Twitter-Based Social Support Added to Fitbit Self-Monitoring for Decreasing Sedentary Behavior: Protocol for a...

Area of Science:

• Digital Health Interventions
• Behavioral Science
• Social Media in Health

Background:

• Prolonged sitting is a risk factor for chronic disease, necessitating interventions beyond physical activity.
• Innovative and accessible methods are needed to reduce daily sedentary behavior.
• Social media platforms like Twitter can facilitate health communication and social support for behavior change.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of using private Twitter groups for peer support to decrease sedentary behavior in women.
• To compare a Twitter group combined with a Fitbit to a Fitbit-only control group.

Main Methods:

• A 2-group randomized design comparing Twitter + Fitbit to Fitbit-only control.
• Participants received 13 weeks of tailored step goals and a Fitbit.
• The intervention group used a private Twitter group for daily behavior change strategies and encouragement.

Main Results:

• Recruited 45 women, with 87% completing the 6-month study.
• Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy results are pending analysis.
• Data collection occurred from June to December 2019.

Conclusions:

• This pilot study assesses a novel Twitter-based social support intervention for reducing sedentary behavior in women.
• Findings will inform larger evaluations of digital health strategies.
• Twitter interventions offer a flexible platform for testing various behavior change strategies and health behaviors.