How do different interventions impact stair climbing? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Promoting physical activity is crucial for public health.
• Increasing stair use is a viable strategy to encourage physical activity in daily life.
• Understanding the effectiveness of different interventions is key to designing successful public health campaigns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and analyze the impact of interventions designed to increase stair use.
• To conduct a meta-analysis to quantitatively assess the effectiveness of these interventions.
• To identify factors influencing the success of stair use interventions.

Main Methods:

• A systematic search of five major databases was performed in January 2021.
• Included were experimental studies (randomized and non-randomized) with pre- and post-intervention stair use measures in adults.
• Random-effect meta-analysis and subgroup analyses were employed to evaluate intervention effects.

Main Results:

• 34 studies were included in qualitative analysis, and 15 in the meta-analysis.
• Interventions significantly increased stair use in adults (OR 1.48; 95% CI 1.38-1.58).
• Effectiveness was consistent across continents and observer types, but varied by setting and intervention characteristics.

Conclusions:

• Various interventions can successfully promote stair use in diverse geographical and environmental contexts.
• Optimizing interventions for physical activity promotion necessitates attention to sign characteristics and message design.
• Future strategies should leverage these findings to encourage greater adoption of stair use.