title: Examination of print and telephone channels for physical activity promotion: Rationale, design, and baseline data from Project STRIDE.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Project STRIDE is a 4-year randomized controlled trial comparing two computer-based expert system guided intervention delivery channels (phone vs. print) for physical activity adoption and short-term maintenance among previously sedentary adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sedentary adults (n=239) were randomized to one of the following (1) telephone-based, individualized motivationally-tailored feedback; (2) print-based, individualized motivationally-tailored feedback; (3) contact-control delayed treatment group (received intervention after 12 months as control). This paper: (1) outlines the study design, rationale, and participant sample; and (2) describes relationships between baseline variables to better understand their influence on the efficacy of the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants averaged 19.8+/-25.0 min of physical activity/week that was at least of moderate intensity, with no group differences. The average estimated VO(2) at 85% of maximum heart rate was 25.6 ml/kg/min. Body fat was 34.1% for women and 23.2% for men and the BMI of the sample averaged 28.5 kg/m(2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Project STRIDE examines non face-to-face approaches for promoting physical activity behavior. It has unique features including a direct comparison of an expert system guided intervention delivered via phone or print. Future analyses will examine the cost-effectiveness of the interventions and this will likely yield important information for policy-makers.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital and Brown Medical School, CORO Building, Suite 500, One Hoppin St., Providence, RI 02903, USA. bmarcus@lifespan.org
authors.forename: Bess H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Napolitano
authors.forename: Abby C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Beth A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Whiteley
authors.forename: Anna E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: Alfred F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Parisi
authors.forename: Beth C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Bock
authors.forename: Bernardine M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Sciamanna
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jakicic
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Papandonatos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003142:Communication; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010809:Physical Fitness; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012107:Research Design; D013689:Telephone; D013997:Time Factors