Using Online Computer Tailoring to Promote Physical Activity: A Randomized Trial of Text, Video, and Combined Intervention Delivery Modes

Abstract

Website-delivered interventions are increasingly used to deliver physical activity interventions, yet problems with engagement and retention result in reduced effectiveness. Hence, alternative modes of online intervention delivery need to be explored. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of a computer-tailored physical activity intervention delivered on the Internet in 3 delivery modes: video, text, or both. Australian adults (N = 803), recruited through e-mail, were randomized into the three delivery modes and received personal physical activity advice. Intervention content was identical across groups. Repeated measures analyses of variance were used to compare the three groups regarding acceptability, website usability, and physical activity. Participants in the video group accepted the content of the physical activity advice significantly better (F = 5.59; p < .01), and spent significantly more time on the website (F = 21.19; p < .001) compared with the text and combination groups. Total physical activity improved significantly over time in all groups (F = 3.95; p < .01). Although the combination group increased physical activity the most, few significant differences between groups were observed. Providing video-tailored feedback has advantages over the conventional text-tailored interventions; however, this study revealed few behavioral differences. More studies, examining alternative delivery modes, that can overcome the limitations of the present study, are needed.

Influence of Delivery Strategy on Message-Processing Mechanisms and Future Adherence to a Dutch Computer-Tailored Smoking Cessation Intervention

“…It is therefore conceivable that video-based messages may be better for reaching lower educated groups and realizing behavior change. Additionally, higher educated groups may benefit more from in-depth processing and accordingly may be stimulated more by text-based messages [20]. …”

Reading or Listening to a Gain- or Loss-Framed Health Message: Effects of Message Framing and Communication Mode in the Context of Fruit and Vegetable Intake

“…The role of communication mode deserves attention due to increasing technology resulting in the delivery of health messages in various ways (Tuong, Larsen, & Armstrong, 2014), but has not yet been well elucidated, at least in the context of health persuasion. That is, contradictory findings are reported when the effects of communication mode on message persuasiveness or behavioral intentions are studied (Braverman, 2008;Elbert, Dijkstra, & Oenema, 2016;Soetens, Vandelanotte, De Vries, & Mummery, 2014;Stanczyk et al, 2014). In these studies, a distinction is often made between the written, auditory, and audiovisual mode.…”

“…In these studies, a distinction is often made between the written, auditory, and audiovisual mode. While some studies suggest that there are no differences between the modes with regard to behavioral outcomes (Soetens et al, 2014), others suggest that informational written messages are more persuasive than informational auditory messages (Braverman, 2008).…”

Do Personally Tailored Videos in a Web-Based Physical Activity Intervention Lead to Higher Attention and Recall? – An Eye-Tracking Study

“…The intervention has been found to be effective at increasing participant’s physical activity levels (26). The content and structure of the text-based and video-based feedback was identical, only the method of delivery was different.…”