Adherence and retention to the self-managed community-based Step Into Health program in Qatar (2012–2019)

Purpose

Investigate adherence and retention to the “Step Into Health (SIH)” initiative (www.stepintohealth.qa [website access only available from within the State of Qatar]), a Qatari self-managed community-based health program, from 2012 to 2019.

Methods

Participants (16,711; 16–80 years; 37% females, 34% Qatari) used a pedometer or smartphone application (app) to measure step count. Absolute adherence (ADH) and retention (RET) were calculated, with ADH (%) the ratio between number of days data and SIH enrollment length (RET). Linear Mixed Models identified dierences in ADH between RET groups, main eects (i.e., sex, device, age, BMI, nationality) and interaction eects for ADH (RET entered as a covariate).

Results

Average ADH and RET to SIH (irrespective of sex, age, device and BMI) was 50% (±31%), and 16% (±20%), respectively, with ADH diering significantly between RET groups (F = 460.2, p < 0.001). RET (as a covariate) revealed a significant main eect for device (F = 12.00, p < 0.001) and age (F = 4.31, p = 0.001) on ADH observed. There was a significant association between RET and sex (p < 0.001), device (p < 0.001), and age groups 16–25 y (p < 0.001), and 26–35 y (p < 0.001). There were no significant main eects for sex or BMI on ADH, and no interaction eects (p ≥ 0.21) observed.

Conclusions

Follow-up data (e.g., interviews, focus groups, etc.) determining why dierences in ADH and RET are observed appears prudent. To convert those that lapsed and/or abandoned SIH/PA into committed long-term PA adherers. This would be a first step to develop targeted public health promotions and initiatives to enhance health outcomes at a populatio.

Other Information

Published in: Frontiers in Public Health
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
See article on publisher's website: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.927386