2005 Volume 103 Pages 10-23
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of exercise behavior self-monitoring applicable to the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases in community-based health service. The study population consisted of 45 people（ 3 males and 42 females） living in a community in Tokyo who met the following criteria: 65 years old or younger, a body mass index（ BMI） of 24.2 or greater. The subjects recorded the number of steps taken each day and recorded whether they had performed their target self-determined exercise behavior using A4-format sheets for 5 months（ 154 days） from November 2002 to April 2003. The feasibility was evaluated by the submitting rate（ defined as the number of submitting sheet divided by 5） and the recording rate（defined as the number of recording day divided by 154）. The process was assessed by the changes in the contents of self-monitoring. The effectiveness was assessed by the differences between before and after the intervention period in BMI, 3-minute walk distance, energy expenditure, exercise self-efficacy score and stage of change. Furthermore the relationship between the intervention effect and the intervened energy expenditure estimated by the self-monitoring recordings was examined. 1）The submitting rate was 99.6% and the recording rate was 95%. 2）The target exercise behavior, the number of step and the intervened energy expenditure significantly increased after the intervention period. 3）The BMI, 3-minute walk distance, energy expenditure, exercise self-efficacy score and stage of change significantly improved after the intervention period. 4）The change in the number of steps before and after the intervention was significantly greater in those who submitted all the recording sheets than in those who did not. 5）The stage of change significantly progressed after the intervention period in those who were in preparation stage before the intervention and submitted all the recording sheets. 6）The contribution rate of the intervened energy expenditure for the differences in BMI was estimated to be 27.3% and that for the differences in energy expenditure was estimated to be 20.1%. The results indicated that performing exercise self-monitoring promoted the changes in exercise behavior and contributed the maintenance. The data also indicated that the estimated intervened energy expenditure could predict the intervention effects. Therefore, the exercise self-monitoring was a practical and effective method of supporting behavioral changes for the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases in community-dwelling middle-aged and elderly people.
