Texting to Increase Adolescent Physical Activity: Feasibility Assessment

Abstract

Objective Feasibility trials assess whether a behavior change program warrants a definite trial evaluation. This paper reports the feasibility of an intervention consisting of Self Determination Theory-informed text messages, pedometers, and goal prompts to increase adolescent physical activity. Methods A four-group randomized design with baseline and immediate post-study assessments was used. Groups (pedometer; pedometer + goal prompt; pedometer + goal prompt + theory-informed texts; no-treatment control) were systematically varied to assess the additive effect of intervention components on objectively-measured physical activity (ie, ActiGraph). The primary outcome of the 12-week intervention was program feasibility. Changes in average daily step counts and minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were also examined. Post-intervention research with a sub-set of participants examined program reactions. Results Participants (N = 160) were evenly split by sex, mostly 14-15 years old, and of diverse race/ethnicity. Feasibility criteria were met. Attrition rate was less than two percent. Modest increases in average daily step counts and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were observed in all groups except the control group. Participants reported positive reactions to the intervention. Conclusions An intervention consisting of pedometers, theory-informed texts, and goal prompts, is a feasible and acceptable method for promoting physical activity to adolescents.

Mobile phone interventions to improve adolescents' physical health: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Long‐term interventions that ensure continuous engagement of users are required for the actual achievement of improved physical fitness with BMI and body weight outcomes. Personalized motivational messages are effective in targeting the modification of lifestyle variables (Thompson et al, ) based on the present meta‐analysis. Furthermore, caution should be taken regarding the information provided via a mobile phone.…”

“…Six studies (Chen et al, ; Direito, Jiang, Whittaker, & Maddison, ; Lubans et al, ; Smith et al, ; Thompson et al, ) examined the effects of mobile phone intervention on physical activity; however, one study used a self‐reported questionnaire that differed from the evaluation method used in other studies where the actual activity time and movements were counted and thus, it was excluded in the meta‐analysis (Figure ). One study by Direito et al () evaluated two different health applications; thus, data were pooled from six interventions for meta‐analysis.…”

“…Unlike other results, the subgroup analysis for physical activity revealed that a single intervention was more effective than multiple interventions, indicating the need for additional and specific strategies to improve physical activity levels. Two interventions from previous individual studies showed statistically significant effects on the outcomes of physical activity (Chen et al, ; Thompson et al, ). These studies had distinctive points in their interventions; Chen et al () facilitated the study participants to monitor their daily activity levels, whereas Thompson et al () used goal prompt text messaging developed in partnership with adolescents.…”

“…Two interventions from previous individual studies showed statistically significant effects on the outcomes of physical activity (Chen et al, ; Thompson et al, ). These studies had distinctive points in their interventions; Chen et al () facilitated the study participants to monitor their daily activity levels, whereas Thompson et al () used goal prompt text messaging developed in partnership with adolescents. Previous research suggested the importance of theoretical framework (Kinnafick, Thogersen‐Ntoumani, & Duda, ) or the incorporation of entertaining components, such as games, when targeting adolescents (Thorsteinsen, Vittersø, & Svendsen, ).…”

Czech adolescents adopt distorted social norms regarding Saturday physical activity

“…Obdobně jako Bürgi a de Bruin (2016), i výsledky naší studie poukazují na vhodnost zacílit intervenční programy zvyšující PA žáků do období mimoškolních dní. Přitom je však třeba brát v potaz sedavé chování, které často nahrazuje PA (Carlson et al, 2016), případně intervence doplnit o účinnou motivaci (Thompson et al, 2016). Z předložených výsledků vyplývá, že žáci mají zkreslenou představu o úrovni sobotní PA svých spolužáků.…”