Pasos Hacia La Salud II: A Superiority RCT Utilizing Technology to Promote Physical Activity in Latinas

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• Health Promotion

Background:

• Latinas have a higher risk of chronic diseases due to insufficient physical activity (PA).
• Previous website-based interventions increased PA but did not meet national guidelines.
• Enhancements aimed to maximize and sustain PA gains over 24 months.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the efficacy of an enhanced website-based PA intervention compared to an original intervention.
• To determine if the enhanced intervention maximizes and sustains PA gains over 24 months.
• To examine if baseline PA levels influenced the intervention's effect.

Main Methods:

• A superiority randomized controlled trial involving 195 Spanish-speaking Latinas.
• Interventions included an original website-delivered PA program and an enhanced version with text messaging and additional features.
• Physical activity was measured via accelerometry and self-report at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months.

Main Results:

• Both groups increased moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) over 24 months.
• The enhanced intervention group showed significantly higher self-reported and accelerometer-measured MVPA at 18 and 24 months.
• Baseline PA levels moderated the intervention's effect on PA.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced website-based PA interventions, incorporating text messaging and interactive features, can improve efficacy.
• These enhancements show potential for supporting long-term physical activity maintenance in Latinas.
• The study highlights a scalable approach to promoting sustained PA in at-risk populations.