Do Incentives Promote Action Planning in a Web-based Walking Intervention?

Objective In this study, we examine the effect of providing an incentive for engagement in self-regulatory behaviors (ie, action planning), in inactive, office-based university employees participating in an 11-week, Web-based walking intervention. Methods Participants were randomly assigned to either control (intervention only) or incentive (intervention plus incentive; CAD $5.00 e-gift card delivered weekly for completing action plans over 4 weeks) conditions. Cohen's d was used to estimate the effect of the incentive on action planning and a RM-ANOVA examined differences in average steps/day, between the 2 conditions, before, during, and after the 4-week incentive period. Results Sixty-nine participants were included in the analysis (incentive: N = 34; control: N = 35; 88% female; Mage = 40.46±10.6 years). A large effect size (d = 1.01) in action plan completion was observed, favoring the incentive condition, with the effect of condition remaining high after incentives were withdrawn (d = 1.0). Greater steps/day favored the incentive condition during the post-incentive period (small effect size; d = 0.28). Conclusions Incentives were effective in encouraging engagement in a self-regulatory strategy (action planning). Future research should examine the optimal incentive structure and timing for engagement.