Mall Walking A PROGRAM RESOURCE GUIDE

Transcription

1 Mall Walkig A PROGRAM RESOURCE GUIDE

2 Suggested Citatio Belza B, Alle P, Brow DR, Farre L, Jaicek S, Joes DL, Kig DK, Marquez DX, Miyawaki CE, Roseberg D. Mall walkig: A program resource guide. Seattle, WA: Uiversity of Washigto Health Promotio Research Ceter; Images i Mall Walkig: A Program Resource Guide are umbered. See the photo credits o page 34 for a complete list of photos. For additioal iformatio, please cotact Basia Belza, PhD, RN, FAAN Uiversity of Washigto basiab@uw.edu Website addresses of ofederal orgaizatios are provided solely as a service to readers. Provisio of a address does ot costitute a edorsemet of this orgaizatio by CDC or the federal govermet, ad oe should be iferred. CDC is ot resposible for the cotet of other orgaizatios web pages.

3 i ii iii iv Cotets Authors Cotets Ackowledgemets Project Advisory Group 1 Itroductio 2 Why Walk? 3 Why Mall Walk? 6 Mall Walkig Program Cosideratios 16 Examples of Mall Walkig Programs 25 Thik Beyod a Traditioal Mall Walkig Program 32 Refereces 34 Photo Credits 35 Appedices 44 Walkig Resources

4 Authors Basia Belza, PhD, RN, FAAN Health Promotio Research Ceter, School of Nursig, Uiversity of Washigto Laura Farre, BS Health Promotio Research Ceter, Uiversity of Washigto Christia E. Miyawaki, PhD, MSW Group Health Research Istitute, Health Promotio Research Ceter, Uiversity of Washigto Dori Roseberg, PhD, MPH Group Health Research Istitute, Health Promotio Research Ceter, Uiversity of Washigto Sarah Jaicek, MEd, MA Departmet of Kiesiology ad Nutritio Uiversity of Illiois at Chicago David X. Marquez, PhD, FACSM, FGSA Departmet of Kiesiology ad Nutritio, Ceter for Research o Health ad Agig, Uiversity of Illiois at Chicago Dia L. Joes, PT, PhD Departmet of Orthopaedics, Divisio of Physical Therapy, Ijury Cotrol Research Ceter, West Virgiia Uiversity Peg Alle, PhD, MPH, BSN Prevetio Research Ceter, Brow School, Washigto Uiversity i St. Louis Diae K. Kig, PhD Ceter for Behavioral Health Research ad Services, Uiversity of Alaska Achorage David R. Brow, PhD Natioal Ceter for Chroic Disease Prevetio ad Health Promotio, Divisio of Nutritio, Physical Activity, ad Obesity, Physical Activity ad Health Brach, Ceters for Disease Cotrol ad Prevetio MALL WALKING: A PROGRAM RESOURCE GUIDE ii

5 Ackowledgemets Mall Walkig: A Program Resource Guide is a product of the Uiversity of Washigto Health Promotio Research Ceter, the Ceters for Disease Cotrol ad Prevetio (CDC) Prevetio Research Ceter, ad was supported by Cooperative Agreemet Number U48 DP from the CDC. A. Jill Wager, MA, at IcooGraph Desigs, provided the desig for Mall Walkig: A Program Resource Guide, ad produced the documet. Special thaks to the followig professioal staff members ad studets who greatly cotributed to the data collectio ad aalysis, coceptualizatio, ad desig of Mall Walkig: A Program Resource Guide: Professioal Staff Yuki Durham Research Cosultat, Uiversity of Washigto Studet Assistats Laila Tomkiso Alle, MPH studet Uiversity of Alaska at Achorage Sarah Brollier, MPH Uiversity of Washigto Marc Cormier, PhD Uiversity of Ketucky Michael Kelly, BSN, RN Uiversity of Washigto Emma Presto, udergraduate studet Uiversity of Illiois at Chicago Nicole Schaffer, BS Uiversity of Illiois at Chicago Mackezie Staub, MSW, MPH Washigto Uiversity i St. Louis Jeremy Thursto, BSN, RN Uiversity of Washigto Rebecca Tiffay, BSN, RN Uiversity of Washigto MALL WALKING: A PROGRAM RESOURCE GUIDE iii

6 Project Advisory Group Rachel Beyerle Commuicatios Director, Easter Seals Trasportatio Group Coli Miler Fouder, Iteratioal Coucil o Active Agig Ross Okawa, MPA, MEd Seattle, Washigto Michele L Boutaugh, BSN, MPH Office of Nutritio ad Health Promotio Programs, Admiistratio o Agig, Admiistratio for Commuity Livig, U.S. Departmet of Health ad Huma Services David Sabgir, MD, FACC Fouder, Walk with a Doc Paige E. Deiso EhaceFitess Natioal Traier, Seior Services Stacie Sherida Executive Director-i-Traiig, Era Livig Commuities, Seattle Christie Hardig Program Director, Commuity Educatio Programs, Natioal Coucil o Agig Margaret Hayes, MPA Director of Elder Care Services, MaieHealth Gloria Neault, MSN, RN Program Maager, Cliical Services, MaieHealth Susa Syder, MS Executive Director, Evidece-Based Leadership Coucil Mary B. Waterma, MPH Director, Public Health, Arthritis Foudatio, Natioal Office Heather Hodge, M.Ed. Director, Chroic Disease Prevetio Programs, YMCA of USA MALL WALKING: A PROGRAM RESOURCE GUIDE iv

7 Itroductio The goal of Mall Walkig: A Program Resource Guide (hereafter the Guide) is to ecourage the developmet of mall walkig programs by providig readers with iformatio about the health beefits of walkig, explaiig why mall walkig programs ca help people walk more, ad providig practical strategies for startig ad maitaiig walkig programs i malls or other veues i areas where a mall is ot available. The iformatio i the Guide is based o a review of research o mall walkig programs; evirometal audits of malls ad other veues with walkig programs; ad iterviews coducted with walkers, program leaders, ad maagers i malls ad other veues with walkig programs. This Guide is meat to iform several types of stakeholders (or audieces). It is primarily for mall maagers who wat to start or ehace a mall walkig program. However, it is also for others i the commuity, who wat to parter with their commuity mall to either start a walkig program, or use a existig program to help their costituecies (e.g., employees, patiets, seiors) walk more. This ca iclude agig services providers, commuity coalitios, work site maagers, public health professioals, ad hospitals ad health care providers. A roadmap follows ext so that you ca aticipate what to expect as you read the Guide s cotets. This is a research-to-practice guide. The research ad ratioale for plaig, implemetig, ad evaluatig mall walkig programs is covered i the Why Walk? ad Why Mall Walk? sectios of the Guide. The practice, or what to do whe plaig, implemetig, ad evaluatig a mall walkig program, is discussed uder the Mall Walkig Program Cosideratios sectios of the Guide, alog with Examples of Mall Walkig Programs. How to examples of forms that may be used i implemetig mall walkig programs are provided i the Appedices of this Guide. Fially, readers are asked to thik creatively about how mall walkig-like programs may be established i areas without a mall. Startig mall walkig-like programs i other settigs may be importat to promote ad icrease walkig i rural commuities. The sectio o Thik Beyod a Traditioal Mall Walkig Program explores these ad other issues ad some Examples of Other Veues Hostig Mall Walkig-Like Programs are provided. MALL WALKING: A PROGRAM RESOURCE GUIDE 1

8 Why Walk? To obtai recommeded amouts of physical activity ad umerous health beefits associated with walkig. Regular physical activity is importat to overall health, ad walkig is a excellet way to be active. Adults who egage i regular physical activity, such as brisk walkig, are at lower risk of heart disease ad stroke, type 2 diabetes, breast ad colo cacers, ad depressed mood, compared with iactive adults (Physical Activity Guidelies Advisory Committee, 2008). Adults who are regularly physically active may also obtai other health beefits ad positive outcomes, such as maitaiig or losig weight, improvig sleep, ad for older adults, maitaiig their idepedece, reducig their risk of falls, ad delayig the oset of cogitive declie ad demetia (Physical Activity Guidelies Advisory Committee, 2008). Natioal Physical Activity Recommedatios for All Adults To gai health beefits, atioal guidelies recommed that adults, icludig older adults, should obtai at least 150 miutes (2 hours ad 30 miutes) a week of moderate-itesity aerobic physical activity, or 75 miutes (1 hour ad 15 miutes) a week of vigorous-itesity aerobic physical activity, or a equivalet combiatio of moderate ad vigorous-itesity activity (U.S. Departmet of Health ad Huma Services, 2008). A brisk walk is a great way to accumulate weekly miutes towards meetig the aerobic physical activity guidelies (U.S. Departmet of Health ad Huma Services, 2008). Makes good public health sese! Most iactive adults ca safely begi a walkig program. Walkig ca be doe by the vast majority of Americas. It is a activity that requires little or o specialized skills or traiig, ad does ot require the purchase of expesive equipmet or specialized attire beyod comfortable walkig shoes. Persos who are iactive or ufit ca begi a walkig program safely. For busy adults, walkig offers flexibility, compared to scheduled activities, such as exercise classes. Walkers ca set their ow pace to fit their level of fitess, ad vary the umber of days per week ad the legth of their walkig sessios to fit comfort level. As walkers gradually improve their fitess level, they ca icrease the frequecy, itesity, or duratio of the walkig they perform durig the week. Walkig programs ca, ad should, be tailored to iclude persos with varyig levels of mobility (e.g., slow ad fast walkers, walkers usig assistive devices, ad walkers with disabilities). MALL WALKING: A PROGRAM RESOURCE GUIDE 2

9 Why Mall Walk? To address barriers to physical activity. Regardless of residetial or work locatios, walkig ca be doe i a variety of veues. However, may eighborhood eviromet factors, such as street layout, sidewalk coditios, proximity of desirable destiatios, perceived safety from traffic, ad crime, all ifluece walkig-related physical activity (Roseberg, Huag, Simoovich, & Belza, 2013; Saeles & Hady, 2008; Va Cauweberg et al., 2011). These factors associated with eighborhood walkability are importat for all Americas, but especially for may midlife ad older adults with physical or cogitive disabilities (Nagel, Carlso, Bosworth, & Michael, 2008; Prohaska et al., 2009; Satariao et al., 2010). Although eighborhoods ca be desiged to be walkable ad, therefore, promote walkig (Belza et al., 2004; Roseberg, Bombardier, Hoffma, & Belza, 2011), exteral coditios, such as extreme temperatures ad iclemet weather, may egatively ifluece walkig ad icrease safety hazards (Roseberg et al., 2013). Mall walkig programs ca address may of these barriers, as oted i Table 1, which may largely accout for fidigs idicatig that after eighborhoods, shoppig malls ( mall walkig ) are the secod most frequetly used veue for walkig (Eyler, Browso, Bacak, & Housema, 2003). 1 Well-lit ad wide walkig route free of obstacles. Mall walkig is cosidered a safe, comfortable physical activity mode (Eyler et al., 2003), ad walkig at malls is ofte recommeded by health care providers because malls offer free, relatively accessible, ad pedestria-friedly eviromets (Cuaderes, Lamb, & Alger, 2014). Malls are attractive places for walkig because they provide a sheltered idoor eviromet free from the dagers of traffic cogestio, ad ca be used most days of the year regardless of weather or seasoal differeces. Security staff are usually preset so people feel less fearful ad vulerable whe walkig i malls tha i more upredictable eviromets (Duca, Travis, & McAuley, 1994; Schacht & Uitha, 1991; Stadefer, 1992). I additio, malls have level surfaces, beches for places to rest, water foutais for availability of free water, ad accessible restrooms. MALL WALKING: A PROGRAM RESOURCE GUIDE 3

10 Why Mall Walk? Mall Walkig Programs May Help People Overcome Barriers to Physical Activity Barriers to Physical Activity (Lattimore, et al, 2011) Weather (too hot, too cold, too iclemet) Neighborhood safety; fear of crime Fear of ijury Lack of resources or accessibility to a gym or health club Lack of social support Lack of skills or experiece with exercisig Lack of available ad clea restrooms Mall Characteristics The majority of malls provide a temperature-cotrolled idoor eviromet that ca be used for walkig, regardless of seasoal chages ad coditios. Mall security staff ad presece of other walkers ad shoppers help to alleviate a fear of crime that may be prevalet i other eighborhood areas. Accessibility to level surfaces i a mall helps reduce the risk of ijuries that may occur with hilly ad ueve terrai. Few resources other tha proper fittig walkig shoes are eeded for walkig i a mall. Latest fashioable workout attire is ot a requisite for mall walkig. Mall walkig programs may provide support of a program leader, as well as support from other walkig program participats for those who ejoy walkig buddies. Most people ca walk with little or o coachig or skills traiig. Mall walkig programs ca, ad should be, iclusive of persos who may have difficulty walkig. Well-lit restrooms available i malls may help overcome the worry of some adults about walkig i public places, where there may ot be access to restroom facilities. MALL WALKING: A PROGRAM RESOURCE GUIDE 4

11 Why Mall Walk? Historically, shoppig malls were origially developed to build a sheltered retail ceter for wome after World War II, primarily i suburba areas i the Uited States. The itetio was for wome to gather ad socialize, ad the term, mall, meat a promeade or shaded walkway (Stadefer, 1992). Today, mall walkig programs cotiue to provide participats the opportuity to socialize ad to shop at the various retail stores. Attractive programmatic features of mall walkig programs are that they are ocompetitive, sociable ad friedly, ad mall walkers are typically ot judged by their speed, attire, or physique. (Blair, 1988; Cresswell, 2009). These are importat cosideratios for may midlife ad older adult mall walkers. Mall walkers have also reported that they feel a sese of support with fellow mall walkers (Bird et al., 2010; Sommers, Adres, & Price, 1995). Usig existig malls ad providig effective mall walkig programs have the potetial to address barriers to physical activity ad to improve public health amog may commuities, icludig diverse commuities. To icrease walkig amog midlife ad older adults, who are typically less active tha youger adults Walkers of all levels, ages, ad abilities ca participate i a mall walkig program. Mall walkig programs ca be attractive to youger adults, such as mothers with strollers, those with chroic disease coditios (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), or those who are overweight. However, middle aged ad older adults represet the segmet of the US populatio that may beefit the most from efforts to icrease the umber of mall walkig programs i the atio. Our observatios of participats i mall walkig programs, as well as fidigs from the research literature (Zek et al., 2009) suggest that the programs are most popular amog middleaged ad older adults. Researchers (Prohaska et al., 2009) have also foud that older adults with mild cogitive disabilities prefer walkig i idoor shoppig malls ad less i parks. This fidig may be because malls eclosed eviromets, safe walkig surfaces, places to rest, coveiet rest rooms, ad 2 Mall ramp with hadrails. absece of traffic offer fewer distractios to those who are cogitively challeged. Although walkig is the most commo ad preferred activity for older adults, treds show that walkig has ot icreased as much amog older adults, particularly those with chroic coditios ad disabilities, as amog other age groups, (Berriga, 2012; Kruger, Ham, Berriga, & Ballard-Barbash, 2008; Simpso et al, 2003). Furthermore, middle-aged ad older adults are amog the most physically iactive segmets i the Uited States (Pleis, Ward, & Lucas, 2010). Thus, mall walkig programs possess the potetial to reduce the physical activity disparity gap betwee youger ad older age groups i the Uited States. I additio, becomig physically active, eve durig middle age ad older adult years, ca lead to better overall health (Vogel et al, 2009) ad lower risk of death (Schohr, Scharlig, & Jese, 2003). MALL WALKING: A PROGRAM RESOURCE GUIDE 5

12 Mall Walkig Program Cosideratios How do you pla for, implemet, ad evaluate a mall walkig program? There are may factors mall maagers ad commuity groups should cosider whe developig a mall walkig program such as resources available for marketig, icetives, or trasportatio, ad whether there are persoel who ca coordiate programmatic aspects. May successful mall walkig programs simply establish a policy that opes the doors prior to busiess hours ad idicates that walkers are welcome i their mall marketig materials. 3 Mall staircase ad sittig area. Factors To Cosider Whe Establishig ad Maitaiig a Mall Walkig Program. Factors 1. Lessos leared ad best practices from other mall walkig programs. 2. Mall maagemet support. 3. Persoel that may be eeded. 4. Parterships that may ehace a mall walkig program. 5. Trasportatio. MALL WALKING: A PROGRAM RESOURCE GUIDE 6

13 Mall Walkig Program Cosideratios Factors To Cosider Whe Establishig ad Maitaiig a Mall Walkig Program. (cotiued) 6. Programmatic characteristics of the mall walkig program. 7. Commuity diversity ad culture. 8. Safety. 9. Costs ad ecoomic factors. 10. How to attract ad retai mall walkig program participats. 11. Evaluatio. 1. Lessos leared ad best practices from other mall walkig programs. Existig mall walkig programs may help guide the process of startig a mall walkig program. Lear from the experieces of other malls ad successful mall walkig programs that already exist. Talk to mall walkers, mall maagers, ad mall program leaders to determie their lessos leared ad the best practices that are workig i their programs. You ca also lear from the five successful Examples of Mall Walkig Programs described o pp of this Guide. 2. Obtai mall maagemet support. If you are iterested i parterig with a mall i your commuity to start a mall walkig program, discuss the potetial partership of your orgaizatio with a mall maager. Highlight the potetial beefits to both the mall ad your orgaizatio, ad secure mall maagemet buy-i ad support. Begi joit collaboratio o the developmet of the mall walkig program. Help idetify eeded resources ad i-kid cotributios that ca be made. MALL WALKING: A PROGRAM RESOURCE GUIDE 7

14 Mall Walkig Program Cosideratios 3. Persoel that may be eeded. It may be valuable to idetify ad hire a program leader (e.g., a traied health or fitess professioal or certified exercise leader with excellet iterpersoal skills) to pla ad moitor your mall walkig program s success. The program leader may be a curret mall employee with traiig i health ad fitess or a employee of a sposorig or supportive parter orgaizatio (e.g., hospital or fitess ceter), or a ew hire. 4. Parterships may ehace a mall walkig program. Mall walkig programs ca be iformal or formal i orgaizatio. Iformal programs welcome mall walkers, but do ot provide orgaizatioal support, promotioal activities, or plaed commuity outreach to recruit walkers to the mall. This Guide is for mall maagers ad others wishig to start a mall walkig program with a more formal format. Formal programs ca be structured i may ways. For example, a mall walkig program may be started by mall 4 Parks ad Recreatio va trasportig walkers to ad from the mall. 5 Pedestria cross walk. maagemet solely as a way of coectig commuity members walkers ad shoppers to the mall. Aother example is that a partership may be developed betwee the mall ad oe or more commuity-based orgaizatios, such as a hospital or health ad fitess orgaizatio. Mall maagemet might wat to cosider ay beefits from locatig ad securig support from oe or more commuity-based orgaizatios. These beefits might iclude added promotioal opportuities, combiig resources, ad icreased foot traffic ito the mall. 5. Trasportatio. Durig the plaig of a mall walkig program, cosider trasportatio from home to the mall ad back as a importat issue that may ifluece iitial ad cotiued participatio i the program. May malls are isolated from the commuities they serve by highway ad roadway barriers, ad access to the malls by walkig or bikig are ot optios. Because trasportatio may be a barrier or facilitator for participatig i a mall walkig program, some solutios you might cosider are MALL WALKING: A PROGRAM RESOURCE GUIDE 8

15 Mall Walkig Program Cosideratios Placig trasit stops i a safe area close to a mall etrace, ad sheltered from the weather, to facilitate accessibility of passegers boardig ad exitig a bus or shuttle va. Explorig subsidized or reasoably priced commuity trasportatio services for walkers who o loger drive. Ecouragig carpoolig or shared rides, as eeded ad appropriate, amog the mall walkig program participats. 6 Mall security o a Segway. Providig iformatio to walkers i flyers ad posters about the earest public trasit stops to the mall. Makig safe passage, free of traffic cogestio, from trasit stops to mall etraces available to all mall attedees, mall walkers, ad shoppers. 6. Idetify ad pla the programmatic characteristics of the mall walkig program. Characteristics of a mall walkig program will vary o the basis of the mall locatio ad the decisios the mall maager will make. Some thigs to cosider are as follows: Determie whe mall etrace doors ad bathrooms ope to the public. Determie hours of operatio for the mall walkig program. Determie whe security staff are at the mall, to coicide with mall walkig program hours of operatio. Develop ecessary forms. Suggested program forms 7 Membership erollmet form (Appedix A ad Appedix B). Walkig logs (Appedix C). Brochures (Appedix D). Flyer with route distace (Appedix E ad F). Ay other materials eeded to support record keepig. Covered trasit stop ear mall etrace. MALL WALKING: A PROGRAM RESOURCE GUIDE 9

16 Mall Walkig Program Cosideratios Obtai locked file cabiets to secure materials. Determie type ad volume of backgroud music i the mall before shops ope, ad durig mall walkig hours of operatio. Idetify oe or more mall walkig routes that are safe ad free of trip hazards. Cosider the followig: A well-lit route(s). A route(s) where beches or rest areas are available at periodic itervals. 8 Lockers allow for storig of belogigs while walkig. 9 Cautio with floor outlets. 11 Platers i a mall. A route havig availability of free water (e.g., a accessible water foutai). A route that passes earby oe or more restrooms. Determie the distace or legth of route(s), ad mark routes with sigage Mall sittig area. Above: Mile markers help walkers determie distace walked. Right: Distace marker for mall walkers. 13 MALL WALKING: A PROGRAM RESOURCE GUIDE 10

17 Mall Walkig Program Cosideratios Mall hall way with beches. Mall walker s bulleti board with aoucemets, educatioal ad health materials, ad commuity iformatio ad evets. Develop route maps with distaces ad give maps to persos iterested i mall walkig (Appedix F). Cosider a cetral meetig place for mall walkers to check-i, do record keepig, ad cogregate before ad after walkig. Cosider providig a place for mall walkers to hag jackets or store belogigs securely. Use kiosks or bulleti board displays to commuicate about the mall walkig program, distribute health educatio materials, ad idetify ad publicize commuity health ad fitess evets. Cosider offerig the followig as part of the mall walkig program: Blood pressure screeigs. Staff-led stretchig. Guest speakers to give periodic health lectures. Health fairs ad educatioal evets. Health-related ewsletters, fliers, ad bulletis. Evets to celebrate birthdays or holidays. Idetify retail stores that are focused o physical activity (e.g., sell items such as walkig shoes, other athletic attire, or equipmet), ad determie their iterest i supportig the mall walkig program i some way (e.g., provide pedometers for use by walkers, maitai iformatio o bulleti boards about commuity evets ad opportuities to be active, sposor oe or two file cabiets or space for the mall walkig program leader ad program participats to store their records ad exercise logs). MALL WALKING: A PROGRAM RESOURCE GUIDE 11

18 Mall Walkig Program Cosideratios 7. Commuity diversity ad culture. To the extet possible, mall walkig programs should itegrate ito the commuity where they are located. A advatage of mall walkig programs is that they are highly adaptable ad ca be tailored to meet the prefereces ad eeds of residets livig close to the mall walkig program. Whe tailorig a mall walkig program, cosider the followig: The local populatio, culture, ad settig so as to attract the largest umber of walkers. Walkig programs ca serve as outlets for health iformatio beyod the beefits associated with walkig. Addressig the health eeds of a commuity ca be accomplished, i part, with targeted health educatio materials, health fairs, publicizig commuity health-related evets, ad brigig i guest speakers to address health issues relevat to commuity members. Usig the mall walkig program as the poit of cotact for obtaiig ad dissemiatig health iformatio ad orgaizig activities ca help build commuity support for the mall i geeral, ad mall walkig program, specifically. Desigig the mall walkig program to accommodate diverse populatios, as differet cultures may view walkig differetly (e.g., as a activity for health ad fitess, leisure-time activity, or a destiatio- orieted purposeful activity). Outreach to ad iclusio of commuity residets. This ca be doe by workig collaboratively with eighborhood associatios ad differet commuity groups, icludig employers, orgaizatios represetig persos with disabilities ad differet racial ad ethic groups, faithbased orgaizatios, ad media to idetify ad explore ways to meet the uique eeds of commuity groups ad how to make commuity members feel welcomed to joi a mall walkig program. 8. Safety. Pla for safety, ad make sure safety precautios are i place. Mall walkig program leaders ad program participats should kow where first aid ad emergecy equipmet is located. Mall walkers should have access to the same first aid, emergecy equipmet, ad safety persoel as mall shoppers. 16 Defibrillator as a example of emergecy equipmet available i a mall. MALL WALKING: A PROGRAM RESOURCE GUIDE 12

19 Mall Walkig Program Cosideratios Idetify a dedicated etry way for use by mall walkers that is close to the cetralized mall walkig program meetig area. Ideally, this area should be safe from traffic cogestio, coveiet to bus trasit stops, ad sheltered from iclemet weather by a covered etry way for walkers eterig ad exitig the mall from trasportatio dropoffs ad pick-ups. 17 Pedestria crossig sig. mall walkig program. Oe such form is the Physical Activity Readiess Questioaire (PAR-Q) or a similar questioaire (Appedix C ad View.asp?x=698). Aother optio is the EASY tool ( Esure that mall security persoel are preset durig mall walkig program hours of operatio. 9. Cost ad ecoomic factors. Costs related to a mall walkig program ca be related to persoel, materials, marketig, ad icetives for the participats. These costs ca be covered by the mall or shared by oe or more mall walkig program parters. Some costs to cosider are Program leader salary. 18 Ramped curb cut with trucated domes. Cosider ivitig the mall walkers to complete a brief health history form to idetify if they have ay kow chroic disease coditios that may require obtaiig physicia clearace ad approval to be i a Mall security persoel, (if security is made available specifically for the mall walkig program, rather tha as a part of overall mall security). Purchase of kiosks or bulleti boards. Route sigage ad route maps. Record keepig supplies. Record keepig secure file cabiets. Educatioal materials. 19 Map showig locatio of mall stores. Pedometers or other promotioal materials. MALL WALKING: A PROGRAM RESOURCE GUIDE 13

20 Mall Walkig Program Cosideratios Coat racks. Beches, (if malls do ot provide them already). You ca also ecourage retailers to offer icetives to mall walkers to shop i their stores. 10. Attract ad retai mall walkig program participats. Geerate publicity ad broadly dissemiate iformatio about your mall walkig program to recruit mall walkig program participats, ad provide icetives to promote ad sustai program adherece. Develop a website that publicizes the mall walkig program. The website ca iclude forms eeded for the program, such as a applicatio to joi the mall walkig program (Appedix A), or iformatio about the program, such as route maps ad hours of operatio (Appedix E ad F). Publish a periodic ewsletter about the mall walkig program ad ay health-related evets that are promoted by the program leader. Obtai media coverage (ewspaper, televisio, radio) of the mall walkig program. Publicize special health-related evets orgaized with the mall walkig program. Pla a kickoff evet publicizig the start-up of the program: Ivite a speaker who is a walkig role model or welless champio to talk about the beefits of walkig. Cosider a variety of chaels to advertise ad get the word out about the mall walkig program. These ca iclude the followig: 20 Three mall walkers. Desig a brochure (Appedix D) or flyer (Appedix E) to promote the mall walkig program. Post the brochure or flier throughout the mall, ad distribute to earby facilities ad orgaizatios, especially those that serve older adults (e.g., retiremet commuities, seior ceters, ad commuity ceters). Offer prizes durig the kickoff evet doated by stores i the mall. Ivite media to cover the evet ad to icrease exposure ad visibility of the mall walkig program i the commuity. 11. Evaluatio. Evaluatio is a importat compoet of successfully maitaiig a mall walkig program. Evaluatio data ca be used to evaluate how the program is beig implemeted ad to idetify ways to improve it, to evaluate outcomes importat to the mall walkig program leaders ad program participats ad parters, ad to idetify the costs ad other ecoomic factors related to the mall walkig program (see Cost MALL WALKING: A PROGRAM RESOURCE GUIDE 14

21 Mall Walkig Program Cosideratios ad ecoomic factors ). Types of evaluatios are as follows: Walker satisfactio. Provide a way for walkers to give feedback, suggestios, poit out problems ad solutios. This could be a suggestio box, that someoe checks regularly ad respods to, or a short satisfactio survey. Busiess ower satisfactio. Provide a way for busiess owers, maagers, mall persoel to give feedback o ay positive or egative impact associated with the mall walkig program. Impact of walkig o health. Parter with public health or uiversity researchers to collect data o health beefits over time. Ecourage walkers to moitor their ow health improvemets by providig them with logs or kiosks where they ca eter their weekly mall walkig by usig a log book (record days/dates walked; laps or distace walked; amout of time walked; umber of steps walked [will require use of pedometers or smart phoe apps that measure steps], distace or speed walked) (See Appedix C). Walkig eviromet ad safety. Walk the mall, or ask mall walkers to idetify ay issues alog the walkig route. How to keep a mall walkig program goig Implemetig a mall walkig program is a major decisio. Oce implemeted, sustaiig the mall walkig program will be importat. The followig activities may cotribute to the log-term success of your mall walkig program. Solicit feedback periodically from mall walkig program participats, ad implemet program improvemets, as eeded ad appropriate o the basis of their feedback. Coduct periodic evaluatio to provide feedback to mall walkig program participats about their walkig progress ad health ad fitess improvemets. Cosider usig a log to track ad moitor program participatio. Rely o parterships for outreach to commuity members to help stregthe the quality of the program. Develop a program iclusive of the diversity of commuity members. Establish a friedly atmosphere, where mall employees, maager, security, are ecouraged to greet the walkers, get to kow them by ame, ad create a relaxed, fu eviromet. Address barriers, especially trasportatio. MALL WALKING: A PROGRAM RESOURCE GUIDE 15