A Social-Cognitive Smartphone Application for Improving Physical Activity in Adults

The purpose of the proposed study is to test the efficacy of individual components of a smartphone application designed using theories of human behavior to promote physical activity in low-active adults. Smartphones have become commonplace: approximately two-thirds of adults own a smartphone. They allow for wireless internet connectivity and the ability to communicate via voice and text message at any time. Perhaps most importantly from the perspective of behavior change, the devices are often carried on the person at all times. In recent years researchers have attempted to use these devices to promote physical activity, but continue to encounter a number of barriers. Notably, development in the commercial sector far outpaces the standard randomized controlled trial (RCT) cycle. As a result, researchers utilizing RCT designs find it difficult to publish findings that are relevant to current technology. Additionally, this approach typically examines a full application that includes a package of features, making it difficult to draw conclusions about single intervention components. This has resulted in a commercial sector that produces a large number of physical activity applications that are not evidence based. The present study uses a factorial design to study the individual and combined efficacy of two theory-based modules: A guided goal-setting module, and a points-based feedback system. If successful, the results of this study will help to guide a fast-moving commercial sector toward the development evidence-based applications, which has the potential to yield a large public health impact.

To test these aims, adults will be recruited from Champaign-Urbana, IL, and surrounding communities to participate in a 12-week home-based and self-guided physical activity program. Eligible individuals will complete baseline questionnaires and informed consent online, and will wear an activity monitor for one week. Upon completion of questionnaires, participants will be randomly assigned to one of four conditions:

1. . The Base-App (BA) condition (i.e., Group D; so named due to the factorial design used in this study) will receive only a base-level smartphone app that contains three components common in computerized behavioral interventions: physical activity-related educational content (i.e., weekly videos, additional resources, easy weekly quiz questions), manual physical activity tracking, and instantaneous graphical feedback. As the physical activity program is goal-directed, these individuals will also receive printed goal setting worksheets.
2. . The BA+PT condition (i.e., Group C) will receive the Base-App plus an instantaneous points-based feedback module (PT) that provides "program points" for every task in the application (e.g., tracking physical activities, watching educational videos), and these are weighted by difficulty of the task. Points accumulate to earn "levels", and every fifth level brings a new motivational prompt and "badge" depicting an initially unfit character becoming increasing fit. Every tenth level will earn the participant a new "title" (e.g., "Intermediate Exerciser"). These points, levels, badges, and titles serve to provide instant positive feedback on progress within the program. These individuals will also receive printed goal setting worksheets.
3. . The BA+GS condition (i.e., Group B) will receive the Base-App plus a fully guided goal-setting module (GS). This module is based upon health behavior theory, emphasizing gradual exercise progression and highly specific, realistic, and measurable goals. The module will guide participants in setting both long and short term goals: each week, those with access to the GS module will be prompted to revisit and reset their goals. At this time, participants will select several aerobic and non-aerobic activities for the week, and will set a frequency (days per week) and duration (minutes per session) for each type of activity. To emphasize gradual progression, participants will receive a minimum, maximum, and recommended frequency and duration, and these will be calculated automatically within the app based upon performance in previous weeks.
4. . The BA+GS+PT condition (i.e., Group A) will receive all application components (i.e., Base-App, goal setting, instantaneous feedback). In addition to the features described above, program points accompany goal-related tasks (i.e., setting goals, revisiting goals, achieving goals).

Following completion of questionnaires, all participants will attend a group-specific orientation session. During this session, trained research staff will provide an introduction to the smartphone application used in the study and all relevant features, as well as a one-on-one physical activity counseling session in which staff members will work with participants to set initial aerobic and non-aerobic physical activity goals. During this time, participants will also be introduced to the goal-directed nature of the MAPS physical activity program. Short term (i.e., weekly) goals will specify the types of aerobic and non-aerobic activities that the individual will engage in, as well as the frequency and duration with which they will engage in these activities. Each participant's initial long-term goal will reflect federal physical activity recommendations. Accordingly, each participant will work toward achieving 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity, and at least two days of full-body muscle strengthening exercises within the 12-week intervention period. Staff will work with participants to modify these long-term goals based upon the participant's current abilities and physical activity level.

The program will begin on the Sunday following the orientation session. On each Sunday of the program, a new educational module related to basic health and health behavior concepts will be released, and participants will receive a brief email containing information related to the weekly educational content with a reminder to watch the new video. With the exception of the first week, these emails will also provide specific feedback (i.e., minutes of exercise, average intensity, and average enjoyment) from the previous week, and for those with access to guided goal setting the email will also provide feedback and advice based on whether or not the previous week's goals were met. Finally, each email will prompt the participant to revisit their short and long term goals, and adjust them as necessary. At this time, participants with the guided goal setting module will be brought immediately to that module upon entering the app, and will be asked to revisit and reset their short term goals. This process will include a recommended frequency and duration based upon previous performance in the program. Participants will also be prompted to set a new long term goal in the event that they achieved their previous long term goal during the week. For those without guided goal setting, this process will be carried out using traditional printed goal setting worksheets.