The differentiated effectiveness of a printed versus a Web-based tailored physical activity intervention among adults aged over 50

Abstract

This study provides insight in the effectiveness of a print-delivered and a Web-based physical activity (PA) intervention (with or without additional environmental information on local PA possibilities) among people aged over 50. Intervention groups (print-delivered basic [PB; n = 439], print-delivered environmental [PE; n = 435], Web-based basic [WB; n = 423], Web-based environmental [WE; n = 432]) and a control group (n = 411) were studied in a clustered randomized controlled trial. Participants received three times tailored advice within four months, targeting the psychosocial determinants of PA, and additional environmental information (in two conditions). Outcome measures include weekly minutes and days of sufficient PA 6 months after the start, considering age, gender, educational level, body mass index, the presence of a chronic physical limitation and PA intentions as possible effect moderators. The results showed that the PB (B = 192.47; 95% CI = 75.24-309.71; P = 0.003), the PE (B = 229.31; 95% CI = 108.73-349.89; P = 0.001) and the WB-intervention condition (B = 214.25; 95% CI 88.65-339.85; P = 0.002) resulted in significantly increased weekly minutes of PA. Only the printed conditions resulted in increased days of sufficient PA (PB: B = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.35-0.92; P < 0.001; PE: B = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.26-0.85; P = 0.001). Additional environmental information did not increase intervention effects. Differences in effect were found between age and gender subgroups. In conclusion, both printed and Web-based interventions can be effective in increasing PA in adults aged over 50.

Motivational interviewing and self-determination theory in a web-based computer tailored physical activity intervention: A randomized controlled trial

“…Although SDT postulates that all humans have the same basic psychological needs, previous studies on tailored PA interventions have shown that participant characteristics such as age, gender, BMI, intention to be physically active at baseline and PA at baseline can influence the effects of tailored PA interventions (Peels et al, , 2014Spittaels & De Bourdeaudhuij, 2007;Van 't Riet, Crutzen, & De Vries, 2010;van Stralen, de Vries, Bolman, Mudde, & Lechner, 2010). This is relevant in the context of our study, since the impact of both our interventions might be more pronounced in subgroups of participants with specific characteristics.…”

“…Therefore, the present study also aimed to identify participant characteristics that modify the intervention effects, by conducting moderator analyses. These analyses will include variables that moderated the effects of tailored interventions in earlier studies such as age, gender, BMI, intention to be physically active at baseline and PA at baseline (Peels et al, , 2014Spittaels & De Bourdeaudhuij, 2007;Van 't Riet et al, 2010;van Stralen et al, 2010). The moderator analyses will identify in which participant subgroups the SDT/MI-based and the traditional intervention exert the greatest effects, enabling a more in-depth view on the impact of both interventions.…”

“…The results of these analyses will potentially yield recommendations for future intervention development (van Stralen et al, 2010). Based on earlier literature, it was hypothesised that the effects of both interventions would be higher in female participants (since women tend to be more actively involved in interventions than men) older participants (since they usually participate more actively than younger participants), participants with high education (since they have more advanced self-regulatory skills than lowly educated participants), participants with high intention to be physically active (since these participants will be most willing to increase their PA) and participants who were relatively inactive at baseline and had high BMI (because much progression can be gained among these participants) (Peels et al, , 2014Spittaels & De Bourdeaudhuij, 2007;Van 't Riet et al, 2010;van Stralen et al, 2010).…”

A randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a web-based, computer-tailored self-management intervention for&nbsp;people&nbsp;with or&nbsp;at risk for COPD

“…Instead of shortening the intervention content by tailoring the use of components to user’s preference,10 it may have been more effective to offer participants only components adapted to their level of motivation to change their behavior; Stanczyk et al55 found this strategy effective. Peels et al56 tested a web-based basic version of their program and a version in which they added additional environmental information with links to other resources to increase physical activity in adults aged 50 and over. They found that only the latter was not effective.…”

The effectiveness of a web 2.0 physical activity intervention in older adults – a randomised controlled trial

“…Age was categorised into (<55y and ≥55y). Although the standard cut off used to define 'older adults' is 65 years, the ≥55y group is a useful target for physical activity interventions to help them to establish healthy physical activity habits and reduce their risk of disease before they enter into the 65+ age group [35]. People over 55y have lower Internet literacy than younger age groups and it is therefore likely that they will interact and engage with Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 features differently to younger adults [25].…”