Examining Variations of Digital Behavior Change Techniques for Physical Activity Using an Adaptive Intervention Design (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Brainard ◽  
Mohammad Soltani ◽  
Heather Cole-Lewis ◽  
Claudia Hernandez ◽  
Shawn T. Mason ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Action Planning ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Intervention Design ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Behavior Change Techniques ◽  
Adaptive Intervention ◽  
Activity Behavior

BACKGROUND To foster physical activity behavior, technology often incorporates evidence-based behavior change techniques (BCTs). However, a gap exists on how to apply BCTs for optimal behavior change, and do so in time-varying adaptive interventions. OBJECTIVE This study evaluated BCT variations using an adaptive intervention design that randomly assigned participants to a different intervention version based on whether participants met a self-determined physical activity goal. METHODS The study contained three intervention versions (individual pursuit, community comparison, and team competition). Each version included variations of 4 BCTs (goal setting, action planning, feedback, and prompts & cues). The individual pursuit version was the control, while versions two and three received variations of the social competition/comparison BCT. BCTs were delivered via phone app, phone texts, and a Garmin vivofit 3™. Participants who did not increase physical activity in the first 21 days as compared to their baseline were re-randomized into a different intervention version, reassessed at 42 days, and re-randomized again if physical activity did not increase. Ecological momentary assessments were conducted for secondary measures of self-efficacy, barriers, expectations, motivation, mood, social support, and well-being. RESULTS A total 158 adults in central Florida with low to moderate levels of physical activity, were randomized into one of three intervention versions. Based on a subsample analysis of 87 participants, those who received the team competition intervention version first, followed by community comparison, and individual pursuit, saw the greatest increase in their overall physical activity as compared to other intervention orders. In addition, five distinct behavioral pattern subgroups were identified. We also predicted the likelihood of a participant being active or inactive 14 days into observation and with >80% precision. There was also evidence that app usage in the first 21 days of observation was positively associated with physical activity behavior at study conclusion. CONCLUSIONS The way BCTs are designed and the sequence in which they are delivered can impact physical activity behavior. Additional work is needed on determinants of physical activity behavior, as well as longevity of BCT novelty and user engagement. CLINICALTRIAL N/A

scholarly journals Evaluating the Theoretical Content of Online Physical Activity Information for People with Multiple Sclerosis

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celina H. Shirazipour ◽  
Colin P.T. Baillie ◽  
Karla Galaviz ◽  
Jocelyn W. Jarvis ◽  
Amy E. Latimer-Cheung
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Behavior Change Techniques ◽  
Activity Behavior ◽  
Behavior Health ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior Change ◽  
Activity Information

Background: Physical activity can aid people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in managing symptoms and maintaining functional abilities. The Internet is a preferred source of physical activity information for people with MS and, therefore, a method for the dissemination of behavior change techniques. The purpose of this study was to examine the coverage and quality of physical activity behavior change techniques delivered on the Internet for adults with MS using Abraham and Michie's taxonomy of behavior change techniques. Methods: Using the taxonomy, 20 websites were coded for quality (ie, accuracy of information) and coverage (ie, completeness of information) of theoretical behavior change techniques. Results: Results indicated that most websites covered a mean of 8.05 (SD 3.86, range 3–16) techniques out of a possible 20. Only one of the techniques, provide information on behavior–health link and consequences, was delivered on all websites. The websites demonstrated low mean coverage and quality across all behavior change techniques, with means of 0.64 (SD 0.67) and 0.62 (SD 0.37) on a scale of 0 to 2, respectively. However, coverage and quality improved when websites were examined solely for the techniques that they covered, as opposed to all 20 techniques. Conclusions: This study, which examined quality and coverage of physical activity behavior change techniques described online for people with MS, illustrated that the dissemination of these techniques requires improvement.

scholarly journals The Development of the MedEx IMPACT Intervention: A Patient-Centered, Evidenced-Based and Theoretically-Informed Physical Activity Behavior Change Intervention for Individuals Living With and Beyond Cancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 107327482090612
Author(s):  
Mairéad Cantwell ◽  
Deirdre M. J. Walsh ◽  
Bróna Furlong ◽  
Niall Moyna ◽  
Noel McCaffrey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Mrc Framework ◽  
Activity Behavior ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior Change

Regular physical activity (PA) can address many of the negative side effects experienced by individuals following cancer treatment and support the optimization of physical and psychosocial well-being. However, many survivors of cancer are not sufficiently active to achieve these health benefits. The purpose of this study was to describe the development of a physical activity behavior change (PABC) intervention, MedEx IMPACT (IMprove Physical Activity after Cancer Treatment), which aims to increase cancer survivors’ PA levels. A review of the literature and focus groups with survivors of cancer were conducted in order to generate recommendations to inform the intervention development process. This process was guided and informed by: (1) the Medical Research Council’s (MRC) framework for the development, evaluation, and implementation of complex interventions, (2) the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW), and (3) the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Recommendations for strategies to support habitual PA and adherence to community-based exercise programs, generated by survivors of cancer who participated in 7 focus groups (n = 41), were synthesized with 13 statements of findings that were generated from 10 studies included within the review of the literature. Detailed mapping exercises are presented which outline the link between these sources, the MRC framework, the BCW and TDF, and the intervention content. MedEx IMPACT is the first PABC intervention for survivors of cancer to be developed through the application of the MRC framework, BCW, and TDF. The next phase in this research is to test the acceptability and effectiveness of MedEx IMPACT.

Physical activity behavior change: Issues in adoption and maintenance.

2000 ◽  
Vol 19 (1, Suppl) ◽  
pp. 32-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bess H. Marcus ◽  
LeighAnn H. Forsyth ◽  
Elaine J. Stone ◽  
Patricia M. Dubbert ◽  
Thomas L. McKenzie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior ◽  
Activity Behavior ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior Change

scholarly journals The Impact of COVID-19 on Physical Activity Behavior and Well-Being of Canadians

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 3899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris A. Lesser ◽  
Carl P. Nienhuis
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
National Parks ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Physical Activity Behaviour ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Active Population ◽  
Activity Behavior ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
The Impact

A global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) resulted in restrictions to daily living for Canadians, including social distancing and closure of city and provincial recreation facilities, national parks and playgrounds. The objective of this study was to assess how these preemptive measures impacted physical activity behaviour and well-being of Canadians. An online survey was utilized to measure participant physical activity behavior, nature exposure, well-being and anxiety levels. Results indicate that while 40.5% of inactive individuals became less active, only 22.4% of active individuals became less active. Comparatively, 33% of inactive individuals became more active while 40.3% of active individuals became more active. There were significant differences in well-being outcomes in the inactive population between those who were more active, the same or less active (p < 0.001) but this was not seen in the active population. Inactive participants who spent more time engaged in outdoor physical activity had lower anxiety than those who spent less time in outdoor physical activity. Public health measures differentially affected Canadians who were active and inactive and physical activity was strongly associated with well-being outcomes in inactive individuals. This suggests that health promoting measures directed towards inactive individuals may be essential to improving well-being.

A Review of Physical Activity Interventions Delivered via Facebook

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 823-833 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Ferrer ◽  
Rebecca Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Delivery Method ◽  
Physical Activity Interventions ◽  
Activity Behavior ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior Change

Background:The use of social networking sites to deliver behavioral interventions is becoming more prevalent. The purpose of this review was to systematically evaluate the published research to determine the effectiveness of Facebook-delivered interventions for promoting physical activity behavior change.Methods:A search of interventions delivered via Facebook (as the primary delivery method or part of a multifaceted intervention) in which physical activity was the primary or secondary outcome resulted in 8 studies for review.Results:Overall, 87.5% of the Facebook interventions reported some type of significant physical activity behavior change (ie, interactions, main effects for time, differences between conditions); however, only 2 of these interventions found this change to be significantly better for the treatment group than the control group.Conclusion:Future researchers are encouraged to test the effectiveness of Facebook-delivered physical activity interventions with additional control groups that receive no aspects of the intervention within experimental study designs, more diverse samples, theory-based content with assessment of mediators of behavior change, direct observations of physical activity, and long-term follow-ups. Although based on a small sample of studies, Facebook appears to be a promising delivery method for physical activity interventions.

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