Programme Planning
Detailed planning is crucial to the successful implementation of the stair climbing campaign. You should conduct data research before drafting the proposal. This includes understanding the views and needs of the subjects, assessing the feasibility of the physical environment, making reference to the experience and relevant findings of similar activities in other places, etc. Besides, regard must be paid to the concern of the management staff since the successful implementation of the programme is subject to their approval. As such, we should discuss with them the idea, objectives, importance and points of attraction of the programme at the beginning . The manpower, resources and funding required should also be considered from their point of view and the effective use of various resources should be elaborated. Allaying their concern can secure a greater chance of gaining their support for the programme.
Conduct Needs Assessment
- Extensive support and participation of the programme require the incorporation of all views from different parties, including the needs of the subjects. Such information can be obtained through questionnaire surveys or focus groups discussion.
- The programme objectives, budget and resources required can be mapped out once all information is collated.
Define the Objectives of the Programme
- Careful consideration has to be given to the implementation pace of the campaign by taking into account various factors like needs assessment, resource allocation and organizational operations. After that, the objectives of the programme can be defined.
- Points to note when defining the objectives:
- The objectives should be specific and quantifiable so that accurate evaluation can be carried out during and after the programme.
- There are short-term, intermediate and long-term objectives. Short-term objectives like increased health awareness and knowledge can be attained through 1 or 2 promotional activities. Intermediate objectives like behavioural change or increased use of stairs require a longer time to achieve. Improvement in health condition of the subjects is a long-term objective.
Estimate the Resources Required
- The resources required can generally be divided into 3 aspects:
- Manpower: including staff, volunteers, members of mutual aid committees or staff welfare groups, etc.
- Social resources: including venues, educational materials, co-operative partners, etc.
- Funding: including stairs decoration, improvements in environmental facilities (such as lighting, ventilation and level of cleanliness), production of publicity materials, organization of promotional activities, etc.
Choose Suitable Venues
- A checklist for the selection of venues should be drawn up with stairs safety as the priority.
- A suitable venue should satisfy the following conditions:
- Stairs safety
- Staircases with adequate illumination;
- Staircases with good ventilation;
- Staircases with good hygiene;
- Stairs are unobstructed;
- Stairs and the floor are non-slippery;
- No hidden corners in staircases (dark areas / corners installed with closed-circuit televisions or mirrors);
- Staircases are installed with handrails;
- Regular patrols of staircases by security guards;
- Stickers can be posted
- Stairs are not far away from elevators / escalators;
- Spaces are available in the venue for mounting promotional stickers; and
- Activity participation rate can be raised
- The venue has a high pedestrian flow.
Set Up Suitable Environment
- Studies have found that the display of stickers with prompting messages in the vicinity of stairs and elevators/ escalators can not only motivate people to opt for stair climbing but also create effectively a comfortable and attractive environment.
- Apart from using stickers and posters, some western countries have also incorporated different staircase elements in the stair climbing campaign to generate a comfortable and attractive environment. These elements include:
- Broadcasting systems are installed to play music or songs;
- Staircases of every 2 floors are grouped together, and pictures of different themes are mounted on the walls. Warm colours are used in the lower floors to prompt pedestrians to climb up while cold colours are used in the higher floors to cool down pedestrians who begin to sweat after climbing several flights of stairs;
- Discussion forums are provided on the walls of higher floors for sharing the benefits of stair climbing; and
- Ranking lists are posted to recognize pedestrians who have climbed the stairs for a hundred or thousand times.
- Discuss the display of stickers and posters with the building management company and seek their approval.
Produce the Stickers
- Conduct discussion at the working group and design slogans that encourage stair climbing in the subjects. The slogans should be concise as well as easy to read, understand and remember. The content can be motivational, educational or humourous. The design of stickers should be colourful and eye-catching.
- Test the effectiveness of the stickers. One way is to invite the subjects to participate in the focus groups (one group for participants without the habit of stair climbing and one for participants with regular or occasional use of stairs). It is more desirable if they come from different floors of the building. Each group should have about 6-8 participants. The aim of the focus groups is to collect their views on the stair climbing stickers so as to select or revise suitable slogans and designs to meet the needs of the subjects.
- Easily removable sticking paper can be selected as the material to produce stickers with 4-colour off-set screen printing. The products would be aesthetic, water-proof and more durable.