Table B1
Summary of physical activity intervention studies.
| Authors | Sample
characteristics | Measures | Theoretical
framework; Behavior change strategies | Study design | Intervention
technology | Control
condition | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bickmore (2005) 15 | N = 101
Ret = 81.2% Mean age = 24.8 55% Female Mean BMI = 24.4 Community based | PAR-Q;
# days/week over 30 min; # days/week over 10K steps | SLT, CBT
GS, SH, RF, SM, EDU, PS | QE
Randomized by individual; Posttest only for PA | Non-relational group received interactive computer agent, continuous access lasting 5-10 min each session.
Relational group received non-relational intervention + computer agent w/social, emotional communication style. | Web forms only. Never interacted w/computer agent | No significant differences between groups on # days exceeding time or step count criterion.
Marginally significant difference favoring combined intervention groups. Post test only comparisons. |
| Croteau (2004) 16 | N = 37
Ret = 100% Ages 23-64; Mean age = 44.3 78.4% Female, 100% Caucasian Worksite (college campus) based | Pedometer; Perceptions of Physical Activity Survey (PPA); Physical Activity Survey (PAS); Height/Weight | Not stated
GS, SM personal action plan | One group experimental design | One counseling session followed by wkly emails reminders, motivational tips, and educational information over 8 wks | None | Significant increase over time in # steps, PAS & PPA outcomes. Significant and large increases for both goal groups. Stratified by BMI, only significantly increases were w/obese group. |
| Dinger (2004) 17 | N = 43
Ret = 83.7% Ages 25-54; Mean age = 41.7 100% Female, 88.9% Caucasian | PAR-Q; IPAQ long | TTM
SM, EDU, BB, GS, PS, TL, SS, PR, RF, TS | One group experimental design | Wkly brief emails that contained information & strategies to change TTM constructs over 6 wks | None | Significant increases in total walking mins, # mins walking at work, for leisure & for transportation |
| Goran (2005) 18 | N = 207
Ret = 58.9% 4th grade classes; Mean age = 9.4 60% Female 58% Hispanic Mean BMI = 19.5 | Height/weight; body fat; Accelerometer | SCT
GS, ML, SM, RF, CE, SE | QE
Randomized by school | Interactive CD-ROM game, 8 lessons + 4 classroom lessons & 4 family based assignments. 45 min per lesson over 8 wks for 12 hrs total contact | Variety of popular CD-ROMs not related to health topics | No significant differences between groups on total PA, & unexpected significant decrease in moderate PA for treatment group.
Significant sex-by-treatment interaction for BMI & % body fat. Treatment girls had lower BMI & no change for boys. |
| Hager (2002) 19 | N = 525
Ret = 76.6% Mean age = 42.0 56% Female 94%Caucasian University based | 7 Day PA Recall Questionnaire; Health Insurance Plan of New York Questionnaire; Stages of change | TTM
RF, CE, GS, Self liberation; helping relationships; consciousness raising; counter-conditioning; relapse prevention | RCT | Action group received BL online message & 5 follow up emails over 6 wks tailored to action & maintenance stages only (e.g. one size fits all message).
Received BL online message & 5 follow up emails over 6 wks tailored to specific SOC. | 5 wkly email messages over 6 wks encouraging proper nutrition. No tailored messages. | No significant differences in PA or stage of change.
Within group, action group significantly increased total PA. Significant increases in Staged & Action groups for leisure PA & only action group increased occupational PA. All groups significant & positive increase in average SOC. |
| Hageman (2005) 20 | N = 31
Ret = 96.8% Ages 50-69; Mean age = 56.1 100% Female 93.5% Caucasian | Modified 7-day Activity Recall, Rockport Fitness Walking Test; Height/weight; Body composition (BIA); Modified Sit & Reach Test | Pender's Health Promotion Model & SCT
TL, DB, SE, GS | RCT
Randomized by individual | 3 internet tailored newsletters w/ 5-7 brief articles delivered at BL, 1 & 2 mo. Articles tailored on BL assessment | 3 internet non-tailored newsletters each w/ 5-7 brief articles delivered at BL, 1 & 2 mos | No significant group effects on activity. Both groups significantly increased sit & reach test. VO2 Max & % body fat significantly decreased for control group & no change in the tailored group. |
| Marshall (2003) 21 | N = 655
Ret = 78.2% Mean age = 43.0 51% Female Mean BMI = 24 University (Australian) based | IPAQ Short; Stage of Change | TTM
TL, RF, GS, SM, PR, SS | RCT
Stratified by stage of change, Randomized by individual | Stage-tailored interactive Active Living web-site w/ animated features, stage-based quizzes & personalized sections. Continuous access + 4 personalized reinforcement emails over 8 wks | Stage-tailored printed Active Living booklets + 4 reinforcement letters over 8 wks | For whole sample, no significant differences in stage progress or total PA between or within groups. When analysis restricted to inactive group, significant increase in total PA favoring Print group, & a significant decrease in time sitting on a weekday favoring Web group. |
| McKay (2001) 22 | N = 78
Ret = 87.2% Ages 40+; Mean age = 52.3 53% Female 82% Caucasian US & Canada w/Type 2 diabetes | PAR-Q; BRFSS (select work & nonwork physical activity items) | SEM
GL, FB, PS, SS | RCT
Randomized by individual | Continuous access over 8 wks to online tailored website w/ goal setting & planning modules, personal online coach & feedback w/in 48hr, peer-to-peer support area, graphing, & access to articles, tips, & motivational stories | Continuous access over 8 wks to website's library of diabetes specific articles + real-time blood glucose tracking w/graphic feedback | No significant difference by group over time in moderate to vigorous PA or walking. Both groups significantly increased PA & walking over time. |
| Napolitano (2003) 23 | N = 65
Ret = 80.0% Mean age = 42.8 86% Female 91% Caucasian Mean BMI = 26.6 Worksite (Hospital) based | PAR-Q; PA Stages of Change; BRFSS Physical Activity Items | SCT & SOC
TS, GS, SM, SS, RF, PS, TL, activity planning | RCT
Randomized by individual | Continuous access to website for 12 wks w/ weekly email tip sheets & helpline. Stage tailored information | Wait list control | At 1 mo, significant changes in moderate PA mins & walking mins favoring intervention group. At 3 mo compared to 1mo, only walking mins significantly greater for intervention group. |
| Palmer (2005) 24 | N = 233
Ret = 73.8% 5th graders 55.8% Females School based | Weekly Activity Checklist (WAC) | Not stated
FB, EDU, DB | QE
Non-randomized | Internet delivered instruction twice wkly for 50 min during school. Got tailored information, quizzes, writing activities with graphics & animation. Unknown duration. | Wait list control | No significant between group differences. Within group, both groups increased from BL to T3. Interaction also significant where first group increased from BL to T2 & T2 to T3. However, waiting list control significantly increased from BL to T2 |
| Pinto (2002) 25 | N = 298
Ret = 81.5% Mean age = 45.9 72% Female, 45% Caucasian 45% African American Mean BMI = 28.7 Group Medical Practice based | Self reported BMI; 7-day PAR; Stage of Motivational Readiness for Physical Activity | TTM, SCT, decision making theory
GL, TL, PS, DB | RCT
Randomized by individual | Received Telephone Linked Communication (TLC) focused on PA change
Wkly calls for 10 min for 3 mos, then biweekly till 6 mo | Received TLC focused on healthy eating behaviors | Intention to treat found significant between group differences in % meeting recommendations of combined moderate & vigorous PA at 3 mo only. No significant 6 mo effects. |
| Rovniak (2005) 26 | N = 61
Ret = 82.0% Mean age = 40.2 100% Female 82% Caucasian Mean BMI = 26.9 | Height/weight; 1 Mile Walk Test; National Health Interview Survey (PA questions) | SCT
ML, GS, SM, FB | RCT
Stratified by age & walk test time, Randomized by individual | Email, goals, & contact components standardized for both groups. Intervention group received brief modeling demo, more specific goals & feedback relative to norm & past performance over 12 wks. Provided stopwatch & walking routes. | Weekly email log, general email prompts, & tips targeting social support, environmental cues, injury prevention w/feedback over 12 wks | Significant between group increases in walk test time & heart rate favoring high fidelity group at posttest & marginally significant increases VO2 max. At 1 year marginally significant differences in mins walked favoring high fidelity group. |
| Yoo (2003) 27 | N = 30
Ret = 93.3% Mean age = 56.1 64.3% Female Hospital based (Korea) w/Type 2 diabetics | VO2 max; blood glucose; Stage of Exercise Behavior Scale (SEBC); Activity Assessment Questionnaire (AAQ); PA diaries; Pedometers | TTM
TL, FB, GS, SM, PS | One group experimental design | Website included program manual, help materials, links to sites, general info, exercise test & prescription, stage-matched intervention & Q&A board. Contact lasted 50-105 min on first visit, 20-50 mins for pre-contemplation & contemplation stages, & 60 min for other stages. Unknown Duration | None | Significant increases over time in PA measured by accelerometer, & level of PA. Significant increases in VO2 max, blood glucose, pc 2hr glucose, & HbA1c. |
Note: Theoretical Models: CBT = Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; MI = Motivational Interviewing; SCT = Social Cognitive Theory; SEM = Social Ecological model; TRA = Theory of Reasoned Action; TTM = Transtheoretical Model; Behavior Change Strategies: CE = Changing the environment; DB = Decisional Balance (benefits and barriers); EDU = Education and/or knowledge; FB = Feedback; GS = Goal Setting; ML = Modeling; PC = Pros and cons; PR = Prompts/Cues; PS = Problem Solving (PS); SE = Self-efficacy; SH = Shaping; SM = Self-monitoring; SS = Social Support; RF = Reinforcement, rewards; TL = Tailoring; TS = Tip Sheets; Design: RCT = Randomized Controlled Trial; QE = Quasi-experimental