[Community Intervention to Improve Walking Practices Applying the Model of Social Determinants of Health]

This study utilized the World Health Organization's social determinants of health model to identify the causes of differences in walking practice rates between districts ('gu's) with the lowest and highest rates in Busan city. Based on these findings, an intervention strategy was developed to improve walking practice rates. A pilot project was then implemented to confirm its effectiveness in increasing walking practice rates. To identify the causes of the difference, various methods were applied. These included an integrated analysis of the Community Health Survey (2015-2020), the derivation of health profiles from various secondary data sources, a survey on walking environment and preferences, an analysis of related policies and projects, focus group interviews with experts and local residents, and field research using photovoice and observation. Based on this, the following interventions were made to improve the walking practice rate in the community: strengthening the capacity of health guardians and club members of village health centers; training instructors for walking practices; activating walking programs by walking applications; linking activities with other health programs; improving awareness of local residents by utilizing local festivals, welfare centers, rental housing complexes, etc.; enacting a walking promotion support ordinance; and publishing and promoting local good road guidebooks, booklets, and brochures on the health effects of walking practice. Thus, the walking practice rate was confirmed to have increased from 52.1% in 2022 to 59.2% in 2024.