Increasing Employee Physical Activity Using Goal Setting and a Smartphone App.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Workplace Wellness
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Physical inactivity is a significant public health concern in US workplaces.
• Goal-setting interventions and smartphone applications show potential for increasing physical activity (PA).
• Limited research exists on the practical application of these methods in workplace PA interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot an 8-week workplace physical activity intervention, Project Move 2.0.
• To evaluate the use of goal setting combined with a no-cost smartphone app to increase PA.
• To identify intervention strategies addressing moderators of PA goal setting.

Main Methods:

• An 8-week intervention involving goal setting and a no-cost PA smartphone app.
• Strategies addressed feedback, goal commitment, situational factors, and ability.
• Included orientation, health education, weekly text messages, and pre/post-PA behavior measures.

Main Results:

• The intervention successfully integrated goal setting and a smartphone app for PA tracking.
• Community-based partnerships informed intervention strategies.
• The pilot demonstrated the feasibility of using these tools in a workplace setting.

Conclusions:

• Applying goal setting with a no-cost smartphone app is a promising strategy for workplace health promotion.
• This approach can effectively increase employee physical activity.
• Further research is warranted on the practical implementation of such interventions.