scholarly journals Improving Physical Activity mHealth Interventions: Development of a Computational Model of Self-Efficacy Theory to Define Adaptive Goals for Exercise Promotion

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario Baretta ◽  
Fabio Sartori ◽  
Andrea Greco ◽  
Marco D’Addario ◽  
Riccardo Melen ◽  
...  

The practice of regular physical exercise is a protective factor against noncommunicable diseases and premature mortality. In spite of that, large part of the population does not meet physical activity guidelines and many individuals live a sedentary life. Recent technological progresses and the widespread adoption of mobile technology, such as smartphone and wearables, have opened the way to the development of digital behaviour change interventions targeting physical activity promotion. Such interventions would greatly benefit from the inclusion of computational models framed on behaviour change theories and model-based reasoning. However, research on these topics is still at its infancy. The current paper presents a smartphone application and wearable device system called Muoviti! that targets physical activity promotion among adults not meeting the recommended physical activity guidelines. Specifically, we propose a computational model of behaviour change, grounded on the social cognitive theory of self-efficacy. The purpose of the computational model is to dynamically integrate information referring to individuals’ self-efficacy beliefs and physical activity behaviour in order to define exercising goals that adapt to individuals’ changes over time. The paper presents (i) the theoretical constructs that informed the development of the computational model, (ii) an overview of Muoviti! describing the system dynamics, the graphical user interface, the adopted measures and the intervention design, and (iii) the computational model based on Dynamic Decision Network. We conclude by presenting early results from an experimental study.

Author(s):  
Lorenzo Tonetti ◽  
Alicia Carissimi ◽  
Marco Fabbri ◽  
Marco Filardi ◽  
Sara Giovagnoli ◽  
...  

This study aimed to provide evidence of the validity of the Perceived Physical Ability Scale for Children against an external-objective criterion of the 24 h motor activity pattern assessed through actigraphy. A total of 107 children (60 females; mean age 10.25 ± 0.48) were originally enrolled. Children wore the actigraph model Actiwatch AW64 (Cambridge Neurotechnology Ltd., Fenstanton, UK) for seven days, 24 h per day, around the non-dominant wrist. At the beginning of the actigraphic recording, participants filled in the Perceived Physical Ability Scale for Children. Functional Linear Modeling was used to examine variation in the 24 h motor activity pattern according to the total score in the Perceived Physical Ability Scale for Children. Higher physical self-efficacy was significantly related to greater levels of motor activity in the afternoon. Overall, this pattern of results supports the validity of the Perceived Physical Ability Scale for Children against the external-objective criterion of the 24 h motor pattern. The Perceived Physical Ability Scale for Children could represent a promising endpoint for studies assessing the effectiveness of physical activity promotion interventions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 192-201
Author(s):  
Sarah Deans ◽  
Alison Kirk ◽  
Anthony McGarry ◽  
David Rowe

Background: Healthcare professionals play a key role in supporting physical activity participation for people with lower limb absence. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to survey healthcare professionals’ views of people with lower limb absence in the United Kingdom, explore their awareness and knowledge of physical activity recommendations and investigate their current and desirable practice towards physical activity promotion. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Potential participants were identified from open-access health-related databases, educational institution databases, and the authors’ professional networks. An online 40-item questionnaire was distributed electronically and by post. Survey items were multiple choice, Likert-type scale or open-ended questions to explore the characteristics of healthcare professionals, awareness/knowledge of physical activity guidelines, current and desired practice and views on physical activity promotion. Results: In total, 106 people responded. Physiotherapists had greater awareness/knowledge of physical activity guidelines compared to prosthetists/orthotists and other respondents. Awareness/knowledge of guidelines decreased as age, experience and time since qualification increased. The most common source of knowledge was self-directed learning. Conclusion: Continuing and improving education on the content of physical activity guidelines may be helpful for healthcare professionals in promoting physical activity to those with lower limb absence. Clinical relevance This research aims to inform prosthetic rehabilitation professionals and academics about an under-researched area within physical activity for health. This knowledge could help develop interventions with the aim of improving physical activity promotion and participation, and ultimately the health and well-being of people with limb absence.


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 581-593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Silva ◽  
Ryan Lott ◽  
K. A. S. Wickrama ◽  
Jorge Mota ◽  
Greg Welk

Background:If the Youth Physical Activity Promotion (YPAP) model adequately explains youth physical activity (PA) in 2 different cultures and with 2 different sets of instruments, it would suggest that the model has broad utility for youth activity promotion.Methods:Two samples from different countries were used: sample 1—USA, 159 students (n = 83 girls) mean age 11.52 ± 1.40 years; sample 2—Portugal, 203 students (n = 125 girls) mean age 14.99 ± 1.55 years. PA was assessed by accelerometry. The YPAP model was analyzed through structural equation modeling using AMOS (version 17.0).Results:In sample 1, social-support had a direct association on MVPA (β = .58, P < .001), enjoyment (β = .70, P < .05), and self-efficacy (β = –.66, P < .001). Enjoyment significantly predicted MVPA (β = .60, P < .001) and self-efficacy significantly predicted MVPA (β = .55, P < .001). In sample 2, social-support had a direct effect on MVPA (β = .33, P < .05), significantly predicted enjoyment (β = –.43, P < .001), and significantly predicted self-efficacy (β = .63, P < .001). Self-efficacy was a significant predictor of MVPA (β = .14, P < .001) but enjoyment was not.Conclusions:Differences were noted in the nature of the relationships and the relative importance. Self-efficacy and social support had significant effects on MVPA in both samples—despite differences in the way that they were measured and operationalized.


2019 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Gelius ◽  
Sven Messing ◽  
Karim Abu-Omar

Abstract Background The field of physical activity abounds with recommendations, guidelines, action plans and other documents published by experts, organizations and institutions at the national and international level. However, working with these documents is difficult since similar names (e.g. “recommendations”) may be used to label substantially different contents, while identical topics may hide behind different monikers (e.g. “guidelines” and “strategy”). Methods We built on an existing framework conceptualizing categories of physical activity evidence and on the Doern continuum for policy instruments to develop a nine-field matrix that classifies physical activity-related publications based on their evidence type and degree of coercion. We used a selection of eleven physical activity documents to perform an exploratory test of the functions and utility of the typology. Results Placing central physical activity documents into the typology shows that recommendations, guidelines, and policies are found across the entire matrix, regardless of their denomination. It also suggests that some documents transcend boundaries between types by falling into more than one category, and that some categories may be underrepresented in current physical activity promotion. Conclusions A typology to classify physical activity guidelines, recommendations, and policies can help us acquire a better overview of the landscape of existing physical activity documents than simple distinctions based on document names. It may guide both current initiatives and future development work in the field. It could also serve as a point of departure for future research, as conducting systematic overviews of the literature based on this typology may help reveal important gaps in current physical activity promotion.


2017 ◽  
Vol 98 (10) ◽  
pp. e138
Author(s):  
Sarah Donkers ◽  
Katherine Chan ◽  
Maureen Pakosh ◽  
Stephan Milosavljevic ◽  
Kristin Musselman

Author(s):  
Andrea Schaller ◽  
Carina Hoffmann

There is great potential for the implementation of physical-activity measures at the workplace, especially in smaller companies. The present paper describes the study protocol for evaluating an impact-model-based multicomponent intervention promoting physical activity at the workplace within a cross-company network. The evaluation is based on a logic model focusing on outputs and short-term outcomes for the purpose of physical-activity promotion, physical-activity-related health competence, and knowledge about physical activity. A mixed-methods approach is applied. The quantitative evaluation is conducted as a natural design, and combines a retrospective evaluation of the acceptance, usage, and satisfaction (output) at the end of the measures, and two surveys that capture physical activity, knowledge about physical activity, and physical-activity-related health competence (outcome) of the employees in the form of a trend study. The qualitative evaluation comprises semistructured interviews to investigate knowledge of the existence of and attitude towards the content of the multicomponent intervention and the study. The challenges evaluating complex interventions are widely debated. Through an impact-model-based approach, the study will provide a promising framework for the systematic evaluation of a multicomponent intervention promoting physical activity.


Author(s):  
Saras Anindya Nurhafid ◽  
Astuti Yuni Nursasi

Self-efficacy has proven to be an important determinant of adolescent physical activity behavior. However, there are still knowledge gaps related to how intervention techniques can improve the self-efficacy of physical activity behavior in adolescents. This systematic review aims to describe the techniques of intervening adolescent physical activity aimed at increasing self-efficacy. Data collection uses several electronic databases namely ScienceDirect, Elsevier, Proquest, Jstor, Wiley Online Library by using the help of remote Lib UI and Google Scholar. Keywords used in literature search are related to self-efficacy, physical activity, adolescent, innovation and promotion of physical activity. The results show that the most widely used technique is to build mastery experiences by asking participants to engage in physical activity during the intervention and outside the intervention session, providing physiological feedback, setting goals, monitoring themselves and seeing the intervention giver and others practicing the intervention. The results of the study are expected to be a reference for researchers and developers of interventions in increasing the self-efficacy of adolescent physical activity behavior so that it has positive implications for the development of youthful physical activity promotion efforts. Further research is expected to be able to analyze the most effective intervention techniques to improve the selfefficacy of adolescent physical activity behavior Keywords: physical activity; teenager; intervention techniques; self efficacy ABSTRAK Efikasi diri telah terbukti menjadi penentu penting perilaku aktivitas fisik remaja. Namun, masih ada kesenjangan pengetahuan terkait tentang bagaimana teknik intervensi yang dapat meningkatkan efikasi diri perilaku aktivitas fisik pada remaja. Tinjauan sistematis ini bertujuan untuk menggambarkan teknik intervensi aktivitas fisik remaja yang bertujuan meningkatkan efikasi diri. Pengumpulan data menggunakan beberapa database elektronik yaitu ScienceDirect, Elsevier, Proquest, Jstor, Wiley Online Library dengan menggunakan bantuan remote Lib UI dan google scholar. Kata kunci yang digunakan dalam pencarian literatur berkaitan dengan self efficacy, physical activity, adolescent, innovation dan promotion physical activity. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa teknik yang paling banyak digunakan adalah membangun pengalaman penguasaan dengan meminta peserta melakukan aktivitas fisik pada saat intervensi dan di luar sesi intervensi, pemberian umpan balik fisiologis, penetapan tujuan, pemantauan diri serta melihat pemberi intervensi dan orang lain mempraktikkan intervensi. Hasil penelitian diharapkan bisa menjadi referensi bagi para peneliti dan pengembang intervensi dalam meningkatkan efikasi diri perilaku aktivitas fisik remaja sehingga memiliki implikasi positif bagi pengembangan upaya promotif aktivitas fisik remaja. Penelitian lebih lanjut diharapkan mampu menganalisis teknik intervensi yang paling efektif untuk meningkatkan efikasi diri perilaku aktivitas fisik remaja Kata kunci: aktivitas fisik; remaja; teknik intervensi; efikasi diri


2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 898-906 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanna M. Martinez ◽  
Elva M. Arredondo ◽  
Scott Roesch ◽  
Kevin Patrick ◽  
Guadalupe X. Ayala ◽  
...  

Background:U.S. Latinos engage in nonleisure-time walking (NLTW) more than other ethno-racial groups. Studies are needed to explore factors associated with NLTW to inform interventions for effective physical activity promotion.Purpose:To examine the social-ecological correlates of NLTW among Mexican-origin Latinos.Methods:Individual, social, and environmental level factors and PA were assessed in a telephone survey completed by 672 Mexican-origin adults randomly sampled in San Diego County. Data were collected in 2006 and analyzed in 2009.Results:Participants were mostly female (71%), with an average age of 39 years. Less than one-third met PA guidelines for NLTW (29%). Structural equation modeling showed that NLTW was positively associated with being female, but negatively associated with living in the U.S. ≥ 12 years, and being U.S.-born.Conclusions:In this sample NLTW differed by various indicators of acculturation and gender. These findings might help inform the development of interventions to promote NLTW and thus physical activity in Mexican-origin adults.


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