Motivational interviewing in a web-based physical activity intervention: questions and reflections

Area of Science:

• Health behavior change
• Digital health interventions
• Behavioral science

Background:

• Web-based computer-tailored interventions are increasingly used for physical activity promotion.
• Self-determination theory (SDT) and motivational interviewing (MI) principles are foundational for effective behavior change.
• Understanding optimal question formats is crucial for enhancing intervention effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the most effective question/reflection format in web-based tailored physical activity interventions.
• To assess the impact of different question formats on autonomous motivation and intervention appreciation.
• To compare interventions based on open-ended questions, multiple-choice questions, or a combination.

Main Methods:

• A randomized trial involving 465 Dutch adults.
• Comparison of three intervention groups: open-ended questions only, multiple-choice questions only, or both.
• Measurements of motivation and process variables at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• Open-ended questions significantly enhanced autonomous motivation in web-based MI.
• A combination of open-ended and multiple-choice questions yielded the highest intervention appreciation.
• Both question types are valuable components for optimizing web-based tailored SDT/MI PA interventions.

Conclusions:

• Open-ended questions are key for boosting autonomous motivation in digital health interventions.
• Integrating both open-ended and multiple-choice questions optimizes user engagement and appreciation.
• Further research is needed to refine the optimal design of these novel digital interventions.