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Published on: March 7, 2019
Acceptability, feasibility and effectiveness of a computer-tailored physical activity intervention in adolescents
Leen Haerens1, Benedicte Deforche, Corneel Vandelanotte
1Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium. Leen.Haerens@UGent.be
Objective:
To evaluate acceptability, feasibility and effectiveness of computer-tailored physical activity education among adolescents.
Methods:
Two classes of 7th graders from 10 randomly selected schools were assigned to the intervention (computer-tailored intervention, n=139) or control (no-intervention, n=142) condition. Questionnaires were completed 1 week before and 3 months after the intervention. The computer-tailored intervention was completed during classes.
Results:
Students had few problems with the diagnostic questions and with the use of a computer. About half of the students evaluated the advice as interesting and easy to understand and about 40% as personally relevant, easy to use and credible. Half of students evaluated the advice as too long and only 33% reported to have used the advice. The computer-tailored intervention was effective for increasing school related physical activity levels with on average 25 min per week (F=3.4, P < or = .05), but not for increasing total physical activity or leisure time physical activity.
Conclusions:
A 1-h computer-tailored intervention offered during class-time has the potential to increase school related physical activity.
Practice Implications:
Although favourable effects of large scale implementation may be expected, some adaptations that might increase effectiveness should be investigated in the future.
