Abstract

A wide range of informative health-related Web sites exists on the Internet, however, many lack strategies needed for behavior modification skills. To address this issue a Walk-for Life (WAFL) web-based pilot educational intervention program was developed to assess the knowledge and awareness of walking as a physical activity behavior among adolescents. The WAFL was evaluated by high school students who were enrolled in the program called Health Sciences & Technology Academy (HSTA) an after school college enrichment preparation program for at risk students. The West Virginia University implements the HSTA program. A total of 14 students received the WAFL URL address* for access to the Web site tailored to high school students' and constructed based on five social cognitive theory (SCT) behavioral constructs. Students completed a process evaluation while viewing the Web site for two weeks followed by an impact evaluation. As a result of this intervention, the majority of the students reported that their knowledge and awareness of walking as a form of physical activity behavior increased. The results showed 83.3% were able to identify at least 3 ways to use positive reinforcement methods and 75% were able to identify 3 benefits that can result from increasing their walking as a moderate form of physical activity behavior. The Internet is becoming an easily accessed and valued information source on a variety of health issues for adolescents. Therefore, health educators should be encouraged to incorporate the Internet as a medium for future health interventions targeting similar groups of adolescents.