Abstract
This was a one-group quasi-experimental study carried out at Waritchaphum Hospital
in 2006, with the objective of determining the health benefits of a running campaign.
The study population comprised personnel who were working at Waritchaphum Hospital
in 2006. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic characteristics
and the level of cooperation. The difference in the results before and after the campaign
on body mass index, blood levels of sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride was analyzed by
paired t-test.
Of the 122 persons analyzed, 67 percent were women and the average age of the
sample was 35 years; of the total, only 76 percent participated in the campaign. Over 58
percent of the persons had good physical ability. From the analytical results, the mean
blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels obtained before and after the campaign were
statistically significantly different (p-value < 0.05), whereas the means of fasting blood
sugar and body mass index were not statistically different.
As exercise is known to be necessary for health, this study of the running campaign
was conducted in the hope that, if the persons studied could change their behavior so
that they took exercise regularly for better health, they could become leaders in promoting
exercise in the community.
