Internet-based contingency management increases walking in sedentary adults

Abstract

Despite the link between inactivity and premature mortality, most adults exercise less than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2008) recommends; thus, interventions to increase exercise are needed. The present study employed an Internet-based intervention to increase walking in 12 sedentary adults over 50 years of age. In Experiment 1, participants received monetary consequences for meeting an increasing series of step goals on at least 3 days during consecutive 5-day blocks. Across participants, steps increased 182% from screening to the end of the intervention, and 87% of step goals were met. In Experiment 2, goals were set using the same schedule as in Experiment 1, but no monetary consequences were provided for meeting them. Across participants, steps increased 108%, and 52% of goals were met. Across both studies, 11 of 12 participants increased their steps according to experimenter-arranged criteria. These results support the efficacy of an Internet-based intervention to increase walking in sedentary adults.

A laboratory-based evaluation of exercise plus contingency management for reducing cigarette smoking

“…One way to accomplish this goal is via technology-based CM delivery systems (Internet, mobile phones). Internet-based CM interventions have been shown to promote smoking cessation , and physical activity among sedentary adults (Kurti and Dallery, 2013). Moreover, because technology allows researchers to surmount geographic and socioeconomic barriers to effective treatments, technologybased CM stands poised to enhance treatment delivery methods.…”

Optimizing behavioral health interventions with single-case designs: from development to dissemination

“…However, in most of the examples above, the interventions were held constant during treatment periods; that is, they were procedurally static (cf. [35]). This is similar to a randomized trial, in which all components of an intervention are delivered all at once and held constant throughout the study.…”

“…Behavior should track the introduction of each goal, thus demonstrating control by the level of the independent variable [28]. For example, Kurti and Dallery [35] used a changing criterion design to increase activity in six sedentary adults using an internet-based contingency management program to promote walking. Weekly step count goals were gradually increased across 5-day blocks.…”

Gopher FITStep Pro accuracy when measuring steps and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity

“…Pedometers and accelerometers have long been considered important tools for understanding physical activity patterns (e.g., Brusseau et al, 2011) or introducing interventions (e.g., Kurti & Dallery, 2013) among youth in school settings (Brusseau & Burns, 2013). In recent years, the utilization of objective physical activity monitors has also been highlighted as a means of promoting physical activity during physical education classes (Brusseau & Burns, 2015).…”