Rural Libraries Promoting Walking and Walkability in Their Rural Communities

Rural Libraries Promoting Walking and Walkability in Their Rural Communities

The investigators will randomize 20 rural libraries to implement either a group-based walking (standard approach) or a group-based walking combined with a civic engagement program (combined approach). Each rural library will enroll between 15-20 participants. The investigators will compare the change in physical activity between participants in each group.

The goals of this study are:

1. Increase the capacity of rural libraries to deliver evidence-based health promotion programs
2. Compare the effects of a group-based walking program with a combined group-based plus civic engagement program on physical activity, cardiovascular fitness and collective efficacy among rural residents.
3. Evaluate program implementation

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 or older
• Inactive (defined as engaging in physical activity <3 days per week)
• Ability to walk for at least 20 minutes
• Living within the rural community served by the local library
• Ability to travel to the local library/location of walking group.

Exclusion criteria:

• Participation/intention to participate in other lifestyle modification pro-gram(s)
• Cognitive impairment
• Inability to communicate due to severe uncorrected hearing loss or speech disorder or severe visual impairment (if precludes completion of assessments and/or intervention)