Choice architecture interventions to change physical activity and sedentary behavior: a systematic review of effects on intention, behavior and health outcomes during and after intervention

Abstract

Background: Choice architecture interventions, which subtly change the environment in which individuals make decisions, can be used to promote behavior change. This systematic review aimed to summarize studies on microenvironmental choice architecture interventions that encouraged physical activity or discouraged sedentary behavior in adults, and to describe the effectiveness of those interventions on these behaviorsand on related intentions or health outcomesin presence of the intervention and after removal of the intervention (i.e. postintervention, regardless of the time elapsed). Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library for (quasi) experimental studies published up to December 2019 that evaluated the effect of choice architecture interventions on physical activity and sedentary behavior, as well as on intentions and health outcomes related to physical activity/sedentary behavior. Studies that combined choice architecture techniques with other behavior change techniques were excluded. All studies were screened for eligibility, relevant data was extracted and two independent reviewers assessed the methodological quality using the QualSyst tool.

Theory-Based, Participatory Development of a Cross-Company Network Promoting Physical Activity in Germany: A Mixed-Methods Approach

“…To sum up, our components of the final multicomponent intervention are regularly implemented in the context of WHP. Several of the intervention types have already been examined for their effectiveness, e.g., pedometer measures [60,61], physical activity breaks [14] or stair use [62]. However, it must be taken into account that the results on the effectiveness of individual measures are still inconclusive [12,63,64].…”

Stair Width, Pitch and Alignment in Stair Climbing and Descending Rates

“…Design interventions have involved visual and lighting modifications that transformed stairwells for emergency evacuation into useable systems for travelling between floors (Boutelle et al, 2001;Kerr et al, 2004). Combinations of visual material for point-of-decision prompts supports active choices (Landais et al, 2020), as does the addition of music. Structural interventions that would allow before-after analysis and the uncovering of causes of behavioral change are exceedingly rare and unrepresented in the scientific literature.…”

“…How can stair use be increased? Point-of-decision prompts are effective interventions at least in the short term, and especially in public settings (Landais et al, 2020;Jennings et al, 2017;Puig-Ribera et al, 2019). Prompts to use stairs at worksites show mixed results with negative effects (Åvitsland et al, 2017), positive effects (Bellicha et al, 2016) and with most studies showing increased stair climbing during intervention (Soler, 2010).…”

Using nudges to promote physical activity and to reduce sedentary behaviour in the workplace: a scoping review protocol

“… 57 58 In the field of PA/SB, Nocon et al analysed the role of point of choice prompts to increase PA. 59 Landais analysed studies on microenvironmental choice architecture interventions that promoted PA or discouraged SB in adults. 60 Eighty-six studies targeted PA, predominantly stair use, whereas two studies targeted SB and one study targeted both behaviours. The intervention techniques identified were prompting (n=53), message framing (n=24), social comparison (n=12), feedback (n=8), default change (n=1) and anchoring (n=1).…”