To date, using text messaging as a method to promote physical activity has only been studied by a small group of researchers. Current physical activity text messaging literature is characterized by small sample sizes, heterogeneous but positive effect sizes, and a lack of specificity as to the development of the text messages used in these studies. Further research in this area is imperative to facilitate the expansion of mobile technology to promote physical activity.

This article reports the planning and implementation of recruitment for a 48-week African American women’s lifestyle physical activity controlled trial and analyzes recruitment effectiveness, efficiency, durations, and costs. Social networking was the most effective approach for inviting women to the trial. Of the 609 who responded to invitations, 514 completed telephone screening; of these, 409 (80%) were found eligible. The health assessment screening was completed by 337 women; of these, 297 (88.13%) were found eligible. The mean number of days from completion of the telephone and health assessment screenings to beginning the intervention was 23.01 and cost $74.57 per person. Results suggest that study provision of health assessment screening is effective for minimizing attrition and also might be cost-effective.

Group meetings are a powerful intervention for increasing PA and preventing weight gain and may not need to be supplemented with telephone calls, which add costs and complexity.

Effective interventions that increase adherence to physical activity (PA) are important for African American (AA) women because generally they are less active and more obese compared to white American women. The purpose of this study was to elicit from women who began a 12-month PA program between 2002 and 2005: 1) their recollections of outcome expectations and barriers, 2) feedback on program components, and 3) suggestions for program change. In 2007, we conducted qualitative post-intervention focus group interviews with women who had participated in the enhanced treatment group. Thirty-three AA women aged 44–69 years at the time of the study participated in one of four focus groups held at their community intervention site. Focus groups were formed on the basis of low (walked < 50% of expected walks) versus high (walked ≥50% of expected walks) adherence and low (0–2) versus high (3–4) attendance at the four workshops held during the 6-month adoption phase. Audio-taped sessions were transcribed and coded independently and then uploaded into NVivo7 for final coding and data analysis. Suggestions for future program components included a lifestyle PA prescription, pedometers for self-monitoring, ongoing group support and automated telephone support. Focus group participants can serve as experts to assist in content development for improving program effectiveness.

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