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The differentiated effectiveness of a printed versus a Web-based tailored physical activity intervention among adults
D A Peels1, M M van Stralen2, C Bolman2
1Department of Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, PO Box 2960, 6401 DL Heerlen, The Netherlands, Department of Health Sciences and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Department of Health Promotion, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands and Care and Public Health Research Institute (Caphri), Maastricht University Medical Centre+, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands denise.peels@ou.nl.
Abstract:
This study provides insight in the effectiveness of a print-delivered and a Web-based physical activity (PA) intervention (with or without additional environmental information on local PA possibilities) among people aged over 50. Intervention groups (print-delivered basic [PB; n = 439], print-delivered environmental [PE; n = 435], Web-based basic [WB; n = 423], Web-based environmental [WE; n = 432]) and a control group (n = 411) were studied in a clustered randomized controlled trial. Participants received three times tailored advice within four months, targeting the psychosocial determinants of PA, and additional environmental information (in two conditions). Outcome measures include weekly minutes and days of sufficient PA 6 months after the start, considering age, gender, educational level, body mass index, the presence of a chronic physical limitation and PA intentions as possible effect moderators. The results showed that the PB (B = 192.47; 95% CI = 75.24-309.71; P = 0.003), the PE (B = 229.31; 95% CI = 108.73-349.89; P = 0.001) and the WB-intervention condition (B = 214.25; 95% CI 88.65-339.85; P = 0.002) resulted in significantly increased weekly minutes of PA. Only the printed conditions resulted in increased days of sufficient PA (PB: B = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.35-0.92; P < 0.001; PE: B = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.26-0.85; P = 0.001). Additional environmental information did not increase intervention effects. Differences in effect were found between age and gender subgroups. In conclusion, both printed and Web-based interventions can be effective in increasing PA in adults aged over 50.
