Rural libraries implementing walking groups or walking groups plus civic engagement for walkability in rural communities: a comparative effectiveness trial study protocol

Table 1 Step it up! socioecological & behavior change theory-based strategies

Strategies	Underlying Theoretical Concepts	Empirical Rationale Impact on Study Outcomes
*Individual Domain*
Discuss feelings regarding exercise experiences	• Commitment • Supportive relationships • Emotional & informational support	Increases group cohesion, social support, exercise adherence [52,53,54,55]
Discuss substituting walking for sedentary behavior	• Emotional & informational support	Increases self-efficacy, social support, adherence [52, 56]
Establish goals	• Self-control	Increases self-efficacy, exercise adherence [52, 56]
Fitbit log	• Self-monitoring • Self-reinforcement	Increases self-efficacy, exercise adherence [52, 56]
Emphasize positive benefits	• Physiologic responses • Consciousness raising • Intrinsic motivation	Increases self-efficacy, exercise adherence [52, 54, 57]
Participatory	• Autonomy	Increases self-efficacy, exercise adherence [52, 54, 56, 57]
*Social Domain*
Positive feedback from group leader	• Positive reinforcement	Increases social support, self-efficacy, group cohesion, exercise adherence [52,53,54, 57, 58]
Positive feedback from group members	• Social persuasion • Emotional & informational support	Increases self-efficacy, group cohesion, exercise adherence [52, 53, 55, 58, 59]
Exercise together as group	• Modeling experiences • Mastery experiences	Increases self-efficacy, collective efficacy, exercise adherence [52]
Group t-shirt	• Group identity	Increases group cohesion & connectedness [52, 53, 59]

ISSN: 1471-2458