BACKGROUND: Physicians are expected to serve as role models for healthy lifestyles, but long work hours reduce time for healthy behaviors. A hospital-based physical activity intervention could improve physician health and increase counseling about exercise. METHODS: We conducted a two-phase intervention among 104 medical residents at a large hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Phase 1 was a 6-week randomized controlled trial comparing daily steps of residents assigned to an activity monitor displaying feedback about steps and energy consumed (intervention) or to a blinded monitor (control). Phase 2 immediately followed and was a 6-week non-randomized team steps competition in which all participants wore monitors with feedback. Phase 1 outcomes were: (1) median steps/day and (2) proportion of days activity monitor worn. The phase 2 outcome was mean steps/day on days monitor worn (> 500 steps/day). Physiologic measurements were collected at baseline and study end. Median steps/day were compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Mean steps were compared using repeated measures regression analyses. RESULTS: In phase 1, intervention and control groups had similar activity (6,369 versus 6,063 steps/day, p = 0.16) and compliance with wearing the monitor (77% versus 77% of days, p = 0.73). In phase 2 (team competition), residents recorded more steps/day than during phase 1 (control 7,971 versus 7,567, p = 0.002; intervention 7,832 versus 7,739, p = 0.13). Mean compliance with wearing the activity monitor decreased for both groups during phase 2 compared to phase 1 (60% versus 77%, p < 0.001). Mean systolic blood pressure decreased (p = 0.004) and HDL cholesterol increased (p < 0.001) among all participants at end of study compared to baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Although the activity monitor intervention did not have a major impact on activity or health, the high participation rates of busy residents and modest changes in steps, blood pressure, and HDL suggest that more intensive hospital-based wellness programs have potential for promoting healthier lifestyles among physicians. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01287208.

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