Project:
Debbie Chambers
Allied health professional and researcher, Midwest, Western Australia

Funding:
Primary Health Care Research, Evaluation and Development Strategy Fellowship

Engaging men about their health is notoriously difficult, yet in 1999 the Gascoyne Public Health Unit in rural WA developed a health program that captured men’s imaginations and was adopted throughout Australia and overseas.

Appealing to men’s interests by using a mechanical theme, the ‘Pit Stop’ program enables men be put ‘over the pits’ and checked for general roadworthiness and maintenance requirements. It is delivered in familiar non-‘health’ environments such as agricultural, boating and car shows.

Pit Stop seemed like a success, but its creators wanted to know whether it was doing what it was designed to do.

Researcher Debbie Chambers collaborated with the Pit Stop designers and coordinators in three WA regions, as well as population and men’s health professionals, to evaluate the program’s impact on men and their health.

The evaluation found Pit Stop worked. It successfully reached 40%-50% of men with significant health risk profiles in the three regions studied. Men recalled
70%-90% of their Pit Stop performance and for 43% of the men, the experience had resulted in some change in behaviour and/or connection with a health professional.

With this strong evidence base behind it, Pit Stop secured new funding that allowed it to release an updated version of the program in late 2007 and continue to make a positive impact on men's health and lifestyles.

View the project abstract on ROAR