Awareness and use of '10,000 Steps': a process evaluation of a community-based complex intervention for the promotion of physical activity in Germany

Abstract Introduction Physical inactivity is a persistent public health challenge with 52% of German adults reporting physical activity (PA) levels below the recommendations of the World Health Organization. Interventions promoting PA are essential for reducing non-communicable diseases and associated economic burdens. This study evaluated the awareness and use of "10,000 Steps Duesseldorf," a community-based intervention promoting PA among city district residents. Methods A controlled intervention study was conducted with 627 participants at baseline (376 intervention, 251 control) and 553 participants after one year (330 intervention, 223 control). The one-year intervention combined community events, digital tools, print materials, and social media outreach. A process evaluation assessed reach, adoption, implementation, and maintenance based on the RE-AIM framework. Results By the end of the intervention, 500 participants had registered on the intervention website, logging nearly 100 million steps. Ten external organizations organized step count competitions and participants completed 20 challenges. Social media platforms attracted modest engagement. Awareness of intervention materials and events varied, with 62% of participants aware of events, but only 2% attending them. Organizational adoption of the intervention was very low. Overall, only 13% of contacted organizations responded to the survey, of these, only 27% reported that they were familiar with the intervention. Conclusion The ‘10,000 Steps Duesseldorf’ intervention successfully engaged participants via digital intervention components, but faced challenges engaging organizations located in the intervention city districts. Future interventions might prioritize strategies for broader organizational engagement and enhanced community participation to foster long-term PA behavior changes.