The Diabetes Network Internet-Based Physical Activity Intervention

Abstract

OBJECTIVE -Because of other competing priorities, physical activity (PA) is seldom addressed in a consistent way in either primary care or diabetes education . This 8-week pilot study evaluated the short-term benefits of an Internet-based supplement to usual care that focused on providing support for sedentary patients with type 2 diabetes to increase their PA levels. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-A total of 78 type 2 diabetic patients (53% female, average age 52.3 years) were randomized to the Diabetes Network (D-Net) Active Lives PA Intervention or an Internet information-only condition. The intervention condition received goal-setting and personalized feedback, identified and developed strategies to overcome barriers, received and could post messages to an on-line "personal coach," and were invited to participate in peer group support areas. Key outcomes included minutes of PA per week and depressive symptomatology.RESULTS -There was an overall moderate improvement in PA levels within both intervention and control conditions, but there was no significant improvement in regard to condition effects. There was substantial variability in both site use and outcomes within the intervention and control conditions. Internal analyses revealed that among intervention participants, those who used the site more regularly derived significantly greater benefits, whereas those in the control condition derived no similar benefits with increased program use. CONCLUSIONS -Internet-based self-management interventions for PA and other regimen areas have great potential to enhance the care of diabetes and other chronic conditions. We conclude that greater attention should be focused on methods to sustain involvement with Internet-based intervention health promotion programs over time.

Influences, usage, and outcomes of Internet health information searching: Multivariate results from the Pew surveys

“…Online websites and support groups provide information, support, acceptance and a sense of real-time understanding to patients and their families and friends, and can promote better informed patients who engage their physicians more, stimulated by information they have found online (Aspden & Katz, 2001;Celio et al, 2000;McKay et al, 2001;Paterniti et al, 1999;Rice, 2001Rice, , 2003Preece & Ghozati, 2001;Sharf, 1997;Till, 2003;Wellman, 1995;Wikgren, 2001;Williams et al, 2002;Winzelbert et al, 2003). Nine percent of health seekers in both the August 2002 (Fox & Rainie, 2002a) and the June 2001 survey (Fox & Rainie, 2002b) said they had ever participated in an online support group concerned about a particular health or medical issue, though, in the second survey, more frequent health seekers (several times a month or more) were more likely to have done so (13%).…”

Can physical activity interventions for adults with type 2 diabetes be translated into practice settings? A systematic review using the RE-AIM framework

“…The remaining collection was further analysed in-depth and a total of 12 articles, which reported detail relating to the process of intervention delivery, were included in the final analysis [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39].…”

Associations among physical activity, comorbidities, depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life in type 2 diabetes

“…Lifestyle intervention programs for T2DM have been previously verified in many controlled trials: PA shows better effects on glycemic control and blood pressure than other therapies alone (12,13). Resistance training (14), isolated aerobic exercise, (15) and the combination of them (16) can improve glycemic adjustments; overall, the beneficial effects of exercise on physical fitness, disease symptoms, and quality of life in T2DM are strong (17)(18)(19)(20)(21). However, despite all these evidences, most patients remain sedentary (22,23).…”