Physical Activity
Conditions
Keywords
Physical activity intervention, Active choice, Decision making, Web-based
Brief summary
This web-based experimental study aims to ascertain whether promoting an active (i.e. conscious and autonomous) choice process about physical activity results in better behavioural outcomes (e.g. physical activity) and psychological outcomes (e.g. physical activity intention) compared to promoting a passive choice process in physically inactive adults.
Detailed description
In this web-based experimental study, the investigators will use a pre-test post-test four-arm parallel design to compare the effect of promoting an active choice process versus a passive choice process about physical activity on behavioural outcomes (e.g. physical activity behaviour, perceived increase in physical activity) and psychological outcomes (e.g. physical activity intention, commitment) among physically inactive adults. Participants will be randomized to one of four groups. Participants in group GA+ will be encouraged to make a very active choice by weighing advantages and disadvantages of physical activity, considering personal values, identifying barriers and engaging in action and coping planning. The intervention for group GA is similar, but lacks the action and coping planning exercises. In the other two groups, a passive choice process will be promoted by only providing information: Group G will read the national physical activity guideline and group GI will read the guideline and information about possible advantages and disadvantages and barriers to physical activity. Behavioural and psychological outcomes will be assessed at the first measurement and follow-up measurement. Regression analyses will be performed to examine intergroup differences. In addition, sensitivity analyses and a process evaluation will be performed.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALGuideline + Active Choice + action&coping planning (GA+)
Web-based intervention consisting of information and assignments, including: completing a decision balance sheet; indicating the importance of personal values and the time, effort and energy spent on these personal values; action planning; identifying barriers to physical activity; coping planning
BEHAVIORALGuideline + Active Choice (GA)
Web-based intervention consisting of information and several assignments, including: completing a decision balance sheet; indicating the importance of personal values and the time, effort and energy spent on these personal values; identifying barriers to physical activity.
BEHAVIORALGuideline + information (GI)
Web-based information about the national physical activity guideline, pros and cons of physical activity, and possible barriers to physical activity.
BEHAVIORALGuideline (G)
Web-based information about the national physical activity guideline.
Sponsors
Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Low levels of physical activity (i.e. physically active for at least 30 minutes on \<5 days a week and engaging in \<150 minutes of physical activity in total throughout an average week)
Exclusion criteria
* Pregnancy * Wheelchair user * Not being able to walk a minimum of 100 meters
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Intention | Directly after the intervention (Day 0) | Intention to become more physically active (yes/no), assessed by a questionnaire |
| Physical activity | Change from baseline at approximately 18 days | Physical activity levels (MET minutes per week), assessed by the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Intention strength | Change from day 0, at approximately 18 days | Questionnaire item: scale 0 (no strong intention) - 10 (very strong intention). a higher score indicates higher intention strength. |
| Active choice | Directly after the intervention (Day 0) | Degree to which an active choice is made; a composite score of 9 items on a scale of 1 (totally not agree) - 5 (totally agree); a higher score indicates a more active choice. |
| Autonomous choice | Directly after the intervention (Day 0) | Degree to which an autonomous choice is made; 2 items on a scale of 1 - 10. For the first item, a higher score indicates a more autonomous choice, whereas for the second item, a higher score indicates a less autonomous choice. |
| Commitment | Directly after the intervention (Day 0) | Commitment to become more physically active; 1 item on a scale of 0 (no commitment) - 10 (high commitment). A higher score indicates higher commitment. |
| Self-efficacy | Directly after the intervention (Day 0) | Self-efficacy to become more physically active; 2 items on a scale of 1 (no self-efficacy) - 10 (high self-efficacy). A higher score indicates more self-efficacy. |
| Satisfaction about one's plan | Directly after the intervention (Day 0) | Degree of satisfaction with one's plan to become or not become more physically active on a scale of 1 (no satisfaction) to 10 (high satisfaction). |
| Alignment of choice with personal values | Directly after the intervention (Day 0) | Extent to which one's plan to become/ not become more physically active corresponds with what one considers important; 1 item on a scale of 1 (no alignment) - 10 (high alignment) |
| Sitting time | Change from baseline at approximately 18 days | Sitting time (minutes per day), assessed by the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) |
| Value of health | During intervention (Day 0) | Importance of the value 'health', on a scale of 1 (not important at all) to 10 (very important), and the time, effort and energy spent on health on a scale of 1 (no time, effort and energy) to 10 (very much time, effort and energy) |
| Values influencing physical activity | During intervention (Day 0) | The extent to which the following values impact one's physical activity levels on a scale of 1 (no influence) to 10 (high influence): responsibility, achievement, pleasure, family, friendships, balance. |
| Plans to change physical activity | During intervention (Day 0) | Open-ended questions about the preferred kind of physical activity, frequency, location, days and start date. |
| Perceived barriers to physical activity | During intervention (Day 0) | Open-ended question asking about perceived barriers to physical activity |
| Plans to cope with perceived barriers | During intervention (Day 0) | Open-ended questions about the ways one could cope with each perceived barriers |
| Factors supporting physical activity | Follow-up; approximately 18 days after the intervention (day 0) | Question about the factors that supported or would support physical activity. Multiple choice question. |
| Barriers to physical activity | Follow-up; approximately 18 days after the intervention (day 0) | Question about the barriers that hindered physical activity in the past two weeks. Multiple choice question. |
| Perceived advantages and disadvantages of physical activity | During intervention (Day 0) | Open-ended questions about the perceived advantages and disadvantages of one's current physical activity behavior, and of increasing physical activity. |
| Perceived change in physical activity compared to baseline | Change from baseline at approximately 18 days | Questionnaire item: Participants' self-perceived change in physical between baseline and follow-up. Dichotomous outcome (change/no change). |
Countries
Netherlands
Outcome results
None listed