Effects of tailoring health messages on physical activity

Abstract

Computer-tailored printed education can be a promising way of promoting physical activity. The present study tested whether computer-tailored feedback on physical activity is effective and whether there are differences between respondents with low and high motivation to change. Respondents (n = 487) were randomly assigned to a tailored intervention group or a no information control group. Physical activity and determinants were measured at baseline and after 3 months. At post-test, the motivated respondents in the control group were more likely not to meet the recommendation for physical activity than to meet it, and motivated respondents in the experimental group were more likely to engage in transport-related activities and showed more improvement over time for the total activity score than respondents in the control group (beta = 0.24, P = 0.02). Both groups improved their behaviour over time. No group differences in physical activity were found for the unmotivated respondents. The results showed that the effects of the tailored feedback were restricted to respondents who had a positive motivation to change at baseline. Possible explanations could be that unmotivated respondents were unwilling to read and process the information because they felt 'no need to change'. Alternatively, one tailored feedback letter may not have been sufficient for this unmotivated group.

Messages About Weight Management: An Examination of How Acceptance and Challenge Are Related to Message Effectiveness

“…Although our conceptualization of confirmation theory proposes that messages containing high levels of both acceptance and challenge are more effective in promoting healthy behaviors, research on tailoring in health communication (e.g., Bock et al, 2001;Smeets et al, 2008;Vandelanotte et al, 2005) as well as interpersonal communication (e.g., Burleson & Samter, 1985;Cutrona, 1990;Waldron & Applegate, 1998) suggest adapting messages based on the situation or characteristics of the individual may be more effective in accomplishing goals. Hence, a major purpose of the current work was to assess how effective or preferred levels of acceptance and challenge varied by individuals' sex, age, and BMI.…”

Using Online Computer Tailoring to Promote Physical Activity: A Randomized Trial of Text, Video, and Combined Intervention Delivery Modes

“…However, the focus of this study was not to provide evidence on the overall effectiveness of a computer-tailored intervention on physical activity because that has already been demonstrated Kroeze et al, 2006;Lustria et al, 2009;Neville et al, 2009;Smeets et al, 2008). Rather, the focus was on determining the superiority of one delivery mode over the other.…”

“…Personally tailored information is better remembered, read, and perceived as more relevant in comparison with generic information (Skinner, Campbell, Rimer, Curry, & Prochaska, 1999;Spittaels, De Bourdeaudhuij, Brug, & Vandelanotte, 2007). Although tailored physical activity interventions have shown to be efficacious both in offline (print-based) and online studies (de Vries, Kremers, Smeets, Brug, & Eijmael, 2008;Kroeze, Werkman, & Brug, 2006;Lustria, Cortese, Noar, & Glueckauf, 2009;Neville, O'Hara, & Milat, 2009;Smeets, Brug, & de Vries, 2008), there is little evidence on which online intervention delivery mode is more effective in terms of acceptability and behavior change. This is important as online tailored interventions have mostly been delivered in a text-based format (Marcus et al, 2007;.…”

An integrative model of e-learning use: Leveraging theory to understand and increase usage

“…Working within a technological context, we suggest that this intervention would consist of an email or other digital message sent to employees after their stage of change had been identified (see the method used by Smeets, Brug, & deVries, 2006). An individual's particular stage of change can be identified via short surveys, which could be distributed to all employees as part of a needs assessment or climate survey.…”