervention

Two questions, which assesses moderate physical activity* Survey (centre for disease and prevention behavioral risk factor surveillance survey)

Baseline to 8 weeks, Baseline to 6 months 8 weeks to 6 months

Both genders

Middle age adults

Ncl

[63] Burke et al. 2010,

[47] Jancey et al. 2008; [64] Jancey et al. 2008a, [65] Jancey et al. 2006, [66] Jancey et al. 2007, [67] Jancey et al. 2011

Older adults (n = 573) Mean age: 69.2

Community (Neighbourhood)

Non-RCTs

Training sessions Self help manuals

Twice per week started with 10 minutes and built up to 45 min and gradually increase intensity, for 6 months

IPAQ1

Baseline 3 months 6 months

Both genders

Older adults

Lay volunteers

[48] Krieger et al. 2009

Adults (n = 106) Mean age: ncl

Community

Pre – post study

Walk kit from California centre of physical activity

Five times per week for 1 hour (which varied depending on walker’s capacity)

Behavioural risk factor surveillance system questionnaire

 

Both genders

Middle age adults

Lay people2

[49] Zoellner et al. 2010

Adults (n = 112) Mean age: 44

Community

Non-RCTs

Training sessions Manual

Once per month for approx 90 min education session and walk throughout the week

Face-to-face administered questionnaire including past week physical activity recall Pedometer *

Baseline 3 months 6 months

Both genders

Middle age adults

Lay volunteers

[68] Zoellner et al. 2007

[69] Zollenner et al. 2009

[70] Zoellner et al. 2011

[71] Powers 2007

[50] Takeda 2011

Adults (n = 47) Mean age: 59.7

Community

Non-RCTs

Group instruction classes- lectures Newsletters

140 minutes sessions for 8 weeks (number of sessions not specified)

Pedometer with an accelerometer

Baseline 2 months 6 months

Both genders

Middle age adults

Staff

[51] Lee 2012

African American and Hispanic or Latina women (n = 322) Mean age: 45.7

Community

RCT

Sessions

6 sessions for a period of 6 months with the goal to gradually increase walking to recommended guidelines

IPAQ Accelerometer protocol *

Baseline 6 months

Only women

Middle age adults

Trained graduate students in psychology, public health or education

[52] Maki 2012

Older adults at risk of mental decline (n = 150) Mean age: 72

Community

RCT

Group meetings

Once a week for 90 minutes for 3 months.

Pedometer

Baseline 3 months

Both genders

Older adults

Registered physical trainers or health nurses

[53] Thomas 2012

Older adults (n = 399) Mean age: 72

Community centre for older people

RCT

Group-based, face-to-face counselling and advice Monthly telephone calls about 15 min

Once per month for 12 months with goal to reach 30 minutes three to five days per week

IPAQ * Pedometer

Baseline 6 months 12 months

Both genders

Older adults

Staff

  1. List of abbreviation: CAPSPAQ: Cross Cultural Activity Participation Study Physical Activity Questionnaire; IPAQ: International Physical Activity Questionnaire; MLPAQ: Minnesota Leisure time Physical Activity Questionnaire; YPAS: Yale Physical Activity Survey; AIMS: Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale.
  2. Lay people = people who received basic training to deliver the intervention, that is not part of their professional role.
  3. Professionals = people who have previous education and work on behaviour change interventions as part of their professional.
  4. * used as a basis for calculated effect sizes in meta-analysis.