Research and Best Practice C L I N I C A L • H E A L T H • P R O M O T I O N • s t a ff c o m p e t e n c i e s e v i d e n c e p a t e n t p r e f e r e n c e s C L I N I C A L • H E A L T H • P R O M O T I O N • s t a ff c o m p e t e n c i e s e v i d e n c e p a t e n t p r e f e r e n c e s Volume 3 | Issue 1 www.clinhp.org May/June | 2013 | Page 5 Clin Health Promot 2013; 3:5-11 AUTHORS About the signifcant amount of time is spent there, making it an ideal environment with which to reach a large number of individ- uals and to modify employees’ behavior (3;4). Also, workplace health promotion activities provide an opportunity to pro- mote and advocate for the psychological and physical health benefts of PA (4). When changes are made in the work- place, risk factors for chronic disease can be reduced and employees’ health im- proved accordingly. There are also posi- tive results for the employer, such as re- duced absenteeism, lower accident rates, Introducton Physical activity (PA) is associated with many health benefts. Nonetheless, ac- cording to the World Health Organiza- tion (WHO), less than 40% of the world’s population exercises (1). Physical inactiv- ity is currently the fourth leading global risk factor for mortality and accounts for 6% of deaths and 2% of disability-adjust- ed life years worldwide (2). There are many reasons why the work- place is the best setting for encouraging people to participate in PA. The work- place is available to all employees and a Contact: Charles Sounan charles.sounan@muhc.mcgill.ca 1 McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada 2 McGill University - Ingram School of Nursing, Montreal, Canada 3 McGill University Health Centre - Human Resource Montreal 4 McGill University - Medi- cine Montreal, Canada Charles Sounan 1 , Melanie Lavoie-Tremblay 2 , Kara Martn 3 , Julie Trudel 2 , Geneviève Lavi- gne 3 , Ilka Lowensteyn 4 , Steven A Grover 4 Abstract Background Health promoton programmes ofen incorporate the use of a pedometer to increase physical actvity (PA). Although many studies have examined the infuence of the pedometer on PA at the workplace, very few have directly tar- geted hospital employees and the anthropometric, biomedical, psychological, and behavioral benefts they could experience following a pedometer-based PA interventon. The aim of the present study was to examine the anthropometric, biomedical, psychological and behavioral benefts associated with the use of a pedometer in a PA challenge with a wide range of hospital employees. Methods A total of 310 employees of a university-afliated mult-site healthcare centre in Canada, from 24 to 70 years of age and of diferent types of jobs and work schedules, were voluntarily enrolled in an eight–week pedometer-based PA programme aimed at increasing PA as well as improving fruit and vegetable consumpton. Data were collected at baseline and afer the eight-week challenge using clinical measurements and questonnaires that were classifed into fve categories: socio-demographic, anthropometric, biomedical, psychological, and behavioral. Paired sample t-tests were conducted on the baseline and post-programme data to detect signifcant diferences between the measurement points. Further analyses, including univariate analyses of covariance, were conducted on the post-programme scores to detect signifcant diferences in the study variables between pedometer-determined PA groups. Results Behavioral, biomedical, anthropometric and psychological benefts were associated with the PA interventon. Hospital employees also exhibited signifcant changes in anthropometric measures, such as lower weight and body mass index which is in line with previous studies. The present interventon also led to an increase in moderate PA and to a decrease in tme spent sitng, to improvements in biomedical and psychological outcomes. Conclusion The results highlight that the use of a pedometer is associated with signifcant increases in PA and signifcant de- creases in weight, BMI, blood pressure and cholesterol as well as in stress, fatgue and sleep problems. This underscores the importance of such interventons in the hospital setng. Impact of a pedometer-based physical actvi ty challenge on behavioral, bio- medical, anthropometric and psycho- logical outcomes in hospital employees: An interven tonal s tudy Editorial Ofce, WHO-CC • Clinical Health Promoton Centre • Bispebjerg / Frb University Hospital, Denmark Copyright © Clinical Health Promoton - Research and Best Practce for patents, staf and community, 2013