Effectiveness of a web-based computer-tailored intervention promoting physical activity for adults from Quebec City: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background The primary objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a 3-month web-based computer-tailored intervention on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in adults. Methods A total of 242 Canadian adults aged between 35 and 70 years were randomized to an experimental group receiving the intervention or a waiting list control group. The fully automated web-based computer-tailored physical activity intervention consists of seven 10- to 15-min sessions over an 8-week period. The theoretical underpinning of the intervention is based on the I-Change Model. Results A repeated-measures ANOVA using a linear mixed model showed a significant ‘group-by-time’ interaction favoring the intervention group in self-reported MVPA ( p = .02). The MVPA was similar in both groups at baseline (mean ± SD; 176 ± 13 vs. 172 ± 15 min/week, p = .72) and higher in the intervention than in the control group at a 3-month follow-up (259 ± 21 vs. 201 ± 22 min/week, p = .04). This finding was comparable across women and men (group-by-sex, p = .57) and across participants meeting or not physical activity guidelines at baseline (group-by-baseline physical activity, p = .43). Although engagement to the web-based sessions declined over time, participants completing more web sessions achieved higher self-reported MVPA ( p < .05). Conclusion These findings suggest that this intervention is effective in enhancing self-reported MVPA in this adult population in the short term; however, this needs to be confirmed in a larger trial with better engagement to the web-based sessions.

Acceptability, usefulness, and satisfaction with a web-based video-tailored physical activity intervention: The TaylorActive randomized controlled trial

“…Furthermore, low or declining website usage is a common issue in web-based PA interventions. 30 , 43 , 44 , 45 Another explanation for the modest website usage in this study may be that providing personally tailored PA advice (either video or text) alone was insufficient for participants to more regularly engage with the website. Perhaps, usage would have been higher if the TaylorActive intervention included additional features, such as continuous self-monitoring using activity trackers, social interaction (e.g., online social networking features), and gamification (e.g., rewards), all of which are recognized motivators of PA engagement.…”

Barriers to and Facilitators of the Use of Digital Tools in Primary Care to Deliver Physical Activity Advice: Semistructured Interviews and Thematic Analysis

“…It's easier and I feel like it's more thorough, and when it's a busy day especially, it's nice to just have that as a prompt. [HCA, [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]…”

“…Digital tools have previously been used to deliver PA advice in primary care [19][20][21] either by supporting [22] or replacing [23] face-to-face delivery of PA advice. Digital tools appear to have potential utility in increasing PA by supporting the delivery of PA advice [19,24,25]. However, primary care HCPs have mixed views on the usability of digital tools, with barriers to their use including technical issues and complexity, disruption to service workflow, and increasing workload [19,[26][27][28].…”

Does matching a personally tailored physical activity intervention to participants’ learning style improve intervention effectiveness and engagement?

“…Web-based computer-tailored physical activity interventions can deliver personalised physical activity advice to large numbers of people (Broekhuizen et al, 2012). Computer-tailored interventions are more engaging, acceptable, and effective at increasing participants’ physical activity than generic information (Boudreau et al, 2020; Broekhuizen et al, 2012; Golsteijn et al, 2018). However, computer-tailored physical activity interventions are primarily delivered in text-based format (Boudreau et al, 2020; Golsteijn et al, 2018; Volders et al, 2020), despite multimedia (e.g.…”