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Active Choice Intervention About Physical Activity for Physically Inactive Adults

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Physical Activity
Interventions
Behavioral: Guideline + Active Choice (GA)
Behavioral: Guideline + information (GI)
Behavioral: Guideline (G)
Behavioral: Guideline + Active Choice + action&coping planning (GA+)
Registration Number
NCT04973813
Lead Sponsor
Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc
Brief Summary

This web-based experimental study aims to ascertain whether promoting an active (i.e. conscious and autonomous) choice process about physical activity results in better behavioural outcomes (e.g. physical activity) and psychological outcomes (e.g. physical activity intention) compared to promoting a passive choice process in physically inactive adults.

Detailed Description

In this web-based experimental study, the investigators will use a pre-test post-test four-arm parallel design to compare the effect of promoting an active choice process versus a passive choice process about physical activity on behavioural outcomes (e.g. physical activity behaviour, perceived increase in physical activity) and psychological outcomes (e.g. physical activity intention, commitment) among physically inactive adults.

Participants will be randomized to one of four groups. Participants in group GA+ will be encouraged to make a very active choice by weighing advantages and disadvantages of physical activity, considering personal values, identifying barriers and engaging in action and coping planning. The intervention for group GA is similar, but lacks the action and coping planning exercises. In the other two groups, a passive choice process will be promoted by only providing information: Group G will read the national physical activity guideline and group GI will read the guideline and information about possible advantages and disadvantages and barriers to physical activity. Behavioural and psychological outcomes will be assessed at the first measurement and follow-up measurement. Regression analyses will be performed to examine intergroup differences. In addition, sensitivity analyses and a process evaluation will be performed.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
564
Inclusion Criteria
  • Low levels of physical activity (i.e. physically active for at least 30 minutes on <5 days a week and engaging in <150 minutes of physical activity in total throughout an average week)
Exclusion Criteria
  • Pregnancy
  • Wheelchair user
  • Not being able to walk a minimum of 100 meters

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Guideline + Active Choice (GA)Guideline + Active Choice (GA)Participants received a web-based intervention consisting of information (including the national physical activity guideline) and several assignments. Assignments included: completing a decision balance sheet; indicating the importance of personal values and the time, effort and energy spent on these personal values; identifying barriers to physical activity.
Guideline + Information (GI)Guideline + information (GI)Participants received the national physical activity guideline, and information about pros and cons of physical activity, and possible barriers to physical activity.
Guideline (G)Guideline (G)Comparison arm. Participants received the national physical activity guideline.
Guideline + Active Choice + action&coping planning (GA+)Guideline + Active Choice + action&coping planning (GA+)Participants received a web-based intervention consisting of information (including the national physical activity guideline) and several assignments. Assignments included: completing a decision balance sheet; indicating the importance of personal values and the time, effort and energy spent on these personal values; action planning; identifying barriers to physical activity; coping planning.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
IntentionDirectly after the intervention (Day 0)

Intention to become more physically active (yes/no), assessed by a questionnaire

Physical activityChange from baseline at approximately 18 days

Physical activity levels (MET minutes per week), assessed by the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Perceived change in physical activity compared to baselineChange from baseline at approximately 18 days

Questionnaire item: Participants' self-perceived change in physical between baseline and follow-up. Dichotomous outcome (change/no change).

Intention strengthChange from day 0, at approximately 18 days

Questionnaire item: scale 0 (no strong intention) - 10 (very strong intention). a higher score indicates higher intention strength.

Active choiceDirectly after the intervention (Day 0)

Degree to which an active choice is made; a composite score of 9 items on a scale of 1 (totally not agree) - 5 (totally agree); a higher score indicates a more active choice.

Perceived advantages and disadvantages of physical activityDuring intervention (Day 0)

Open-ended questions about the perceived advantages and disadvantages of one's current physical activity behavior, and of increasing physical activity.

Perceived barriers to physical activityDuring intervention (Day 0)

Open-ended question asking about perceived barriers to physical activity

Plans to cope with perceived barriersDuring intervention (Day 0)

Open-ended questions about the ways one could cope with each perceived barriers

Self-efficacyChange from day 0, at approximately 18 days follow-up

Self-efficacy to become more physically active; 2 items on a scale of 1 (no self-efficacy) - 10 (high self-efficacy). A higher score indicates more self-efficacy.

Value of healthDuring intervention (Day 0)

Importance of the value 'health', on a scale of 1 (not important at all) to 10 (very important), and the time, effort and energy spent on health on a scale of 1 (no time, effort and energy) to 10 (very much time, effort and energy)

Alignment of choice with personal valuesDirectly after the intervention (Day 0)

Extent to which one's plan to become/ not become more physically active corresponds with what one considers important; 1 item on a scale of 1 (no alignment) - 10 (high alignment)

Plans to change physical activityDuring intervention (Day 0)

Open-ended questions about the preferred kind of physical activity, frequency, location, days and start date.

Factors supporting physical activityFollow-up; approximately 18 days after the intervention (day 0)

Question about the factors that supported or would support physical activity. Multiple choice question.

Barriers to physical activityFollow-up; approximately 18 days after the intervention (day 0)

Question about the barriers that hindered physical activity in the past two weeks. Multiple choice question.

Sitting timeChange from baseline at approximately 18 days

Sitting time (minutes per day), assessed by the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)

Autonomous choiceDirectly after the intervention (Day 0)

Degree to which an autonomous choice is made; 2 items on a scale of 1 - 10. For the first item, a higher score indicates a more autonomous choice, whereas for the second item, a higher score indicates a less autonomous choice.

CommitmentChange from day 0, at approximately 18 days follow-up

Commitment to become more physically active; 1 item on a scale of 0 (no commitment) - 10 (high commitment). A higher score indicates higher commitment.

Satisfaction about one's planDirectly after the intervention (Day 0)

Degree of satisfaction with one's plan to become or not become more physically active on a scale of 1 (no satisfaction) to 10 (high satisfaction).

Values influencing physical activityDuring intervention (Day 0)

The extent to which the following values impact one's physical activity levels on a scale of 1 (no influence) to 10 (high influence): responsibility, achievement, pleasure, family, friendships, balance.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

VUMedicalCenter

🇳🇱

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

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