Abstract. Most web-based physical activity interventions were built based on the principles of universal design but may have overlooked age-related impairments experienced by older adults. Thus, it is important to know how successful such web-based interventions are in enhancing older adults' physical activity levels despite these shortcomings. The objective of this study is to review published literature regarding interactive web-based interventions promoting physical activity among older adults. EBSCOhost, ISI Web of Science and ScienceDirect databases were searched to identify relevant peerreviewed papers. Results were summarized in a qualitative way. We included 15 papers reporting on web-based interventions with physical activity components. Ten and two studies respectively indicated positive and negative outcomes, while the outcomes of the remaining three studies are unclear. Despite the fact that computer illiteracy and age-related impairments can both be experienced, there is preliminary evidence that suggests that web-based interventions are effective in encouraging physical activity among older adults.
Among the factors known to encourage healthy ageing is routine physical activity, a behaviour that is not common among the older age group. A Persuasive System Design (PSD) model offers guidelines for designing and evaluating systems aimed at reinforcing, changing or shaping underlying human behaviour and attitudes. The objective of this study was to investigate the perceptions of older workers towards persuasive principles of PSD that was integrated into an application specifically designed to encourage physical activity. Ten older workers aged 50 to 64 years with different physical activity levels participated in this study. Using a think-aloud technique, the participants interacted with a physical activity application whilst verbally expressing their perceptions towards the persuasive elements. The results indicated that the older worker participants had positive views towards persuasive design principles that fell under the categories of primary task, dialogue support and credibility support. However, the persuasive principle of the social support category received contradictory views. Further, it was discovered that the personalization of persuasive principles, the credibility of tailored contents and the establishment of a sense of similarity are imperative in the designing of effective persuasive physical activity applications targeting older workers.
The proliferation of smartphone into daily life could potentially become an effective medium for the delivery of workplace-based physical activity intervention. Based on Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model (UTAUT), this study investigates factors influencing office workers' intention to use smartphone application to enhance their physical activity at workplace. A total of 195 valid surveys were collected and subsequently analyzed using Partial
Diverse persuasive applications that aim for behavioural changes have been developed. However, the method in which particular persuasive design principles are chosen over others remains unclear. Meanwhile, the use of socio-ecological model has been widely utilized in clinical research, as a basis to understand the factors in the entire ecological system that influences behavioural patterns. Because persuasive technology aims to change the behaviour and attitudes of users, we believe that the use of socioecological model would be beneficial to inform the design of persuasive applications. Accordingly, in this paper, we attempt to demonstrate the mapping of the socio-ecological factors and persuasive design principles by conducting interviews and expert reviews. Based on our approach, 12 socio-ecological factors that influence physical activity behaviour, and corresponding relevant persuasive design principles to deal with these factors, are identified.
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