Characteristics of participants visiting the Canada on the move website.
BACKGROUND
The Internet is a potential medium to attain large groups of Canadians for physical activity monitoring and interventions, however, little is known about the characteristics of participants who could be recruited on a national level. Our objectives were to determine: 1) the extent to which our sample was representative of the Canadian population; 2) the demographic, social-cognitive and physical activity behaviour, and environmental characteristics of one-time and multi-time users of the Canada on the Move website; and 3) whether certain recruitment strategies were more likely to reach specific demographic subgroups.


METHODS
Web-based self-report measures were collected on demographic, social-cognitive, physical activity behaviour, and environmental factors. Descriptive statistics were employed to address the study's research objectives.


RESULTS
Significant differences (p<0.001) were found between our total sample and 2001 Canadian census/Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) data on all demographic and physical activity behaviour measures. One-time and multi-time users significantly differed on age (p<0.005) and being responsible for children under age 13 (p=0.01). No differences existed between the groups on any of the social-cognitive, behavioural or environmental variables. Source of knowledge about the Canada on the Move website between one-time and multi-time users was not significantly different.


CONCLUSIONS
The Canada on the Move website presents a viable approach to reaching diverse demographic groups. Further work needs to be undertaken to: 1) develop engaging websites; 2) detail the monitoring of the web-based access information; 3) integrate the website with other organizations promoting physical activity; and 4) expand the number of recruitment sources.
Plotnikoff
Ronald C
RC
Centre for Health Promotion Studies, Alberta Centre for Active Living & Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB. ron.plotnikoff@ualberta.ca
Spence
John C
JC
Tavares
Leonor S
LS
Rovniak
Liza S
LS
Bauman
Adrian
A
Lear
Scott A
SA
McCargar
Linda
L